It Ain't Pretty

1. Drink Song

2. Led Down

3. Photograph

4. Puppet

5. Do You Believe?

6. Best of Me

7. Caitlin

8. She Rox

9. Timmy Dugan

10. Kamikaze

11. Shoot

12. Sex and Drugs and Steven

Tracks:

Cowboy's Dream
Canyon Sonata
All the Pretty Horses
Purty Dad Gum Good
After the Rain
Mild Cello Blues
Malarki Opus in D Major
John Grady's Angel
Edge of the World
Get My Boots
Strawberry Tango, Pt. 1-2
King of Horses
Far Away (Alejandra's Phone Call)
Porque
Love Montage
Ain't That a Drag
My Last Days on Earth/What's It Like to Be Dead?
Long Journey Home
Candles and Lies
Rainy Room
Far Away
Far Away (Reprise)
Cowboy's Dream/All the Pretty Horses [Medley]

Amazon.com

Novelist Cormac McCarthy's literary vision of the wild west is given wide-screen treatment by maverick director Billy Bob Thornton and a cast that includes Matt Damon, Penelope Cruz, and Bruce Dern. Professional country music journeyman Marty Stuart has performed with father-in-law Johnny Cash, Earl Scruggs, and Doc Watson, in addition to a successful solo career. In his soundtrack scoring debut, he provides short, meditative instrumental pieces that are subtly explosive--rife as they are with strains of old-school country and bluegrass. Cinematic strings and orchestral percussion add a welcome menacing edge, augmenting the rustic approach without crossing over into a compromised "countrypolitan" sound. If anything, it might be nice to hear these themes extended. As it stands, the 23 listed tracks are covered in a little under 50 minutes, with many of the cuts barely lasting more than a minute or two. They stand as a new genre of cinematic country minimalism. --Rob O'Connor

Customer Reviews:

Great western soundtrack.......2004-02-28

This is a must buy for fans of western soundtracks.It mixes beautifully symphonic music with Guitar music and spices it up all together with a south of the border flavor. Haunting music that will make you want to never take it out of your cd changer. It also
Features two vocal pieces, the first a spanish song sung by the very talented Raul Malo of the country group the mavericks, the second song is a beautiful ballad sung by Marty Stuart. Though I never owned any cd's of Marty Stuart he earns my respect with composing this film score.(cowboy hats off to you Mr.Stuart)

a very memorable cd.......2003-07-04

I thoroughly enjoyed this soundtrack cd. It soars high on ambiance, romance, and easy listening.

a very memorable cd.......2003-07-04

I thoroughly enjoyed this soundtrack cd. It soars high on ambiance, romance, and easy listening.

a very memorable cd.......2003-07-04

I thoroughly enjoyed this soundtrack cd. It soars high on ambiance, romance, and easy listening.

Truly Incredible.......2003-03-12

This album is a masterpiece. Within the first strums of the guitar, you feel as though you are among the southwestern hills. It has immediately become one of my favorites of all-time. The songs are filled with beautiful imagery, enchanting tunes, and haunting melodies. The shortness of the songs in unnoticable, as each song blends into the next, and the album itself serves as one epic journey. It is not meant to be listened to a song at a time, but as a whole. As I said, it is truly incredible. I would recommend it to absolutely anyone.

Broadway - The American Musical (PBS Series)

Average customer rating:

Fabulous for any Broadway-lover
Top Shelf
TERRIFIC CD'S
Great Collection of Broadways greatest Songs
Great Compilation!

Broadway - The American Musical (PBS Series)

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Best of Broadway - The American Musical (PBS Series)
Broadway: The American Musical
Broadway: The American Musical
Broadway - The American Musical (PBS Series)
Somewhere over the Rainbow: The Golden Age of Hollywood Musicals

ASIN: B00064ADMK
Release Date: 2004-10-19

Tracks:

Give My Regards To Broadway- Joel Grey
Swanee- Al Jolson
When The Moon Shines On The Moonshine- Bert Williams
A Pretty Girl Is Like A Melody- John Steel
My Man- Fanny Brice
Fascinating Rhythm- Fred Astaire, Adele Astaire
If You Knew Susie (Like I Know Susie)- 78rpm Version Eddie Cantor
Someone To Watch Over Me- Gertrude Lawrence
Bill- 78 rpm Version Helen Morgan
Ol' Man River- Paul Robeson
Ain't Misbehavin'- Louis Armstrong & His Orchestra
Ten Cents A Dance- Ruth Etting
Body And Soul- Libby Holman
Brother, Can You Spare A Dime- Bing Crosby
Night And Day- Fred Astaire
Heat Wave- Ethel Waters
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes- Tamara
You're The Top- Ethel Merman
Summertime- Anne Brown
September Song- Walter Huston
My Heart Belongs To Daddy- Mary Martin
It Never Entered My Mind- Shirley Ross
Bewitched, Bothered, Bewildered- Vivienne Segal
Oh, How I Hate To Get Up In The Morning- Irving Berlin
Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'- Alfred Drake

Tracks:

New York, New York- Cris Alexander,Adolph Green,John Reardon
If I Loved You- John Raitt,Jan Clayton
Come Rain Or Come Shine- Ruby Hill,Harold Nicholas
There's No Business Like Show Business- Ensemble
How Are Things In Glocca Morra? From "Finian's Rainbow"- Ella Logan
Once In Love With Amy- Ray Bolger
Wunderbar- Alfred Drake,Patricia Morison
Some Enchanted Evening- Ezio Pinza
Lost In The Stars- Todd Duncan
Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend- Carol Channing
Luck Be A Lady- Robert Alda,Guys
Getting To Know You- Gertrude Lawrence
Who Cares?- Jack Carson,Betty Oakes
Stranger In Paradise- from " Kismet" Doretta Morrow,Richard Kiley
Ballad Of Mack The Knife- Gerald Price
Hey There- from "The Pajama Game" John Raitt
Whatever Lola Wants- Gwen Verdon
I Could Have Danced All Night- Julie Andrews
Standing On The Corner- from "The Most Happy Fella, 1956" Shorty Long,John Henson,Alan Gilbert
The Party's Over- Judy Holliday
Glitter And Be Gay- Barbara Cook
Tonight- Larry Kert, Carol Lawrence

Tracks:

Seventy-Six Trombones- Robert Preston
I Enjoy Being A Girl- from "Flower Drum Song, 1958" Pat Suzuki
Everything's Coming Up Roses- Ethel Merman
My Favorite Things- from "The Sound Of Music" Mary Martin
Put On A Happy Face- from "Bye Bye Birdie" Dick Van Dyke
Try To Remember- Jerry Orbach
Camelot- from "Camelot" Richard Burton
Love Makes The World Go 'Round- Anna Maria Alberghetti
I Believe In You- Robert Morse And Co.
The Sweetest Sounds- Diahann Carroll,Richard Kiley
Comedy Tonight- Zero Mostel
What Kind Of Fool Am I?- Anthony Newley
As Long As He Needs Me- Georgia Brown
Hello, Dolly!- Carol Channing,Cast
People- Barbra Streisand
Anyone Can Whistle- from "Anyone Can Whistle" Lee Remick
If I Were A Rich Man- Zero Mostel
Night Song- Sammy Davis, Jr.
The Impossible Dream- Richard Kiley
If My Friends Could See Me Now- Gwen Verdon
Open a New Window- from Mame Voice

Tracks:

Willkommen- from "Cabaret" Joel Grey
Let The Sunshine In- James Rado,Lynn Kellogg,Melba Moore,Cast
I'll Never Fall In Love Again- Jill O'Hara,Jerry Orbach
The Ladies Who Lunch- from "Company" Elaine Stritch
Tea For Two- Roger Rathburn,Susan Watson
I'm Still Here- Yvonne De Carlo
I Don't Know How To Love Him- Yvonne Elliman
We Go Together- Adrienne Barbeau,Barry Bostwick,Walter Bobbie,Cast
Corner Of The Sky- John Rubinstein
Send In The Clowns- Glynis Johns
Ease On Down The Road- Stephanie Mills,Tiger Haynes,Ted Ross,Hinton
One- from "A Chorus Line" Cast
All That Jazz- Chita Rivera,Ensemble
Tomorrow- Andrea Mcardle
Don't Cry For Me Argentina- Patti Lupone
Come Follow The Band
Lullaby Of Broadway- Jerry Orbach
And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going- Jennifer Holliday
The Bells Of St. Sebastian- Raul Julia

Tracks:

Memory- Betty Buckley
I Am What I Am- George Hearn
Move On- Bernadette Peters,Mandy Patinkin
Do You Hear The People Sing?- Michael Maguire,Cast
The Music Of The Night- Michael Crawford
You're Nothing Without Me- James Naughton,Gregg Edelman
The American Dream- Jonathan Pryce,Cast
Doctor Jazz- Gregory Hines,Company
With One Look- Glenn Close
On Broadway- Adrian Bailey,Frederick B. Owens,Ken Ard,Victor Trent Cook
Le Jazz Hot- Julie Andrews,Ensemble
Seasons Of Love-
Hakuna Matata- Max Casella,Tom Alan Robbins,Scott Irby-Ranniar,Jason Raize
I Wanna Be A Producer- Matthew Broderick,Ensemble
Dancing Queen- Louise Plowright,Jenny Galloway
Good Morning Baltimore- Marissa Jaret Winokur
Movin' Out- Michael Cavanaugh,Band
I Go To Rio- Hugh Jackman,Company
Defying Gravity- Kristin Chenoweth,Idina Menzel

Customer Reviews:

Fabulous for any Broadway-lover.......2007-01-30

Packs into 5 CD's a sampling of Broadway tunes from the 20's thru (almost) today, mostly from original cast recordings. Includes not just well-known hits, but also some lesser-known gems. Sound quality is first rate, booklet is informative too. Have given this as a gift to several friends with rave reviews.

Top Shelf.......2007-01-04

This is THE definitive collection of Broadway hits. I have other collections, and none of them measure up. A great deal of care was obviously taken in compiling and presenting this box set. It covers a lot of ground, starting with some long-forgotten but still very enjoyable hits from the days of yore, and finishing with present-day favorites. To the best of my knowledge, the recordings are by those who made them famous. You won't be disappointed.

TERRIFIC CD'S.......2006-03-23

THESE BROADWAY MUSICALS CD'S ARE A BROADWAY LOVERS DREAM. WITH EACH SONG, MEMORIES COME FLOODING BACK. BOTH THE FAMILIAR AND THE FORGOTTEN SONGS ARE A TRUE LISTENING PLEASURE. IF YOU LIKE BROADWAY, YOU'LL LOVE THIS SET.

Great Collection of Broadways greatest Songs .......2005-06-14

This Collection was perfectly made it has almost all the most famous Broadway songs on this 5 cd set. The Music is great and has Broadways greatest treasures like "Memory""People""With One Look""Give my regards Too Broadway" just to name a few of this numerous cd set with over 100 songs. This is a great buy if you like musicals or The music of Broadway

Great Compilation!.......2005-01-17

If you are a fan of the Broadway Musicals, this is a collection that you should purchase. Since I got the 5 disc set I've enjoyed listening to it. The majority of the songs are done by the original singers. The collection is priceless considering that you will have over 100 songs from popular musicals since the beginning of Broadway

Renée Fleming - I Want Magic! ~ American Opera Arias

Average customer rating:

All-American Fun
A great listening pleasure. Better than some other selections
I wish I could give more than 5 stars
This music needs a lot less diva
Bringing American opera to the forefront

Renée Fleming - I Want Magic! ~ American Opera Arias
George Gershwin , Carlisle Floyd , Leonard Bernstein , Douglas S. Moore , Bernard Herrmann , Gian Carlo Menotti , Igor Stravinsky , Samuel Barber , André Previn , Metropolitan Opera Orchestra , James Levine , and Renée Fleming
Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Renée Fleming
Renee Fleming - The Beautiful Voice ~ Gounod, Lehaair, Orff, Puccini, Rachmaninov, Strauss
Reneé Fleming & Jean-Yves Thibaudet - Night Songs (Fauré, Debussy, Marx, Strauss, Rachmaninov)
Renée Fleming: Bel Canto
Renée Fleming - Signatures ~ Great Opera Scenes / Sir Georg Solti

ASIN: B00000AFR4
Release Date: 1998-09-15

Tracks:

Wuthering Heights: I Have Dreamt
The Ballad Of Baby Doe: The Letter Song
The Medium: Monica's Waltz
Porgy And Bess: Summertime
Porgy And Bess: My Man's Gone Now
Candide: Glitter And Be Gay
Susannah: Ain't It A Pretty Night
Susannah: The Trees on the Mountains
The Rake's Progress: No Word From Tom ... I Go, I Go To Him
VANESSA: He Has Come, He Has Come
A Streetcar Named Desire: I Want Magic!

Amazon.com

Like Dawn Upshaw's The World So Wide on Nonesuch, this program is such an inviting cross section of American opera of the last 50 years, you wonder why more of it hasn't been recorded. Composers include Carlisle Floyd, Douglas Moore, Samuel Barber, and Gian Carlo Menotti, whose childlike "Monica's Waltz" from the otherwise lurid opera The Medium is a highlight. Old favorites are here, such as Gershwin's "Summertime." And new favorites, too: Andre Previn's forthcoming "A Streetcar Named Desire" graciously offers Straussian lushness and bitonal wind-instrument details suggesting Blanche DuBois's mind departing from reality, all sounding remarkably true to Previn's pre-World War II upbringing in Berlin. This dramatically alert arioso isn't so melodically memorable but makes all necessary dramatic points eloquently. Though she performs vividly throughout, Fleming often lets her vocal tone overwhelm articulation of the words--a middling drawback. And comedy is not her thing: Bernstein's "Glitter and Be Gay" is way too hammy. --David Patrick Stearns

Customer Reviews:

All-American Fun.......2007-01-01

I love this CD. It's so incredibly American. It features American lyric soprano Renee Fleming singing American opera arias. Ms. Fleming is capably accompanied by the Met orchestra, America's best opera orchestra, conducted by another distinguished American, Maestro James Levine. The only way this CD could be more American is if it were released on July 4th, with two baseball tickets included. I'm grateful that Decca made this release.

This CD starts out very strong with a gorgeous aria "I have dreamt" from "Wuthering Heights". I've never seen this opera nor heard of this opera. If the opera is half as good as the aria, I would love to see it. Renee cruises through "The Letter Song" from "The Ballad of Baby Doe" with heartfelt interpretation. "Monica's Waltz" is not one of my favorite arias in the world, but Ms. Fleming sings it beautifully.

Here's where we depart, and the reason I gave this CD only 4 stars. First, Renee sings two arias from "Porgy and Bess": "Summertime" and "My Man's Gone Now". Renee's voice is way too rich and lush for these arias. Listen to Renee sing it, then listen to the gold standard, Leontyne Price. You'll see what I mean. Renee's rendition of "My Man's Gone Now" was just way too pretty. The score calls for some extended glissandos, which are supposed to be wails of grief. Renee sang the glissandos beautifully, but no grief was in sight. Her next choice "Glitter and Be Gay" from "Candide" is just not a good choice for her. I think even Renee would tell you that a voice like hers is just not right for Cunegonde. This aria (and role) calls for a smaller voice. [...].

Then Renee reminds me of why I love her in the first place, by returning to two arias from "Susannah", a signature role for her. Her performances of "Ain't it a pretty night!" and "The trees on the mountains" are too good for words. She completely understands this role, and communicates the mood in these arias right through your speakers. Just imagine how good it must be live!

Renee closes with "No word from Tom" (The Rake's Progress), "He has come, he has come!" (Vanessa), and "I want magic! (A Streetcar Named Desire). I wish more opera companies would produce "The Rake's Progress". This is a wonderful opera by an "adopted" American composer, Igor Stravinsky. The aria from "Streetcar" is kind of an odd choice to close this CD, but Renee did premiere the role of Blanche in this Previn piece with the SF Opera. So maybe it's not so strange after all.

Highly recommended for fans of Renee Fleming, and those who need to add some good old American opera to round out their Puccini collections. This is a nice performance record by a woman surely destined to be one of the greatest lyric sopranos in history.

A great listening pleasure. Better than some other selections.......2006-04-05

'I Want Magic' sung by superstar mezzo Renee Fleming, backed by James Levine and his Metropolitan Opera Orchestra follows the same pattern of severa of Fleming's other releases, in that there is one widely known and very familiar piece (Gershwin's 'Summertime' from 'Porgy and Bess') plus many less familiar pieces.

The theme of all the pieces is that they are arias from American operas, all in English. And, I get a lot more from this selection than I do from, for example, her recording of Shubert Lieder. One thing I learn is how totally typical is Leonard Bernstein's piece from 'Candide', which sounds like it stepped right out of a production of 'The Fantasticks'. Gershwin's two great songs, on the other hand, are icons of American music and even Herrmann's movie song from Wuthering Heights makes Bernstein's song sound ordinary.

But, the album is really all about Fleming's realization of these songs, which is simply nothing less than spectacular. While I tend to prefer hearing works 'in situ', Fleming's talent is so great that hearing her do eleven pieces out of context is worth it. The album is also more interesting than the average collection of Lieder in that it has the backing of a major American dramatic orchestra.

Better than average Fleming choice.

I wish I could give more than 5 stars.......2005-09-30

This recording is truly wonderful! I really feel that American composers have written some incredible things. I think that American opera is much better than British opera, with the exception of Benjamin Britten. My favorites on this track are actually all of them, but if I had to choose, I would pick: "No word from Tom" (The Rakes Progress, Stravinsky), "Ain't it a pretty night" (Sussanah, Floyd), "Glitter and be Gay" (Candide, Bernstein), and my absolute favorite "Monica's Waltz" (The Medium, Menotti). This is such a great album. Some of Renee's diction isn't completely clear, but that's opera. In order to acheive a beautiful sound, especially in English, certain vowels need to be altered. ESPECIALLY for the soprano voice. When singing so high, certain vowels and consonants need to be altered a bit. Anyway, it's an incredible album!!

This music needs a lot less diva.......2005-09-18

Renee Fleming has a glorious voice, and there's not a note here that isn't ravishing. Decca's engineers have caught the voice very well, and Levine's conducting is all it could be. The problem? Well, having her sing Summertime and My Man's Gone NOw was a bad idea, not only because both are cliches. Felming has a hard time sounding emotionally natural. She tends to apply her incredible voice with diva-like self-consciousness and play-acted emotion far too often.

Which means that her CD recitals are hit-and-miss. Glitter and Be Gay is a disaster here because she tries to be funny and winds up being self-conscious and embarrassing. But the big aria form Susannah, a role Fleming sings at the Met, is perfect. I expected a lot more adventurousness from this American collection, since Felming is, after all, an American singer. But it's mostly overplayed, like Puccini in English, sobs and all. I enjoyed the voice, but after a while the mannerisms became tiresome.

Bringing American opera to the forefront.......2005-01-20

American opera is not as well-known to many people because it can be complex, both musically and dramatically, and requires amazing vocal technique to sing things that sound simple. Fleming's recording highlights some familiar arias (the Susannah arias, for example) as well as some that are almost unknown. If you are an opera fan, and especially if you want to learn more about American opera, this CD is a great place to start. My favorite: Glitter and Be Gay, from Bernstein's Candide. Wow.

1964: Shakin' All Over (Time Life Music Classic Rock)

Average customer rating:

1964: Shakin' All Over (Time Life Music Classic Rock)
Major Lance , Brenda Holloway , The Hondells , Jumpin' Gene Simmons , The Velvelettes , Jimmy Hughes , Bobby Bland , The Impressions , The Searchers , and Gerry and the Pacemakers
Manufacturer: Time-Life Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000FPHJBS

Product Description

Song listing: 1 Roy Orbison Oh, Pretty Woman (2:58) 2 Major Lance Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um (2:22) 3 Peter & Gordon I Don't Want To See You Again (2:01) 4 Chuck Berry Nadine (Is It You?) (2:34) 5 Brenda Holloway Every Little Bit Hurts (2:53) 6 Beach Boys, The Don't Worry Baby (2:49) 7 Hondells, The Little Honda (2:05) 8 Jumpin' Gene Simmons Haunted House (2:35) 9 Velvelettes, The Needle In A Haystack (2:26) 10 Dionne Warwick Walk On By (2:53) 11 Gerry & The Pacemakers Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying (2:37) 12 Diana Ross & The Supremes Baby Love (2:39) 13 Searchers, The Don't Throw Your Love Away (2:17) 14 Ventures, The Walk, Don't Run '64 (2:25) 15 Marvelettes, The Too Many Fish In The Sea (2:30) 16 Little Anthony & The Imperials I'm On The Outside (Looking In) (3:09) 17 Jimmy Hughes Steal Away (2:28) 18 Bobby Bland Ain't Nothing You Can Do (2:31) 19 Jan & Dean Drag City (2:17) 20 Martha Reeves & The Vandellas Quicksand (2:36) 21 Impressions, The Talking About My Baby (2:32) 22 Bobby Vinton Mr. Lonely (2:39)

Average customer rating:

Good coloratura work by Elizabeth Futral
At Last a Solo Recital on CD
An Interesting display

Great Operatic Arias

Manufacturer: Chandos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Diana Montague Sings Great Operatic Arias, Vol. 2
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Sweethearts
Pasión!
The Very Best of Régine Crespin

ASIN: B00009AQMF
Release Date: 2003-06-24

Tracks:

Come Take Me In Your Arms
My Soul Is Filled With Love For You
What Are These Tears And Sighs
How I Loved Him!
A Maiden Adorning
He Has Come Back
See Here, Dorabella
Ah! Let me Live In This Dream
He's The God Of Youth And Springtime
The Silver Moon Was Shining
Ain't It A Pretty Night!
Take Me Away To The One I Adore
Oh Sleep, Why Dost Thou Leave Me?

Customer Reviews:

Good coloratura work by Elizabeth Futral.......2007-05-27

This is an interesting CD from soprano Elizabeth Futral. The theme of this is a set of operatic arias sung in English, not in the original French or Italian or. . . . I'm not sure how sold I am on the concept, but, after all, it's the singing and musicality that is most important. And, by that measure, Elizabeth Futral does very nicely.

The accompanying booklet begins by noting that (page 8) "The voice of the light soprano has enchanted listeners for centuries." Futral's singing is characteristic of this type of voice.

In this era, any coloratura soprano has two challenges: first, to compare with the past generation's astonishingly talented practitioners, well exemplified by Joan Sutherland and Beverly Sill. Second, though, there are some wonderful coloratura sopranos today against whom others will be compared, with Natalie Dessay and Sumi Jo among the most adept. Thus, Futral will almost automatically be compared with such exemplars. I do not think one could say she is the equal of those four just mentioned, but she does not compare badly either.

From the Wikipedia: "In musical notation, the Italian word staccato (literally detached, plural staccatos or staccati) indicates that notes are sounded in a detached and distinctly separate manner, with silence making up the latter part of the time allocated to each note. The rhythm is not affected. Notes identified as staccato should be played or sung abruptly and short." This is worthy of comment, since the "Bell Song" from "Lakme," one of the selections on this CD, features many such notes. Futral sings them well. Her performance in this work is well done (although it is somewhat jarring, again, to hear it sung in English). She begins with a nice high note and a bang up following trill. She displays good agility and features nice technique on staccato notes. Overall, this is well done. Toward the end, which calls for great ornamentation, she seems a bit hesitant at time, but she concludes with a nicely sung high note.

Other examples of her singing. From Handel's "Alcina," she sings "Come take me in your arms." Her voice is a light, standard coloratura voice (although not all coloratura sopranos have such a voice, of course). She displays considerable agility, a decent trill, and good ornamentation. There is a bit of harshness on a high note toward the close, but hardly fatal to the overall positive effect of her singing.

From Donizetti's "Linda di Chamounix," there is "My soul is filled with love for you" (otherwise known as "O luce di quest'anima"). Her version is not too shabby when compared with such greats as Sutherland and Jo. The cabaletta shows off, again, her agile voice. Good staccato high notes. Nice trills and a well nailed final high note.

Then there is the charming "Son vergin vezzosa" from Bellini's "I Puritani," here entitled "A maiden adorning." Again, nice agility, good trills, well done florid singing technique. While there is some harshness in the penultimate high note, overall, well done.

In short, Futral adds to a currently rich supply of coloratura sopranos, and compares well with the best of them.

At Last a Solo Recital on CD.......2005-03-19

Elizabeth Futral is one of those rare sopranos who seems to put pacing of her career, care of the voice, and commitment to repertoire range ahead of the too early media blitz that can hamper a singer's career. Clearly she has it all - beauty of voice, beauty of physical presence, fine acting skills, intelligence, and interpretive insights.

Having seen her Cleopatra in LA Opera's GUILIO CESARE and in SF Opera's production of Previn's STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE put her high on the list of important new sopranos. This rather strange recording gives samples of her foray's into all styles from Handel to Previn and does a fine job in capturing the beauty of her phrasing and quality of her seamless soprano voice. It is somewhat distracting to place a first recital recording before the public being sung entirely in English, especially for those who are unfamiliar with Futral's gifts. But credit Chandos with the courage to try something different, something that may introduce new audiences to the opera field.

Surely after the recent successes of Futral performances in the opera houses more recordings will follow. Meanwhile this is a tasty sampler of just how versatile - and special - Elizabeth Futral is. Grady Harp, March 05

An Interesting display.......2003-07-23

Coloratura-soprano Elizabeth Futral is a remarkable artist with a beautiful instrument and a most impressive technique. Her appearences in record stores are mostly on lesser known and up and coming labels such as Opera Rara and CHANDOS; with a few performances on DG.

This CD has an unusual semi-personal package. Duets, trios and quartets are featured. The title of the program is called Great Operatic Arias which seems rather broad for a soprano recital disc.

Futral sings well as always, however the content seems to lack a bit of intricacy and polish. Each aria, duet etc leaves you wondering whether or not a bit more time could have been put into this. The arias range from baroque to 20th century; covering four languages.

The entire program is performed in English and this is interesting... Although some of the arias just sound plain strange in English! It is a very nice thing to actually completely and instantly understand what is being sung. I was most impressed with the CHANDOS Lucia di Lammermoor. Futral probably gave her best performance on record in that role. She is astonishingly good on that recording. Her mad scene is awesome!

Tracks:

Laurie's Song
This is Prophetic
What a Movie
Oh Yemanja (Mother's Prayer)
Willow Song
Lonely House
Give Me Some Music
Ain't it a Pretty Night

Amazon.com

This refreshing jewel of 20th-century opera arias allows Upshaw to put her personal stamp on music written for a variety of voice types. While some are more successful than others, they're all performed with intelligence and musciality--an Upshaw trademark. Her consistently even tone along with her commitment to sensitive interpretation and precise diction is impressive. The most beautiful of these arias (Copland's "The World So Wide," Floyd's "Ain't It a Pretty Night") capture the brilliance of American homegrown musical lyricism, as the cornucopia of musical sounds flows like a waterfall from magical orchestral mountains. Upshaw's jubilance inspires joy for the listener as well. --Barbara Eisner Bayer

Customer Reviews:

Another adventurous collection from the wonderful Ms. Upshaw.......2006-08-24

On reflection, it's amazing that Dawn Upshaw has made a major career for herself without recording a note of Verdi, Wagner, Puccini, or Strauss. She's far from being a bread-and-butter soprano, as this marvelous colleciton of mostly obscure arias from mostly obscure American operas displays. The title aria form copland's The Tender Land sets the overall tone of rapt, romatnic charm. Her voice is too light to sing Barber's Celopatra onstage, but it works well in the studio, and the more popsy numbers, such as Delilah's big song from Bernstein's Trouble in Tahiti, call on Upshaw's excellent crossover skills. Another revelation is how good Joh Adams's Nixon in China music sounds when performed expressively by a major artist.

Renee Fleming released a similar collection on Decca ("I Want Magic"), but the two CDs couldn't be more different. Upshaw is touching, informal, spontaneous, and charming. Fleming tires for the big effects, boosting the music (not too successfully) into the ralms of grand opera.

In all, I'm deeply grateful for every unusual program Upshaw delivers. Now that there are more than a dozen of them, we can see how beautifully she has managed a career devoted to music that few other major stars come close to trying.

World So Wide.......2001-08-26

This is not one of my favorite Dawn Upshaw albums, mainly because of the choice of music. The selections, generally, are quite dark and often lack lyrical continuity, which certainly has nothing to do with Upshaw. However, as a lost art form, they are still quite worth recording, but don't expect an easy-listening experience or to be humming the tunes around the house as is the case with Upshaw's broadway albums. That being said, Upshaw does a fantastic job with this selection of music, though she is a bit bright at times. The album is worth buying simply for the recording of the "Willow Song" from the Ballad of Baby Doe. Upshaw's interpretation is wonderful and the voice is obviously well-suited to the piece. In fact, I'm tempted to prefer her version over Beverly Sills' original. Bernstein's "What a Movie" shows Upshaw at her funniest-a great piece. And, as usual, one is amazed by her fantastic technique, which makes up for the brightness in the voice.

Dawn, why?.......2001-05-12

I used to be a huge Dawn Upshaw fan back when she put out her first few recordings. But, now she is one of my very least favorite singers. Why? The excessive nasality, the ridiculous swooping, and the overdone ...mannerisms. On top of that, she has lost the roundness in her upper register (as evidenced by places in Ain't it a Pretty Night). This music doesn't need someone to treat it like a cabaret showtune to be effective, it just needs to be beautifully sung. Once upon a time, I thought Ms. Upshaw was just the person to do this kind of performance...

I realize that there are diehard Upshaw fans out there that will completely disagree with me. This is just a warning to those that dislike this sort of approach to singing.

A Wonderful Selection of Arias from American Operas.......2001-04-27

The music on this CD is very beautiful and represents a wide variety of American opera. Dawn Upshaw does tend to scoop every now and then, but overall she does a good job. I would recommend this CD to anyone who enjoys opera.

"All velvet and diamonds.".......1999-10-08

"Beautiful" has pretty much gone out of fashion as a much abused and now empty word. And yet, I can't think of a word that would more accurately describe Dawn Upshaw's "The World so Wide." It is just that: sheer beauty. The incredible dynamic range of Upshaw's voice is a perfect match for this thoughtful selection of stylistically very different, and demanding contemporary pieces. Going from ironic, witty grit of Bernstein's "What a movie," to poignant restraint of "Mother's Prayer," and softly romantic exuberance of Moore's "Willow Song," this brilliant this CD doesn't disappoint for even a moment. In its last piece, Floyd's "Ain't it a Pretty Night," where Upshaw sings, literally, to the stars, she seems to effortlessly soar just as high. A great CD, it is indeed "all velvet and diamonds."

Average customer rating:

Great Musicals

Manufacturer: Rajon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

English | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000682FF4
Release Date: 2004-11-15

Tracks:

Oklahoma Suite: Oklahoma!/Oh, What a Beautiful Morning/The Surrey With
My Fair Lady Suite: Ascot Gavotte/Wouldn't It Be Loverly?/With a ...
Annie Get Your Gun Suite: Doin' What Comes Natur'lly/You Can't Get ...
King and I Suite: The March of Siamese Children/I Whistle a Happy Tune
Sound of Music Suite: The Sound of Music/My Favourite Things/Do-Re-Mi
West Side Story: The Jet Song/America/Tonight/Something's Coming/Maria

Tracks:

Porgy and Bess Suite: Summertime/I Got Plenty O' Nuttin'/I Loves ...
South Pacific Suite: Bali Ha'i/A Cockeyed Optimist/Some Enchanted ...
Guys and Dolls Suite: Luck Be a Lady/Fugue for Tinhorns/Follow the ...
Carousel Suite: The Carousel Waltz/Mister Snow/June Is Bustin' Out All

Tracks:

Joseph & The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat: Any Dream Will ...
Evita: Don't Cry for Me Argentina/Another Suitcase in Another Hall
Jesus Christ Superstar: Jesus Christ Superstar/I Don't Know How to ...
Cats: Memory/Macavity the Mystery Cat/Mister Misoffeles
Phantom of the Opera: Phantom of the Opera/All I Ask of You/Angel ...

Album Description

Australian exclusive 3-CD set from the Rajon label's 'Great Series'. 2004.

Average customer rating:

It Ain't Pretty Being Easy
Syre
Manufacturer: Landmark Distributor
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000008LCD
Release Date: 1991-05-07

Tracks:

Flaunt It
Say Hi to My Girlfriend
(Can't Believe) I'm With You
You Never Looked Back
Summertime
Friday's Smile
Way You're Lookin' Tonight
Never Said Goodbye
In Your Eyes
Ain't Seen Nothin'

Average customer rating:

America

Manufacturer: White Line
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

English | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0000030YY
Release Date: 1996-05-21

Tracks:

Porgy And Bess-Jasbo Brown Blues
Porgy And Bess-Summertime
Porgy And Bess-It Ain't Necessarily So
Porgy And Bess-Oh, I Can't Sit Down
Porgy And Bess-Bess, You Is My Woman Now
Porgy And Bess-I Got Plenty O' Nuttin'
Three Preludes-No.1: Allegro Ben Ritmato E Deciso
Three Preludes-No.2: Andante Con Moto E Poco Rubato
Three Preludes-No.3: Allegro Ben Ritmato E Deciso
Lullaby
Impromptu In Two Keys
Three Quarter Blues
West Side Story-Prologue
West Side Story-Something's Coming
West Side Story-Maria
West Side Story-America
West Side Story-One Hand, One Heart
West Side Story-Tonight
West Side Story-I Feel Pretty
West Side Story-Somewhere
West Side Story-Gee, Officer Krupke
West Side Story-A Boy Like That
West Side Story-I Have A Love-Finale

Average customer rating:

It's great to hear again the voice of this great artist.

Phyllis Curtin Opera Arias

Manufacturer: Video Artists Int'l
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Arias | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

English | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000003LLV
Release Date: 1998-05-19

Tracks:

Le nozze di Figaro: E Susanna non vien... Dove sono
Cosi fan tutte: Come scoglio
Louise: Depuis le jour
La Traviata: E strano!...Ah, fors'e lui... Sempre libera
La Traviata: Teneste la promessa... Addio del passato
Andrea Chenier: La mamma norta
La rondine: Chi il bel sogno
Gianni Schicchi: O mio babbino caro
Susannah: Ain't It A Pretty Night
Salome: Final Scene

Customer Reviews:

It's great to hear again the voice of this great artist........1998-09-30

For some years Phyliss Curtin has been comtributing to the world of vocal music through her master classses. Now after a long time we can once again hear her voice. Though technically this recording is unsatisfactory, the selection of operatic arias is excellent. One wants to hear more! Let's hope that this is only the first of many cds featuring Phyliss Curtin.

Rock Music:

Rock Music