Opera

opera

Track Listings

1. Bell Mountain
2. Fire Made of Bones
3. Feeler
4. Summa
5. Radiolaria
6. Longitude
7. Noises from a Hill
8. Return to Ship
9. Terraces
10. Rut

Opera,Tape,Hapna Sweden,Avant-Garde,Pop,Post-Rock/Experimental,Rock,Rock/Pop
Paul Potts [United Kingdom]: One Chance
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Paul Potts [United Kingdom]: One Chance

    Manufacturer: Sony / Bmg Import
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

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    Similar Items:
    1. Nessun Dorma ~ 20 Great Tenor Arias / Pavarotti, Carreras, Domingo, Bergonzi, Aragall, Björling, Di Stefano, Kollo, Corelli, Del Monaco...
    2. The #1 Opera Album
    3. The Most Famous Opera Arias
    4. Bianca Ryan
    5. Puccini - Turandot / Franco Zeffirelli - Marton, Domingo, Mitchell, Plishka, Cuenod - James Levine, MET (1988)

    ASIN: B000SKO0OY
    Release Date: 2007-07-30

    Tracks:

    1. Nessun Dorma
    2. Con Te Partiro (Time To Say Goodbye)
    3. Amapola
    4. Ognuno Soffre (Everybody Hurts)
    5. Caruso
    6. Nella Fantasia
    7. Por Ti Sere (You Raise Me Up)
    8. A Mi Manera (My Way)
    9. Cavatina
    10. Music Of The Night

    Album Description

    2007 debut album from the winner of the first season of Britain's Got Talent. Potts' winning performance of Puccini's 'Nessun Dorma' is now one of the most watched clips in You Tube's history (10 million+). The album includes that track as well as the equally captivating 'Time To Say Goodbye', a Spanish version of 'My Way' and Italian version of REM's 'Everybody Hurts'. 12 tracks. RCA.

    Product Description

    This Unassuming Man, a 36 Year Old Phone Salesman from South Wales and Amateur Opera Singer, Stepped Up to the Microphone on Simon Cowell's British Itv Show "Britain's Got Talent" and Literally Stole the Show. Many Anticipated Another William Hung, but Instead Got a Caruso! the Performance Brought the Entire Audience to their Feet, Even Winning High Praise from Cowell Himself. Potts Went on to Resoundingly Win the Competition! his is a Real Rags to Riches Tale, Having Been £30,000 in Debt and Suffering Years of Bullying and Recovering from a Serious Motorbike Accident. His Winning the Competition Got Him Signed to a Lucrative Recording Contract and He Gained Considerable Media Exposure all Over the World. This Debut Album Naturally features the Piece He Auditioned with (Puccini's "Nessun Dorma") as Well as his Heart Stopping Version of "Con Te Partiro/Time to Say Goodbye", the Song He Sang in the Finals, Originally Made Famous by Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli.
    Andrea Bocelli - Amore
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • Amore
    • I just can't get into it, maby if it was in english
    • Very romantic
    • Beautiful music
    • Intoxicating Italian music
    Andrea Bocelli - Amore
    Andrea Bocelli
    Manufacturer: Sugar
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

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    Similar Items:
    1. Romanza
    2. Ancora
    3. Andrea
    4. Andrea Bocelli: Under the Desert Sky [DVD Included]
    5. Siempre

    ASIN: B000CC1TGA
    Release Date: 2006-01-31

    Tracks:

    1. Amapola
    2. Besame Mucho
    3. Les Feuilles Mortes (Autumn Leaves)
    4. Mi Manchi - featuring Kenny G
    5. Somos Novios (It's Impossible) - Duet with Christina Aguilera
    6. Solamente Una Vez
    7. Jurame
    8. Pero Te Extrano
    9. Canzoni Stonate - Featuring Stevie Wonder on harmonica and vocals
    10. L'Appuntamento
    11. Cuando Me Enamoro
    12. Can't Help Falling In Love - Live At Lake Las Vegas
    13. Because We Believe
    14. Ama Credi E Vai (Because We Believe)

    Product Description

    Romance. Passion. Emotion. These words are synonymous with the voice of Andrea Bocelli. Almost ten years ago he exploded onto the international music scene with Romanza, and has since sold nearly 50 million albums worldwide. Amore--released amongst the glamor of the Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy (where he will perform at the closing ceremony) and the romance of Valentine's Day--finds Bocelli straying from the carefully groomed classical ground in which he is most familiar. The concept of the album came from famed producer and longtime Bocelli fan David Foster along with co-producers Humberto Gatica and Tony Renis, who posed the question: Why not take the most beautiful love songs in the world and pair them with the most romantic voice in the world? The result is a beautiful album of pop standards that Foster has publicly claimed is "one of the most beautiful records I have ever been part of."

    Embarking on a new era, Amore unveils a fresh sensuous sound that gently moves Bocelli into new territory. Spanish guitars flourish, traditional Latin percussion seductively keeps the tempo, accordions and harmonicas provide charming melodies, while sometimes Bocelli shares the spotlight with just a grand piano. Recorded late in the summer at Bocelli's Tuscan home studio overlooking the coast, the album exudes the natural beauty and breathtaking surroundings evident in Italy. Amore marks the only album David Foster has made outside of his Californian studio complex in two decades. This was also most musically gratifying for Bocelli: "I've been presented with opportunities I once could only dream of, challenges I longed to confront and experiences I will cherish forever, but while recording this album I realized that now is the perfect moment to arrive at an album of this repertoire, with the perfect producers, the perfect musicians and the perfect selection of songs."

    More CDs from Andrea Bocelli


    The Storyteller


    Romanza


    Cieli di Toscana


    Verdi


    La Bohème


    Sacred Arias

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Amore.......2007-06-13

    Molto buon! Andrea Bocelli has gone over the top on this album. l'amora della mia vita.

    2 out of 5 stars I just can't get into it, maby if it was in english.......2007-06-08

    I heard andrea bocelli on a sarah brightman CD and it was amazing, but some of it was in english and the song was a great one, I just can't get into this CD maby if it were in english I'd enjoy it. It could be the songs but since it's not in english I can't say for sure.

    5 out of 5 stars Very romantic.......2007-05-24

    This cd is a very good mix of all the best romantic songs that Andrea Bocelli could sing. His voice is so perfect for the lyrics that makes the original singers not to sing so good. A must have, specially if you have your loved one closer with a bottle of wine in a perfect romantic place.

    5 out of 5 stars Beautiful music.......2007-05-08

    I ordered this CD after seeing him perform on a PBS program. The music has a relaxing energy I haven't found in any other music. I can listen to it day after day.

    5 out of 5 stars Intoxicating Italian music.......2007-05-07

    This is Andrea Bocelli's best CD to date - whether you are listening in the car, taking a walk or entertaining for a party this CD covers it all. Bocelli's voice is amazing and his duet with Christina Aguilera will blow you away. This is a must to purchase with many hours of listening pleasure.
    The Very Best of Beverly Sills
    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    • Here's what the fuss was all about!
    • Beverly Sills - The Best
    • Beverly Sills' highs are breathtaking!
    • THE 2005 OPERA CD OF THE YEAR
    • EMI Does It Again: Beverly Sills - A Tribute
    The Very Best of Beverly Sills

    Manufacturer: EMI Classics
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

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    Similar Items:
    1. The Great Recordings
    2. Beverly Sills: Made in America
    3. Art of Beverly
    4. Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor: Complete Opera (with full libretto and translation)
    5. Verdi: La Traviata / Sills, Gedda, Panerai; Ceccato

    ASIN: B0006VYELE
    Release Date: 2005-04-26

    Tracks:

    1. Una Voce Poco Fa - Sherrill Milnes
    2. Dunque Io Son - Sherrill Milnes
    3. Contro Un Cor - Sherrill Milnes
    4. Ah, Qual Colpo Inaspetatto! - Sherrill Milnes
    5. E Il Sol Dell'anima... Addio! Speranza Ed Anima - Ambrosian Opera Chorus
    6. Gualtier Malde... Caro Nome - Ambrosian Opera Chorus
    7. Tutte Le Feste Al Tempio... Compiuto Pur Quanto... Si, Vendetta - Ambrosian Opera Chorus
    8. V'ho Ingannato... Lassu In Cielo - Ambrosian Opera Chorus
    9. Quel Guardo Il Cavaliere... So Anch'io La Virtu Magica - Ambrosian Opera Chorus
    10. Pronta Io Son... Vado, Corro - Ambrosian Opera Chorus
    11. Via, Caro Sposino - Ambrosian Opera Chorus
    12. Tornami A Dir Che M'ami - Ambrosian Opera Chorus
    13. La Morale In Tutto Questo - Ambrosian Opera Chorus

    Tracks:

    1. Vilia - Beverly Sills
    2. Ah! Je Suis Seule... Dis-Moi Que Je Suis Belle - Beverly Sills
    3. Cielo! Che Diverro?... Si, ferite... Dal Soggiorno... Ah! Che Spiegar - Beverly Sills
    4. Libiamo Ne' Lieti Calici - John Alldis Choir
    5. Un Di Felice, Eterea - John Alldis Choir
    6. E Strano... Ah, Fors'e Lui... Follie! Follie!... Sempre Libera - John Alldis Choir
    7. Pura Siccome Un Angelo... Ah! Dite Alla Giovine - John Alldis Choir
    8. Che Fai? - John Alldis Choir
    9. Addio Del Passato - John Alldis Choir
    10. Parigi, O Cara - John Alldis Choir

    Amazon.com

    Beverly Sills hardly needs an introduction. She sang on the radio as a child and on the operatic stage as a teenager; her meteoric international career was launched by appearances in several virtually unknown bel canto operas at the New York City Opera. This compilation of arias and ensembles from some of her signature roles, recorded in the 1970s, with splendid partners like Nicolai Gedda, Alfredo Kraus, and Sherrill Milnes, displays her unique vocal and dramatic artistry at its peak. Her voice, effortlessly produced over an enormous range, is bright, pure, infinitely variable in color, inflection and intensity. Her intonation is impeccable even in huge leaps, and her breath is endless. The coloratura roulades are like strings of perfect, luminous pearls, clearly articulated in seamless legato. But this stunning technique (whose only flaw is a sometimes wide, wobbly vibrato) is never used for show; every note has life and expression, serving the music and the dramatic situation. Indeed, her characters are flesh-and-blood human beings, whose thoughts, emotions and interactions, from inwardness to ecstasy, from lamentation to overflowing joy, she projects with riveting concentration. Rosina in Rossini's The Barber of Seville is a charming, mischievous minx who succumbs to delighted tenderness; Pamira's great scene from his Siege of Corinth shows clearly why her Metropolitan Opera debut in that role was a sensation. In Verdi's Rigoletto, Gilda's hopeful innocence turns into hopeless despair: she dies, palpably, on a floating, celestial pianissimo. In his La traviata, Violetta's initial cool, hesitant restraint gradually melts as she opens herself (and her voice) to Alfredo's ardor and the bliss of love. The vocal balance in their final duet is uncanny; its tremulous tenderness in the shadow of death breaks the heart, as does her duet with Germont. Massenet's Thais is sensuous; Donizetti's Don Pasquale and Lehár's The Merry Widow provide comic relief. --Edith Eisler

    Album Description

    Details TBA. EMI. 2005.

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Here's what the fuss was all about!.......2007-07-17

    It would have been even better if they had included at least one Cleopatra aria and something from Baby Doe, but it doesn't really matter, because this collection will allow younger listeners especially to hear what the fuss was all about! There are moments listening to Sills, especially from Traviata or Manon, that are so beautifully sung and so genuine that they are heartbreaking. I feel so fortunate to have heard her Queen of the Night, Manon, Violetta, and Baby Doe. She was so generous as a performer and as a humanitarian, and she really brought opera into the American mainstream.

    5 out of 5 stars Beverly Sills - The Best.......2007-04-01

    What a voice. No coloratura can compare, and she makes it seem so easy.

    5 out of 5 stars Beverly Sills' highs are breathtaking!.......2006-09-18

    Adio del Passato is incredible! Beverly's high, floating coloratura is no less than ethereal which takes you to another world. Her voice has given me so much joy that it is hard to say one recording is better than another because I love her Mozart album equally with her Bellini/Donizetti. It is so wonderful to have these recordings captured on CD! Enjoy!

    5 out of 5 stars THE 2005 OPERA CD OF THE YEAR.......2006-08-19

    THIS CD WAS THE BEST OPERA CD ISSUED LAST YEAR, AND HAS CAUGHT THE WORLD'S EAR IN NO TIME. I WAS BUSY WRITING IN SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL, WHILE THE STATEOWNED FM RADIOSTATION, DEDICATED TO CULTURE, WAS SOFTLY PLAYING OPERA ARIAS IN THE BACKGROUND. SUDDENLY I HEARD THE MOST FANTASTIC RENDERING OF "SEMPRE LIBERA" FROM "LA TRAVIATA". I GOT UP, SAT BY THE RADIO AND WAITED TO KNOW WHO WAS SINGING... THEN GOT BACK TO THE COMPUTER TO ORDER THIS CD FROM AMAZON! INCREDIBLE: ONLY 17 BUCKS FOR THIS, WHILE QUITE A BIT OF TRASH IS SOLD FOR 30.40 AND MORE...
    A LADY FRIEND ONCE TOLD ME SHE COULD NOT LISTEN TO THE DUET IN "MADAMA BUTTERFLY" WITH MIRELLA FRENI AND LUCIANO PAVAROTTI (RECORDED IN 1974, BY VON KARAJAN) WITHOUT CRYING. WELL, YOU CANNOT LISTEN TO SILLS IN "LA TRAVIATA" DRY-EYED, NO MATTER WHO THE TENOR IS. SHE PROJECTS THE SAME DRAMATIC FEELING OF "LA DIVINA" CALLAS WITHOUT THOSE SHRIEKED HIGHNOTES; SHE OFFERS THE SAME COLORATURA VOCAL GYMNASTICS AS "LA STUPENDA" SUTHERLAND BUT WITH WARMTH... WHEN BEVERLY SANG, AS IN EVERYTHING ELSE SHE DID, SHE ALWAYS GAVE HER UTMOST. SHE WAS "LA GENEROSA" TO BE SURE.
    DON'T JUST SIT THERE READING WHAT OTHERS THINK.
    ORDER THIS CD NOW AND MARVEL AT HOW THIS GREAT AMERICAN LADY, IN SO MANY OTHER WAYS, ALSO COULD SING!

    5 out of 5 stars EMI Does It Again: Beverly Sills - A Tribute.......2005-07-22

    EMI's "Very Best Of" series are perfect introductions to operatic singers of the 20th century. Once you hear these artist tribute albums (much like The Singers series) you will get hooked on the singer and seek out their full-length studio recordings. Beverly Sills was the first truly famous American opera star. One may argue that she was not, that she was merely a continued tradition of American divas such as Mary Garden and Lily Pons and which still continues today with Renee Fleming, Elizabeth Futral and Susan Graham. Beverly was raised in New York City, which is still her home, and which is the home of the New York City Opera and the Met, opera houses which rocketed her to fame. Her first success (not featured in this recording...UH WHY ?) was Cleopatra of Handel's Julius Caesar, a performance she sang opposite the illustrious baritone Norman Treigle. Those performances were legendary because coincidentally at the same time the Met was opening its new theatre and season with what became a disastrous Samuel Barber's Antony and Cleopatra starring Leontyne Price in an overblown, big-budget, epic fiasco. The great roles that followed the 1965 Cleopatra were Manon, Queen Elizabeth I in Roberto Deveraux, Maria Stuarda and Anna Bolena in the Donizetti Tudor Queen operas, Pamira in The Siege of Corinth (which were Sill's La Scala and belated Met debut. None of the Queens are featured in this recording, though its supposedly the Very Best Of. An aria from Rossini's Siege of Corinth is featured here however. What we are treated to however are fine lyric roles- Beverly Sills shone brightly and acted convincingly as Gilda in Rigoletto (the final scene is featured here) as Violetta in La Traviata, Thais, The Merry Widow (the beautiful Vilja is featured here)and the ingenue role of Norina in Don Pasquale is also showcased here. To each of these roles, Beverly Sills delivered an authenticity and dramatic interpretation, not ot mention beautiful, sweet tone. I love her pianissimos, her high notes, her chest register. It was the voice of Beverly Sills who first hooked me into opera. For a recording that should showcase her best work, Manon is not featured nor any of her prized French heroines- Marie in The Daughter of the Regiment and the heroines in Tales of Hoffman. Also not in here is the role that was her first success- the Broadway opera Ballad of Baby Doe. Even as such, the arias here are gorgeous. The Barber of Seville is in here and as Rosina she is playful and charming. Sills was a modern singer, with a voice that was beautiful but willing to sacrifice beauty for the sake of dramatic content. When Sills was once asked what she thought of the supposed rivalry with Joan Sutherland (which was never real and only gossip from partisan fans) Beverly said something to this effect -Joan and I are apples and oranges in our take on opera, we are Picasso and Monet. She would do anything for the effect of beauty and tone, I'd sacrifice beauty for the sake of dramatic text. Even as such, I see no ugliness to any of the roles here. All of them are beautiful to hear, full of rich floating celestial tones. It would have been nice to hear the roles that did call for Sills to step up the tense drama - Norma, will her recording ever be reissued by EMI ? Also, few people know that Beverly Sills sung role most would consider dangerous for her voice (though she sang them long before her career even took off)- Aida and Carmen!!
    Romanza
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • Bias I Confess
    • An Italianized Englishman...
    • Romancing the listeners
    • Amazing!!!
    • Andrea in the 90's
    Romanza
    Andrea Bocelli
    Manufacturer: Philips
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

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    Similar Items:
    1. Andrea Bocelli - Amore
    2. Sogno
    3. Andrea
    4. Cieli di Toscana
    5. Time to Say Goodbye

    ASIN: B0000041OG
    Release Date: 1997-09-23

    Tracks:

    1. Con Te Partiro
    2. Vivere
    3. Per Amore
    4. Il Mare Calmo Della Sera
    5. Caruso
    6. Macchine Da Guerra
    7. Le Tue Parole
    8. Vivo Per Lei
    9. Romanza
    10. La Luna Che Non C'e
    11. Rapsodia
    12. Voglio Restare Cosi
    13. E Chiove
    14. Miserere-Live
    15. Time To Say Goodbye (Con Te Partiro) - A Tribute To Henri Maske

    Amazon.com essential recording

    From his childhood on the family farm in rural Tuscany to the worldwide stage, Andrea Bocelli has achieved phenomenal success. His singing is only partially the point, and his fame owes much more to the aura of romance and the romantic archetype that's attached to him. Romanza is by far Bocelli's largest success, winning adoration thanks to the swooning vocals and the easy, sometimes lush, always pop-safe instrumental textures and melodies. As far as his opera chops go, Bocelli has won the approval of Pavarotti but likely will not wow enthusiasts. The upside is that Bocelli will likely grow the opera pie, convincing labels to take on more operatic projects. --Andrew Bartlett

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Bias I Confess.......2007-07-06

    I confess to loving Italian music and opera in addition to Rock & Roll, Country and music in general.

    This music is good when you want to relax or have a lady over 40 you want to entertain.

    3 out of 5 stars An Italianized Englishman..........2007-06-01

    Is the Devil incarnate." (Inglese italianato e un diavolo incarnate) Or so I've heard. I suppose the author (I read it in a copy of Machiavelli's The Prince) could be forgiven for not having heard Don Bocelli and Donna Brightman sing "Con Te Partiro" - can we now say Inglese italianata e un angelo incarnate?

    The rest of the album is a collection of ballads, most of which suffer from weak or clashing instrumentals. An exception is "Macchine Da Guerra" which has a pleasant and comparatively strong piano accompaniment.

    I'd like to thank Kenny McCormick of South Park, CO for turning me on to Don Bocelli.

    5 out of 5 stars Romancing the listeners.......2007-05-30

    What a voice, it soars with the arias and bops with the more contemporary. Especially love the song about Caruso. Andrea is un cantante bello, un uomo bello! Turn this one up with the top down and let it sing you home.

    5 out of 5 stars Amazing!!!.......2007-05-18

    I bought this cd again after losing my original copy that I bought the year it was released. Out of all my Bocelli cds this is my favorite. It has a good mix of classic opera with popera and really shows his abilities. I have used this cd to turn people on to opera and popera, and the results have been incredible! Once you hear him, you cannot deny his talent and passion. Simply AMAZING!!!

    4 out of 5 stars Andrea in the 90's.......2007-04-20

    Andrea is incredible.His romantic poetry with music is unparalleled.The only downside to this album is the inescapable 90's feel.If you don't mind it,then buy this album.If you do,then buy 'Time To Say Goodbye'off iTunes and get Sogno,Andrea,or Cieli di Toscana.
    Ghost Opera
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • "Sometimes I tremble when the shades unfurl"
    • "WELCOME ALL/TO CURTAIN CALL
    • Kamelot delivers and never disapoints!!
    • buen disco
    • Wail My April Moon...
    Ghost Opera
    Kamelot
    Manufacturer: Steamhammer/SPV
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    GeneralGeneral | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
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    1. Paradise Lost
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    ASIN: B000PA9PMY
    Release Date: 2007-06-05

    Tracks:

    1. Solitaire
    2. Rule The World
    3. Ghost Opera
    4. The Human Stain
    5. Blücher
    6. Love You To Death
    7. Up Through The Ashes
    8. Mourning Star
    9. Silence Of The Darkness
    10. Anthem
    11. EdenEcho
    12. The Pendulous Fall (bonus track)

    Amazon.com

    Kamelot's latest power metal offering seems unlikely to win the collective the kind of major attention its sought for more than a decade now. While vocalist Roy Khan still emits his signature siren wail and guitarist Thomas Youngblood crafts riffs that crunch with more power than your average fast food taco, the band still lacks a unique identity, alternating between its status as a Queensryche retread or vying for listeners more attuned to Korn and Avenged Sevenfold. "Rule the World" certainly stands as one of the outfit's heaviest works to date and "Mourning Star" carries with it its own kind of majestic beauty but repeat listens reveal that Ghost Opera is little more than by-the-numbers power metal, of the kind that didn't really work when Helloween released Keeper of the Seven Keys two decades ago and still fails to satisfy today.--Jedd Beaudoin

    Album Description

    American Melodic Metal masters Kamelot are back with the follow-up to their breakthrough epic The Black Halo. Ghost Opera is simply one of the most diverse metallic listening experiences of the year, containing all of the melody, power, passion and crunch that have earned them the undying respect of metal-heads around the country and around the world. The first pressing contains a bonus DVD featuring the video of Ghost Opera and a making of feature. Catch Kamelot on tour across North America late this summer!

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars "Sometimes I tremble when the shades unfurl".......2007-07-20

    4.5 stars. While this album is certainly closer to 5 stars than to 4 stars, I simply cannot put in the same category as their last, epic, majestic "The Black Halo". That album has everything that is great about Kamelot: excellent production, Khan's emotive vocalizations, and a roller-coaster ride of tempo shifts. The last bit of praise is actually my only complaint about "Ghost Opera", which contains mostly mid-tempo songcraft with the always great choruses and darkening lyrics. In fact, the only ballad here is "Anthem", which is acceptable, but it is nowhere near the fantastic level of "Abandoned" from "The Black Halo". I would also have to say that "Ghost Opera" is even blacker in tone than their past few albums. I actually enjoy this quite a bit as I prefer the darker side of emotion as it tends to be more interesting to decipher. Overall, "Ghost Opera" is a welcome addition to Kamelot's already extraordinary catalog. Highly recommended.

    The bonus DVD is a joke, unfortunately, as it contains the video for "Ghost Opera" and then a replay of the same video which shows how the special effects were added and such. That's it. However, the bonus track "The Pendulous Fall" is excellent, so I heartily recommend purchasing this "Enhanced" version of the album for that reason alone.

    5 out of 5 stars "WELCOME ALL/TO CURTAIN CALL.......2007-07-17

    Thus begins the refrain of the third and title track. If you have read any of my other reviews, you know the title is a favorite or meaningful lyric from the songs in the CD. Sometimes finding title-worthy lyrics can be difficult, but not with Kamelot. This title reflects the music type, as does the CD's name, The Ghost Opera. I find it more symphonic than The Black Halo, and if there is anything better than power metal, it is symphonic power metal. None-the-less, I think Black Halo is slightly better overall, but Ghost Opera is easily another five star production by Kamelot. Again every song is excellent in all aspects: lyrics, vocals and instrumentals.

    Track one is a one minute violin solo that blends smoothly into the power of the second track. And here we immediately encounter the striking words "sometimes I tremble like a little child/that faces morning with a broken smile." Rule the World is the song, but it is about ruling your life. In fact, this whole CD is about life...and death.

    You will notice a considerable contrast between The Human Stain (track 4) and track 10, Anthem, a beautiful ballad. In Anthem we have "what's a miracle/if life itself is not" and "I do know this/I'll be the best I can." Compare that to "but it hurts to be alive my friend/in this silent tide we're driftwood passing by/don't you wish you were a child again" and "but it hurts to be alive my friend/in this masquerade where all one day must die/don't you wish you were unborn again" in The Human Stain. And there in two songs, Kamelot has condensed the whole conundrum of being human. It can be wonderful just being alive and being able to comprehend life, but that package includes the knowledge of death.

    Just as Black Halo had a connection to Epica, here we have two connections to The Black Halo. The first, Simone Simons beautiful voice being again included in one of the songs (Blucher, which seems to be about the death of a German sailer in World War I), is minor, but I find the second intriguing. Black Halo has the haunting Abandoned where Khan sings the part of Christ in the Agony in the Garden. In Ghost Opera, Khan moves to a subsequent setting and plays the part of Pilate. I'm wondering if the next release will fittingly end with the Crucifixion. (I may have to send Kamelot a copy of this review.)

    Now, since two of the songs here, Love You to Death and The Pendulous Fall, deal with suicide, and the others with life/death in general, I again, as in my previous review, must ask myself if the subject matter has not overly influenced my attraction to the music. Again I say that the music itself is enough. However, nearly everyone has experienced the grief of loss, or considered, to some extent, their own death. Therefore, this is part of the attraction, just as it is in many examples of the best books, poems and movies. I've said it before, I'll say it again, these guys can write. (Please see my profile for a brief discussion of my rating philosophy.)

    5 out of 5 stars Kamelot delivers and never disapoints!!.......2007-07-16

    This is one of the greatest power metal bands of our time. This CD will not disappoint. GET IT! Kamelot has always been consistent in their art form. Every song on here is good..its one of those CD's you can listen to all the way through. Their coming to my town on Sept 7th...cant wait. Amazing work! I recommend this CD for anyone.

    4 out of 5 stars buen disco.......2007-07-15

    el disco esta muy bueno lo unico malo es el dvd ya ke no se esmeraron en poner un menu o algo mas profesional parece dvd hecho en casa y solo trae un video y un making the video pero el disco esta bueno y el bonus track tambien

    5 out of 5 stars Wail My April Moon..........2007-07-14

    With Ghost Opera, Kamelot have proved that their creativity and song writing ability is here to stay. Their fourth fantastic release in a row, Ghost Opera is somewhat different from other Kamelot recordings. The songs are somewhat normal in length, the guitars aren't always prominent, and it is easy to recognize that Kamelot are writing with keyboardist Oliver Palotai. The album is strong, but it is indeed a slight step down from the fantastic The Black Halo. It is, however, a strong release that will eclipse the majority of metal releases this year.

    It took me about 4 complete listens, but I have come to find that every track is a highlight. My favorites are the title track, "The Human Stain", "Blucher", "Love You to Death", "Mourning Star", and the track that I probably consider my favorite, "EdenEcho".

    So all in all Ghost Opera proves once and for all that Kamelot are here to stay. Sure, it isn't quite as good as The Black Halo, but lets be honest people: Did you ever expect to outdo that album?
    Nessun Dorma ~ 20 Great Tenor Arias / Pavarotti, Carreras, Domingo, Bergonzi, Aragall, Björling, Di Stefano, Kollo, Corelli, Del Monaco...
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • The End of the Big Voice?
    • Fla Gator Lady
    • 20 Great Tenor Arias
    • Plesantly surprised...
    • Absolutely Agree About Corelli
    Nessun Dorma ~ 20 Great Tenor Arias / Pavarotti, Carreras, Domingo, Bergonzi, Aragall, Björling, Di Stefano, Kollo, Corelli, Del Monaco...

    Manufacturer: Decca
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

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    ASIN: B000007OTX
    Release Date: 1998-06-09

    Tracks:

    1. La Boheme: Che gelida manina
    2. Manon Lescaut: Donna non vidi mai
    3. Carmen Bizet: La fleur que tu m'avais jetee (Flower Song)
    4. Luisa Miller: O! fede negar potessi .. Quando le sere al placido
    5. La Traviata: Lunge da lei ... De' miei bollenti spiriti
    6. Martha: M'appari
    7. Giordano: Amor ti vieta
    8. L'Africaine: Mi batte il cuor .. O paradiso
    9. La Favorita: Favorita del re . . . Spirto gentil
    10. Werther: 'Pourquoi me reveiller'
    11. Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg: 'Morgenlich leuchtend in rosigem Schein'
    12. Les Contes d'Hoffmann: O Dieu! De quelle ivresse
    13. TOSCA: E lucevan le stelle
    14. Pagliacci: Recitar! ... Vesti la giubba
    15. Il Trovatore: Di quella pira
    16. Aida: Se quel guerrier .. Celeste Aida
    17. TOSCA: Recondita armonia
    18. L'Elisir d'Amore: Una furtiva lagrima
    19. La Gioconda: Cielo e mar!
    20. Turandot: Nessun dorma

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars The End of the Big Voice?.......2007-04-16

    This CD, which is truly fine overall, reminds me of Marilyn Horne's lament that we have probably seen the end of the big voice and it makes me sad. I agree with the reviewer who refers to "microphonies". And more justice could be done to Bjorling's voice with a better transfer. But at some point, music becomes a matter of taste and I prefers singers who have the instrument and the support and the training, whether formal or not, to just let fly and take a chance on making a mistake. Domingo can be wonderful and so can his musicianship but he tends to be so stiff. I have to wonder at the virulence and asperity with which some people go after Pavarotti. It's true that late in his career he made some questionable recordings but the answer to that is simple: don't buy them. At his best, he belongs for all time in the top echelon of tenors. I love this CD and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys great (big) voices.

    5 out of 5 stars Fla Gator Lady.......2007-01-12

    Highly recommend this CD with these beloved arias of the greatest tenors in opera. I have owned this CD for a couple of years and purchased another for a friend who always requests that I play it ... perfect for listening in the car, dinner, bridge games, relaxation ... just so perfect. You won't be disappointed in this one.

    5 out of 5 stars 20 Great Tenor Arias.......2007-01-09

    A great disc,combination of the greatest tenors of the 20th century and some of the most beautiful music ever written in any century,a must addition to any opera lovers collection.

    5 out of 5 stars Plesantly surprised..........2006-01-14

    I don't remember how I found this CD the other day surfing through the "Amazon" such as it is, but I did. I listened to a few clips provided & on the strength of that, I purchased this CD.

    First it is a great buy. A booklet with pictures of each tenor, a small bio, the year recorded and TRANSLATIONS of each aria are provided. This is really nice. It seems more & more that translations are being left out. Being a former opera singer, I may know most of the words, but sometimes it's just nice to read along (sometimes it's just nice to listen too).

    Being on the Decca label, there is admittedly quite a few Pavarotti selections. Out of 20 selections, he has 6 of them. But I love Pavarotti, so this is no problem for me. These are all early recordings & his voice is magnificent! Being a singer, I still marvel at his ability to sing "All'armi!" on a high D and still say the 2nd syllable "mi" on such a note! WOW. There is also of course his very sweet, impassioned and lyrical turn as Rodolfo in "La Boheme" as well as the lesser known (although I still have it on casette) "La Favorita" which has a particularly high tessitura.

    Also featured are a young Plácido Domingo singing a VERY nice "Flower song/ La fleur que tu m'avais jetée" from Carmen. He usually sounds too pushed for me on the top notes (as one might expect from a Pavarotti fan, I like free top notes) but in this recording he is pretty darn fabulous. He also sings an aria from "Tales of Hoffman/Les Contes d'Hoffman" and I have always felt that he, like Neil Schicoff, were well suited to this role.

    Lamentably there are only one selection each from Carreras, Correlli, Monaco, Aragall & Kollo. Especial kudos to the young recording they feature for Aragall. He had a very free and nice high tenor well suited to Verdi. Of course as his career went forward with the natural darkening of his voice and the "heavier" roles, he did start to develop a wobble. But this recording is before that. His top, his phrasing are all beautifully done in his featured aria from "La Traviata."
    Mario del Monaco's "E lucevan le stelle" is hauntingly beautiful and has such a wonderful pianissimo in it that it makes you just want to gasp for beauty's sake. I now know every tenor I've heard sing this aria was trying to emulate what he did.

    This is a great CD because it does bring together on one CD some of the greatest singers of the 20th/21st century. Bergonzi, di Stefano, Björling, in addition to the previously mentioned artists is quite an impressive collection. I'm sure there's only one of each for Carreras, Aragall (I believe they are formerly EMI/Angel artists) and perhaps some of the others because they are "imported" from another label. There's so much Pavarotti on this CD because he IS a Decca artist.

    A highly recommended CD, affordable, not the usually obscure and unpolished artists that are sometimes found on compilations. Plus acutal linear notes and translations. Nicely done, Decca!!!

    4 out of 5 stars Absolutely Agree About Corelli.......2005-05-27

    Franco Corelli's "Nessun Dorma" is still the best of them all - clear, passionate, and exciting. (And those final two notes...! Gives me chills just to think of it.) I was fortunate enough to see him live in both "Turandot" and "Romeo and Juliet" a year before his retirement, and he was still a Calaf and a Romeo to die for... as, of course, Liu and Juliet did! As it is, I tend to buy compilations depending on how much Corelli they include - though Bjorling is a strong second, and I have happy memories of Domingo. Long live the Golden Age of Operatic Tenors!
    The Phantom of the Opera (2004 Movie Soundtrack)
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • Perfect music!
    • phantom of the opera is great!
    • music
    • Like being there.
    • My step daughter loves it!
    The Phantom of the Opera (2004 Movie Soundtrack)
    Andrew Lloyd Webber , Richard Stilgoe , Gerard Butler , Emmy Rossum , Patrick Wilson , and Charles Hart
    Manufacturer: Sony
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

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    4. Dear Frankie
    5. Attila

    ASIN: B000654YWY
    Release Date: 2004-11-23

    Tracks:

    1. Overture - The Phantom Of The Opera: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
    2. Think Of Me
    3. Angel of Music
    4. The Mirror (Angel Of Music)
    5. The Phantom Of The Opera
    6. The Music Of The Night - Gerard Butler
    7. Prima Donna - Simon Callow
    8. All I Ask Of You
    9. All I Ask Of You (Reprise)
    10. Masquerade - Margaret Price
    11. Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again
    12. The Point Of No Return
    13. Down Once More/Track Down This Murderer
    14. Learn To Be Lonely - Minnie Driver

    Amazon.com

    For better or worse, Andrew Lloyd Webber's adaptation of Gaston Leroux's gothic horror/romance novel has done for stage musicals what Spielberg's Jaws did for fish stories, with worldwide sales of its original cast album approaching 25 million. While director Joel Schumacher's film turns on his typically ambitious visual verve, its new film soundtrack recording has been paradoxically focused in scope, yet beefed up dynamically via the brawny presence of a hundred piece orchestra and The London Boys Choir. This single disc version showcases all of Phantom's key songs (a deluxe, double-disc edition is also available), with Gerard Butler imparting a welcome, youthful sensuality to his Phantom, making a fine foil for Emmy Rossum's ever-conflicted Christine. Original show orchestrator David Cullen has fashioned compelling new contemporary arrangements to frame Webber's songs -- which now conclude with the lilting, upbeat new ballad he wrote for the film, "Learn to Be Lonely," sung by Minnie Driver. --Jerry McCulley

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Perfect music!.......2007-06-11

    The Phantom of the Opera is my favorie musical of all time, simply put. The movie is absolutely incredible, so I just had to have the soundtrack. Though this one-disc version leaves out many excellent pieces, it still has the bulk of the music.
    First of all, let me just say that Emmy Rossum (Christine) sounds MUCH more elegant and true than Sarah Brightman (who overpronounces to the point of absurdity) in the classic London Cast recording of the musical.
    Second of all, Gerard Butler may not be as operatic as Michael Crawford, but he is a much better actor, and the simple sound of his voice IS the Phantom. "Music of the Night" is so beautiful when he sings it, unlike Michael Crawford's mockery of the piece as he tries to sing those bass notes and just ends up mushing it all together into a horrible, overpronounced, over-legato MESS!
    Now, Patrick Wilson! He has such a wonderful voice it just makes me faint! Wow! He is, I swear, the greatest tenor alive. Anyone who criticizes his beautiful performance of Raoul is simply insane.
    This soundtrack has some utterly perfect music, such as
    1. Gerard's incredible performance of "Music of the Night." He sings so beautifully at the end with that last "night" that one can scarcely believe it.
    2. "Down Once More," the final scene of the movie can produce tears even without images on a screen. Hearing the three characters' voices together is sheer perfection!
    3. "All I Ask of You" has wonderful emotion on all fronts, and Rossum and Wilson blend together into pure love. Bravo! Brava! Bravi!
    4. "All I Ask of You (Reprise)"... It is so truly heartbreaking that I can never stop crying. "You will curse the day you did not do... all that the Phantom asked of you!" It has such a blend of emotion that one can only sit and listen, in bliss and awe.
    This soundtrack, though missing some songs (get the two-disc set if you want them all), is basically perfect. I will love this music and these wonderful singers forever.

    5 out of 5 stars phantom of the opera is great!.......2007-06-08

    I absolutely love this soundtrack! Even better, my children do too!
    I plan to buy the movie in the near future. I highly recommend this soundtrack if you loved the movie.

    4 out of 5 stars music.......2007-05-25

    If you like the music from the movie , you will love this cd.

    5 out of 5 stars Like being there........2007-05-17

    Listening to this beautiful CD opens my mine's eye to the beauty of the stage play.

    5 out of 5 stars My step daughter loves it!.......2007-05-14

    I bought this soundtrack for my step daughter and she absolutely loves it!! Thank you so much!
    The Phantom of the Opera (Original 1986 London Cast)
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • A disappointment after the film soundtrack.
    • Phantom of the Opera
    • Awesome! must get for Phantom or opera fans....
    • The Phantom Of The Opera (1986 Original London Cast)
    • The Perfect Phantom
    The Phantom of the Opera (Original 1986 London Cast)
    Charles Hart
    Manufacturer: Decca Broadway
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

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    Similar Items:
    1. Les Miserables (1987 Original Broadway Cast)
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    4. The Phantom of the Opera (The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
    5. The Phantom of the Opera (2004 Movie Soundtrack)

    ASIN: B00004YTY2
    Release Date: 2001-02-06

    Tracks:

    1. Prologue
    2. Overture
    3. Act One, Scene I: Think Of Me
    4. Act One, Scene 2: Angel Of Music
    5. Act One, Scene 3: Little Lotte.../The Mirror (Angel Of Music)
    6. Act One, Scene 4: The Phantom Of The Opera
    7. Act One, Scene 5: The Music Of The Night
    8. Act One, Scene 6: I Remember.../Stranger Than You Dreamt It...
    9. Act One, Scene 7: Magical Lasso...
    10. Act One, Scene 8: Notes.../Prima Donna
    11. Act One, Scene 9: Poor Fool, He Makes Me Laugh
    12. Act One, Scene 10: Why Have You Brought Me Here.../Raoul, I've Been There
    13. Act One, Scene 10: All I Ask Of You
    14. Act One, Scene 10: All I Ask Of You (Reprise)

    Tracks:

    1. Entr'acte
    2. Act Two, Scene 1: Masquerade/Why So Silent...
    3. Act Two, Scene 3: Notes.../Twisted Every Way...
    4. Act Two, Scene 5: Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again
    5. Act Two, Scene 5: Wandering Child.../Bravo, Monsieur
    6. Act Two, Scene 7: The Point Of No Return
    7. Act Two, Scene 8: Down Once More.../Track Down This Murderer

    Amazon.com essential recording

    What's left to be said about Andrew Lloyd Webber's adaptation of The Phantom of the Opera a decade after its premiere? That it's maddeningly ubiquitous? A stitch-up of various themes shoplifted from the Italian operatic repertoire? A critic-proof crowd pleaser that's probably being staged somewhere in the world as you read this? A megahit that will likely outlive Titanic in the pop-culture pantheon, Phantom has largely redefined--for better or worse--the manner in which modern musicals are conceived, staged, and marketed. Its influence has reached far beyond the traditional confines of London and Broadway. A favorite example: an abridged version that was the centerpiece of Los Angeles's longest-running transvestite revue, replete with 14-inch chandeliers and a man-playing-a-woman-playing-a-man in the title role. --Jerry McCulley

    Customer Reviews:

    3 out of 5 stars A disappointment after the film soundtrack........2007-06-11

    I apologize in advance if this review is too cynical and overly-critical for some tastes, but I am mostly disappointed with the London Cast recording. I'll start with my biggest irritations and work my way down, then say some good things about this particular version of "Phantom".
    Sarah Brightman overpronounces to the point of absurdity with her hebrew "heard" and "operar" in "Why Have You Brought Us Here." In "Down Once More" I only know what she's saying because I already knew the words from Emmy Rossum in the film. Brightman sounds no more elegant than Carlotta, whose voice I actually prefer because, ironically, it's more pure and understandable. However, Brightman is a fabulous opera singer with wonderful vibrato and a very impressive range... but Rossum is still the preferable choice.
    Michael Crawford... man or woman? He may be a high-flying tenor, but sometimes that just goes too far, making him sound whiny and weak. Another major note: he cannot act! He may be more operatic than Gerard Butler in his singing, but he is a horrendous actor. "Down Once More" was turned from the heart-wrenching ultra-powerful piece I know into a disappointment thanks to Crawford's terrible "acting." Also, "Music of the Night" is a disaster when he sings it. Not only does his bad acting tear it down substantially, but he tries to sing bass notes. Tries and fails, mind you. He ends up making the piece a strangled, overpronounced, over-legato mess. He is a wonderful opera tenor, with truly inspiring vibrato, but his sometimes whiny voice and horrible job with the role of the Phantom make him somewhat lesser than Gerard Butler.
    As for Raoul, either one is just as skilled as the other. One is more youthful and soft, while the other is more masculine and bass. I think they are equally skilled in all categories.
    Every piece in this soundtrack I prefer the film version of, although sometimes there are parts of songs which I feel differently about. The only full song I prefer from this over the film soundtrack is none other than "The Phantom of the Opera." The film version has too many drawn out instrumental bits, which can get tedious. Also, it is missing my favorite verse. The "Phantom" from this soundtrack has vastly better vocal performances from both singers, since Gerard is very strained and this song is all about singing, not really acting.
    The only song I like more in this version is "Phantom of the Opera." All others are, for the most part, a disappointment. Just a plain disappointment.

    5 out of 5 stars Phantom of the Opera.......2007-05-21

    I love love love this soundtrack!!! I have seen on broadway in NY when I was younger and fell in love with it. Now I own every version of it. But this is by far the best cast.

    5 out of 5 stars Awesome! must get for Phantom or opera fans...........2007-05-17

    I saw this performance in London and this is just like being there, awesome quality, amazing vocals......when I listen, I can feel the red velvet seats in the theater and taste the gin and tonic from the intermission......far superior performances than the recent movie.....I had to throw it away after hearing the real deal.....You will be happy with this one.....

    5 out of 5 stars The Phantom Of The Opera (1986 Original London Cast).......2007-05-10

    I never received the CD's but the seller was super at trying to trace down what happened to it. I would recommend the seller to any one. Very Honest person.

    5 out of 5 stars The Perfect Phantom.......2007-04-20

    Andrew Lloyd Webber has outdone himself (and that was pretty hard to do considering his past great works). He chose a great story by Gaston Leroux to adapt into a broadway musical. It doesn't hurt that he has two of the greatest broadway singers as his stars. Michael Crawford was (and still is) the greatest Phantom. His clear, soft voice is exactly what the role calls for. Plus it doesn't hurt he has great lung capacity (listen to the end of "The Music of the Night"). Crawford is a master at portraying all of the Phantom's emotions, contrasting between love, anger, and sadness. Sarah Brightman plays Christine better than anyone. Her high-pitched voice and clear diction have never been matched. The great cast is rounded out by: Steve Barton as Raoul, while not a great singer, he is very emotional; John Savident and David Firth as Monsieurs' Firmin and Andre are a great comedic pair. The cast is the best I've heard, in one of the greatest musicals.
    Celtic Treasure
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • Disappointing
    • Great!
    • A Piece Of Heaven On Earth
    • A Pure Joy..........
    • Celtic Treasure - Hayley Westenra
    Celtic Treasure

    Manufacturer: Decca
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

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    1. Odyssey
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    3. Hayley Westenra - Live From New Zealand
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    5. A New Journey

    ASIN: B000MTDRJA
    Release Date: 2007-03-13

    Tracks:

    1. Let Me Lie
    2. Scarborough Fair
    3. Shenandoah
    4. Summer Fly
    5. Whispering Hope
    6. Danny Boy
    7. Summer Rain
    8. The Last Rose of Summer
    9. One Fine Day
    10. Sonny
    11. The Water Is Wide
    12. Melancholy Interlude
    13. Abide With Me

    Amazon.com

    Having sung before royalty and performed with the Irish super-group Celtic Woman, Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, and Welsh baritone Bryn Terfel, the very young and remarkably beautiful singer is back with a tribute to her Celtic ancestry. As with her previous Platinum-selling releases (she is already a huge star in her native New Zealand, Japan, Australia, and the UK), the orchestrations are lush, with sighing phalanxes of strings and woodwinds. But in keeping with the avowed theme, there are also soft touches of soulful, wavering tin whistles and vaguely fiddle-like violin vamps. The program is more varied than the album's title might lead one to expect, encompassing everything from "The Last Rose Of Summer" and "Danny Boy" to "Shenandoah," "Scarborough Fair," "Abide With Me," and even a couple of more pop-oriented songs penned by Westenra herself. However, brief sideways winks toward Nashville or the Great White Way do not adulterate the album's overall mood of ethereal, remote bliss. The one misstep is an English-language cover of "Un Bel Di" ("One Fine Day") from Puccini's Madama Butterfly: an aria unsuited to the artist's fragile, bell-like soprano and placid temperament. This aside, established classical crossover/theatrical divas like Sarah Brightman would be wise to begin looking to their laurels. --Christina Roden

    Album Description

    Hayley's third solo album is a very personal collection of classical arias, Irish and Maori folk songs - representing treasured people and places on her remarkable musical journey. Recorded in Dublin, Ireland, Hayley's third solo album is a very personal collection of classical arias, Irish and Maori folk songs - representing treasured people and places in her remarkable musical journey. For the first time the album also includes several original tracks written by Hayley herself. Celtic Treasure is a celebration of Hayley's family roots, and her grandparent's journey across the World on the first boat that left Ireland for New Zealand in the 1880s - taking with them a rich musical heritage. Her grandmother - a singer, and her grandfather, who played the accordion, were to be important influences on Hayley's musical development. Hayley grew up hearing her grandmother singing Italian opera arias in English. Hayley has continued this tradition by recording the well-known aria One Fine Day... ('Un bel di) from Puccini's Madama Butterfly. Hayley's grandmother also sang Irish folk tunes, and Hayley includes one of them - Danny Boy on the album as a tribute to her. Another Irish folk tune Sonny, is the first recording in which Hayley accompanies herself on the piano. In the same vein as Hayley's signature song Pokarekare Ana from her debut album Pure, Hayley's deep sense of pride as a New Zealander, and the simple beauty of her voice come together in E Para Ra - a Maori lovesong reflecting her own love of her homeland. Hayley's first recordings of her own songs bring together all these musical influences. They include her compositions Let Me Lie and Summer Rain and her lyrics to a haunting lute song by the Elizabethan English composer John Dowland, called simply Melancholy Interlude.

    Customer Reviews:

    2 out of 5 stars Disappointing.......2007-07-13

    We first encountered Westenra as a member of the Celtic Woman group. She was great -- as were all the girls. Based on that, I selected this CD after reading the reviews on Amazon. This one seemed to get the best overall reviews.

    This CD is pretty uninspired and Westenra's voice sounds just average on several of the tracks. There are a few impressive spots but generally I thought the CD was less than expected.

    5 out of 5 stars Great!.......2007-07-13

    Hayley does a great job with this cd. Its relaxing and interesting, instead of boring like some opera kind of vocalists can be. I recommend her cd, Pure, as well. She will definitely impress and soothe you!

    5 out of 5 stars A Piece Of Heaven On Earth.......2007-07-13

    If you could hear the angels singing this is exactly what they would sound like. Please do yourself a favor and get the dvd too. They are both beyond amazing.

    5 out of 5 stars A Pure Joy.................2007-06-20

    This album of Celtic standards is truly one of the most beautiful I've heard in a long time. For a girl of 19 to have this kind of vocal maturity is amazing... she gets better with each new recording.

    Hayley has a clear, and pure voice that makes these familiar songs sound brand new. Though the whole album is a treat, the two hymns are inspiring. Others have done this repitoire, and done it well; none has done it better.

    Hayley has a new recording of "West Side Story" due out soon; I can't wait. In the meantime, do not fail to grab this one.

    5 out of 5 stars Celtic Treasure - Hayley Westenra.......2007-06-20

    Love the beautiful voice that I have come to expect from the Celtic Women lasses and the eclectic choice of songs really accentuates her range and flexibility to sing classic and contemporary. She shines with every choice. I await her next CD.
    The Great Recordings
    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    • RIP, BEVERLY SILLS 1929-2007
    • Brava Sills!
    • Sills fits my bill
    • The Great American Soprano
    • My Favorite Woman
    The Great Recordings

    Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

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    Similar Items:
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    ASIN: B0001Y4JG6
    Release Date: 2004-05-11

    Tracks:

    1. Son Vergin Vezzosa - Paul Plishka
    2. Eccomi... Oh! Quante Volte
    3. Mira, O Norma
    4. Santo Di Patria... Allor Che I Forti Corrono... Da Te Questo
    5. Contro Un Cor Che Accende Amore - Nicolai Gedda
    6. Che M'apporti? - Ambrosian Opera Chorus
    7. Quel Sangue Versato Al Cielo S'innalza - Ambrosian Opera Chorus
    8. Vorrei Spiegarvi, Oh Dio, K.418
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    Tracks:

    1. Martern Aller Arten
    2. E Strano! E Strano!
    3. Ah, Fors'e Lui
    4. Follie! Follie!
    5. Sempre Libera
    6. Ces Murs Silencieux - Pardonnez-moi, Dieu De Toute Puissance - Ambrosian Opera Chorus
    7. Toi! Vous! - Oui! Je Fus Cruelle Et Coupable! - Ambrosian Opera Chorus
    8. N'est-ce Plus Ma Main? - Ambrosian Opera Chorus
    9. Robert, Toi Que J'aime
    10. Tu Ne Chanteras Plus?
    11. Chere Enfant Que J'appele
    12. Meine, Lippen, Die Kusen So Heiss
    13. Wien, Wien, Nur Du Allein
    14. Always Through The Changing

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars RIP, BEVERLY SILLS 1929-2007.......2007-07-03

    The great American diva's passing was announced today.

    This wonderful CD set is a perfect compilation of her art as can be found anywhere. Her finest roles and performances are captured here, most of them derived from the Westminster/Audio Treasury recordings from her prime. Listening to them again demonstrates to me why she was so special, and such an inspiration to music lovers everywhere.

    5 out of 5 stars Brava Sills!.......2007-02-02

    A very nice compilation of Sillsiana. The different cuts on this CD provide a nice illustration of her work. Let me briefly describe my response to a sampling of the works on this CD:

    Bellini, I Puritani, "Son vergin vezzosa." Wonderful. Sutherland owns this--but so does Beverly Sills. Contemporary sopranos such as Netrebko and Gruberova have also sung this on their respective CDs, and while their product is nice, it simply does not compare. Sills is remarkably agile with her voice; the trills are well done; she cleanly hits high notes; the overall effect can only be described as wonderful.

    Bellini, Norma, "Mira, o Norma". This is smoothly sung and very melodic. The technique that she exhibits does not overwhelm the music.

    Rosini, Il Barbiere di Siviglia, "Contro un cor che accende amore." Again, her agile voice is well deployed. The florid singing is well done.

    Donizetti, Roberto Devereaux, "Che m'apporti." Her clean, light voice matches well with this aria. Smoothly sung. Her "Quel sangue versato al cielo s'innalza," which follows, is well done. High notes cleanly hit, a smooth line.

    Verdi, La Traviata, "E strano. . . .Sempre libera." Again, what agility! In "Sempre libera," she reveals a rich voice and, again, wonderful agility. This is an animated version of one of Verdi's showcase pieces.

    Lehar, Giudetta. "Meine Lippen." A lot of fun! This is smoothly sung.

    In the final analysis, this is a nice potpourri of Beverly Sills' repertoire. Those not familiar with her work will find this a nice entree to her oeuvre; those familiar with her will find this a good compilation.

    5 out of 5 stars Sills fits my bill.......2006-03-13

    This recording is another in an all too small CD collection of Sills recordings. I eagerly await more.

    5 out of 5 stars The Great American Soprano.......2005-10-01

    This is a great collecition featuring arias from the Classical and Romantic periods. Fabulous!!!!!

    5 out of 5 stars My Favorite Woman.......2005-08-05

    I would have to say that when I first heard Beverly Sills sing, I was entranced. I couldn't take my eyes off of her and I became angry at any rustling around me, because I was afraid I would miss one note. It was so addictive....that is what she is....addictive! A c.d. will never properly capture her style. She is an amazing leader in opera, taking it into a new frontier and I believe this c.d. showcases that.

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