Bellini: Ernani (excerpts)

Advantages: about equal!
Disadvantages: high price of the Sutherland set

...Keen opera fans may sometimes be puzzled by the choice available on the shelves of the larger record shops, especially when trying to compare two stellar casts. Bellini's last (and arguably greatest) opera, I Puritani, is a case in point, with recordings by Callas and Sutherland heading the list. Personally I bought both, to avoid having to choose, but each has it's merits. Callas, as always, brings greater warmth and fire to the usually pallid role of Elvira, but Sutherland's effortless roulades and trills are a joy to hear, and a young Pavarotti has a flawless technique in the infamous tenor role which defeated Caruso, complete with a hair-raising top F in his final aria. The Sutherland set also avoids the cuts made in the earlier recording, but is handicapped by Decca's greedy pricing - still at full-price after 30 years? Come on... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Glorious recorded sound, a fine group of soloists
Disadvantages: Some fans may not like Sutherland in this music

...This version of Verdi's Requiem sounds absolutely terrific. The chorus has lots of presence -so important in the famous Dies Irae and the soloists are miked beautifully. The 'Hostias' and 'Ingemisco' are some of the finest recordings of Luciano Pavarotti available. Arguably he had more character by the time of his later recording from the late 80s with Riccardo Muti but he is caught here at his finest vocally with the hushed ingemisco amongst the best of that much recorded aria. Joan Sutherland's performance has been criticised quite a lot by critics that think she should not have recorded Verdi roles (similar complaints surround her Traviatas, her Leonora in Il Trovatore and her Elvira in Ernani). I really like her in this music. She is certainly preferable in my opiion to Schwarzkopf (Giulini/EMI and De Sabata (Naxos)) or Nelli... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: everything
Disadvantages: nothing

...sostenuto (Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op.18) Max Bruch Adagio (Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 26) John Williams Schindler's List Theme Erik Satie Gymnopedie No. 1 Antonio Vivaldi Largo (Le Quattro Stagioni L'inverno) Allegro (La primavera (Le Quattro Stagioni)) (Le Quattro Stagioni) Thomas Newman Any Other Name (from the film "American Beauty") James Horner My Heart Will Go On Georg Friedrich Handel Hallelujah Chorus (Messiah) Zadok the Priest (Coronation Anthem No. 1, HWV 258) Gregorio Allegri Miserere mei, Deus John Jenkins Agnus Dei Christoph Willibald Gluck J'ai perdu mon Eurydice (Orfeo ed Euridice) Charles Gounod, Johann Sebastian Bach Ave Maria Leo Delibes Dome epais (Lakme (1883)) Georges Bizet Au fond du temple saint (Les Pêcheurs de perles) Vincenzo Bellini Casta diva (Norma (1831)) Gioacchino... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average not helpful