Best of Opera Tenors

Advantages: All the hero's in one
Disadvantages: Mixed sound recordings Sound louder and quieter in places

...At first glance you would imagine the CD to be the normal mainstream nonsense with Russell Watson singing Amor ti Vieta, but when looking at the back you do see that this is a quality CD. So lights down low CD player on high and a nice Glass of wine and you are ready for an audio trip through operatic tenor modern history. Track List: (THERE ARE 27 TRACKS IF YOU WANT A SUMMARY OF EACH ONE THEN READ ON OTHERWISE HEAD FOR BOTTOM OF REVIEW) Track 1: O Paradis sung by Enrico Caruso What a start to the Cd. Nothing but quality technique and voice on show here, one of the best renditions you'll ever hear Track 2: Morgenlich leuchtend sung by Peter Anders Not my favourite song and a big jump in quality from the first track but still an adept singer, the first sign that there is going to be a wide variation of voice and style... Read review

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Advantages: Wonderful music and 2 top artists
Disadvantages: One or two items are a bit long

...In the operatic field there is no doubt that tenors are more popular than other male singers, partly because the composers usually used the tenor voice as a vehicle for his most beautiful tunes and the tenor is usually the hero in opera (with a few exceptions) This album by two of Americas greatest post war singers has been long awaited by opera enthusiasts. Samuel Ramey is one of the greatest bass singers in recent years. He can sing most of the bel-canto repertoire with ease and has a wonderful, effortless way of singing. Thomas Hampson too is a very important baritone and Lieder singer of some repute. This CD is interesting in that they chose certain duets that are not well known (Cimarosa "Il Matrimonio Segreto" and Donizetti's "Marino Faliero" ) The "Attila " duet is a bit disappointing as Hampson sounds very bland on it ; not like... Read review

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Advantages: Not well known but is an important bridge in the historic cycle
Disadvantages: Not well known and quite dated

...The operettas of Gilbert and Sullivan remain as popular now as they ever were when written over a century ago. In all, this most famous of musical collaborations produced fourteen operas. The most popular (“Iolanthe”, “Yeomen Of The Guard”, “The Mikado”, “The Gondoliers”, “Pirates of Penzance” and “HMS Pinafore”) are quite timeless and their themes remain pointed. It is not surprising that within such a catalogue, there will be some titles that have not stood the test of time so well. Here, in “Princess Ida”, is one – an opera that had a relatively short initial run, an opera relegated to the “rarely performed” list, an opera after which the partnership almost disappeared. THE PLOT The story revolves around two rival kingdoms – ruled by King Hildebrand and King Gama respectively. Twenty one years before Hildebrand’s son... Read review

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