Cantos De Ida Y Vuelta - Familia Valera Miranda & Antoine 'Tato' Garcia/Sabrina Romer

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

...has caught me out. The reference comes from the seminal anti-male couplet sung by Lady Psyche to the chorus of graduates at the beginning of Act II. “Man is coarse and Man is plain … Man is more or less insane … Man’s a ribald … Man’s a rake … Man is Nature’s sole mistake” Notable songs: “If You Give Me Your Attention” - King Gama (the ‘de riguer’ introductory patter song) “For A Month To Dwell In A Dungeon Cell” - Arac, Guron, Scynthius STAGE PERFORMANCE After the initial run, Princess Ida did not reappear on the stage again until 1922. It then lay fallow again until the 1950s. Prior to researching this review, I knew nothing of Princess Ida apart from the King Gama song mentioned above. I am not aware of any recent professional stage performances. OTHER RESOURCES This two-disc box set is part of the complete set of operas... 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: Virtuosic operatic vocalism, unusual repertoire, mad scenes...
Disadvantages: Fleming's voice is maybe not best suited for this...

...the phrase - I hate you with the notes A B C a simple melodic line which can be full of musical expression in itself. But in bel canto, you are going to find this kind of phrase: I hate you ACBDCEDFG# AGFEDCBA A C E A C E A with lots of ornamentation... fast runs, arpeggios, you name it - these singers will do it. It is a real virtuosic tour de force. Performers: Renée Fleming is the soprano soloist on this disc. She was born in 1959 in America and has developed a world class career singing at the major world opera houses, enjoying a particularly close relationship with the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Her voice is regarded as mainly lyrical, and her biggest successes have been in works from that part of the operatic repertoire, such as "Der Rosenkavalier... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful