Advantages: Some great music Disadvantages: Compilations!
...on? I don't think Classic FMs listeners are quite ready for that yet. The track list for the Opera is:
1. Delibes: Flower Duet (Lakmé) 2. Rossini: Largo al Factotum (Barber of Seville) 3. Puccini: Nessun Dorma (Turandot) 4. Dvorak: Song to the Moon (Rusalka)
5. Bizet: Au Fond du Temple Saint (The Pearl Fishers)
6. Bellini: Casta Diva (Norma)
7. Puccini: Che Gelida Manina (La Boheme)
8. Mascagni: Easter Hymn (Cavalleria Rusticana)
9. Bizet: ... ...(Madame Butterfly)
12. Verdi: Celeste Aidi (Aidi)
13. Mozart: La ci darem la mano (Don Giovanni)
14. Verdi: Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves (Nabucco)
15. Puccini: O mio Babbino Caro (Gianni Schicchi)
The Opera CD is probably my least listened to of the three, not because I dislike Opera, to the contrary I love it, but after all I have said about background music I tend to use the CD's when we have people round and Opera is not everyone's cup of ...
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 ... ...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! The Callas set is of course slightly inferior in sound quality, but the impeccable credentials of Tullio Serafin may be preferred ...
Advantages: Wonderful music and 2 top artists Disadvantages: One or two items are a bit long
...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 ... ...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 the rebellious Roman he should be. Ramey is usually predictable with his villain roles but here he is not the usual "devil" ...
Advantages: best time of you lifetoo tired Disadvantages: to tired to leave
The first time ,by the way that was many years ago my husband introduced me to the rocky horror picture show by Richard o brian, my reaction at first what am i watching ,then we watched it again i began to love.
Then there was a knock at my door with my brother in suspender,basque and high heels,all he says will you do my make up i,m off to the rocky horror show audiece participation. You cannot imagine the look on my face when i realised he walked ... ...and told him to let us know when the next show was,unfortunately this was the last in the run.so i,ll have to wait a year.
In that next year my brother went on and on about and how billiant it was live,aswell as saying most of the people going dress in the characterd of the film.
so a year on i get four tickets my brother and his freind,myself and my husband i chose the character janet a straight laced girl in a pink suit my husband decided on ...
bastet 28.10.2002 ·Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of A-Z of Opera
Advantages: amazing artists, amazing tracks Disadvantages: Some really weird other tracks
Imagine bringing all the true classic greats onto one album; Vanessa Mae, Nigel Kennedy, Pavarotti, Leslie Garrett, Paul McCartney (no you didn't misread that last one) It should be the most phenominal album of all time, all these great names on 2 CDs, and in places it is, but there are some really odd, weird choices on this album that completely spoil it for me and in my opinion create an opportunity missed.
The album opens with the amazing Ave ... ...truly great tracks here and the highlight for me is Vanessa Mae performing Bachs Toccata and Fugue in D minor (The piece associated with Dracula movies) This piece is usually played accompanied by a full traditional orchestra or there is a great arrangement for the organ. (I played the organ version at my daughters christening - couldn't resist, much to the disgust of the regular congregation) Vanessa is undoubtable incredibly talented and beautiful ...
Package, to drive, nippy, economical, relaible (*)
