Azzurro Verdi

Bastianini started out as a bass before developing the powerful upper register to match his rich secure low notes. His baritone is, therefore, the darkest you would ever hear, with a possible exception of Renato Bruson. Yet high tessitura of Verdian arias presented no difficulty for him. On this disk the arias from Un Ballo, Otello, Rigoletto, and Don Carlo are presented in a sequence, all of the highest difficulty and all flawlessly executed. Bastianini must have been perfect on stage as well with sound so immense it overwhelms the recording system several times. His talents also shine in rarely performed arias from operas "Lodoletta", "Il Tabarro", and "L'Amico Fritz". There are four beautiful art songs at the end of the disk. While Bastianini was mostly famous for the sheer beauty of his voice, I found his characterizations to be wonderful as well. Just take Figaro's flamboyant swaggering introduction versus Iago's dark brooding credo. It really sounds like two different people singing. Without ever breaking the line or sacrificing the quality for the dramatic effect, he was able to convey the very nature of the character.

Tracks:

La Gioconda: Cielo e mar
Marta: M'appari
Don Carlo: Io l'ho perduta!
L'arlesiana: E la solita storia
I Pagliacci: Vesti la giubba
I Pagliacci: No, Pagliaccio non son!
Andrea Chenier: Un di all'azzurro spazio
Andrea Chenier: Come un bel di di maggio
TOSCA: Recondita armonia
Il Trovatore: Ah! si, ben mio
Otello: Dio! mi potevi scagliar
Otello: Niun mi tema

Customer Reviews:

No one like him today.......2006-03-12

Jon Vickers is an amazing singer. Here is a man who had a relatively short voice and one that was very inflexible by nature. Yet in spite of these shortcomings he stands as one of the greatest artists of his era. Those who think of him as a Wagnerian tenor should sample this recording and hear his masterful way of spinning a line in the Italian repertoire. His Otello was spectacular, his Canio a psycholigical thriller. His Chenier an elegant and tortured soul, his Rhadames heroic in the true sense of the word. This recording is a gem!

One of the Most Important Singers in the History of Music!.......2004-07-02

Dear Amazon,

I just got my combination order of Vickers Italian Arias and his 75th Birthday Tribute. If you ever feel generous and want to send people stuff for free, just send me everything you have of Jon Vickers.

Maybe I love him and the choral music of Robert Shaw too much but they were both just too magnificant at their art.

Now for review number five. For all who wounder what the big historicl hype is on Vickers, get this CD and anything from his recording of Messiah with Sir Thomas Beecham in 1959 through the 60s and up to 1978. Don't get me wrong! The man is my hero as a singer. I think everything he did throughout his career was marvelous up and on through his graceful retirement in 84, but it is this period in which you will get the best idea of this legendary voice from an artist who came from humble and unlikely beginings.

Listen to his extraordinary interpretations! Theres an incredable depth and forward inner probing into the heros he brought to life.

Here, he is given stirling support from one of the masters, Tullio Serafin, conducting the Rome Opera House Orchestra.

Oh Boy!!!

Get this recording of one of the most exciting singers of this or any age.

One of the greatest tenors of the century.......1999-01-22

Jon Vickers retired some years ago, but the legacy of the recorded voice has gave us an example of great singing, and Vickers proves to be one of the greatest singing actors that the century has produced; possesor of a big, plangent voice, ringing top notes and smooth phrasing, and the fact that he sang many heroic tenor roles (Radames, Siegmund among others) does not mean he cannot fine down his sound for a gentle "Recondita armonia". I reccomend this CD to all opera fans who really want to listen great tenor singing of high quality. I wish that this release would have included "Celeste Aída" from the 1960 recording with L. Price. A word of praise also for the excellent playing of the Rome Opera House Orchestra under the great Tullio Serafin.

Average customer rating:

Fabulous CD!
Franco Corelli At His Greatest
Just buy this CD!
Possibly the Best tenor aria collection ever.
Simply put... The world's Greatest Tenor

Opera Arias

Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Arias | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000002RP8
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Il Trovatore: Ah si, ben mio (Act III)
Il Trovatore: Di quella Pira (Act III)
Aida: Se quel guerrier io fossi...Celeste Aida (Act I)
Cavalleria Rusticana: Mamma, quel vino e generoso
Turandot: Nussun dorma! (Act III)
Romeo et Julliette: L'amour! oui, son ardeur...Ah! leve-toi, soleil! (Act II)
Pagliacci: Recitar!...Vesti la giubba (Act I)
Andrea Chenier: Colpito qui m'avete...Un dll'azzurro spazio (Act I)
Andrea Chenier: Credo a una possanza arcana (Act II)
Andrea Chenier: Si, fui soldato (Act III)
Andrea Chenier: Come un bel di di maggio (Act IV)
Norma: Meco all'altar di Venere...Me protegge, me difende (Act I)

Customer Reviews:

Fabulous CD!.......2007-04-10

Franco Corelli sure was handsome,and boy did he have a voice to match.Opera arias,is a great collection of his vocal prowess,and a great introduction to one of opera's most poweful and beautiful voices.He sings like a god here,and more than earned his title of Divo!

This is a great cd,to indroduce anyone to the majestic singing of divo, franco.Included here is his powerful rendition of nessun dorma.Opera arias is full of italian opera classics sung by this opera titan.

Franco Corelli At His Greatest.......2005-11-01

Yes, this is perhaps 50's and 60's Italian tenor Franco Corelli's finest achievement on studio recording. These arias are the arsenal of every great tenor. They are arias which require a powerful voice, rich melody, masculinity conveyed through vocal chords and virtuosic bravura, all of which Franco Corelli delivers here. Franco Corelli started off as a baritone and even when he transitioned to tenor, he maintained a dark and deep richness to his voice. Adding to this particular tenor's allure was the fact that he was one of the rare tenors who were considered extremely attractive, even a sexual icon. His dashing good looks suited him for all the romantic leading roles. At times, he cut a better figure than his less attractive soprano love interests - Renata Tebaldi and Birgit Nilsson were never that good looking in my opinion. Franco Corelli and Maria Callas sang together (most notably in Norma and Poliuto) and looked like a sexy couple together. Somehow, even when his voice failed him, usually out of the stage fright he suffered, Corelli was able to execute mind-blowing performances simply out of his acting abilities and Hollywood good looks. But even as such, his technique is brilliant.

He is one of the few tenors that did not have to shout when singing. His increase in vocal volume was often thrilling without sounding shrill, always more on the lyrical side than the bombastic side. He excelled in the Italian repertoire, for he, like Mario Del Monaco and Giuseppe Di Stefano who were his contemporaries and colleagues, was educated in the Italian operatic tradition. Thus, his Puccini, Verdi, Bellini, bel canto and verisimo (Mascagni, Leoncavallo)roles were his greatest accomplishments. He did not fare as well in the French repertory. He had poor French diction and often mutated the language to sound more Italianate. Consequently, his Romeo from Gounod's Romeo and Juliette and Raoul from Les Huguenots and his Faust were never that great. Here are arias from Trovatore (Ah, Si Ben Mio and Di Quella Pira), Aida (Celeste Aida) Cavalleria Rusticana (Mama Quel Vino) Turandot (Nessun Dorma) Pagliaci (Vesti La Giubba) and arias from Nessun Dorma and Norma. He gets into character vocally and even dramatically as Manrico, Radames, Cavaradossi (not included here though it would have been terrific to hear his account of E Lucevan la Stelle). Quite frankly, Corelli represented the best of both worlds for a tenor-one who can sing beautifully and masterfully and one who can convince as an actor. The Italian opera department is full of dramatically moving characters. Manrico is a victim of his mother's revenge while attempting to become his own man and marry Leonora and battling his rival the Count Di Luna, Radames is a man torn between love of his country of Egypt and love for an enemy slave girl Aida, Cavaradossi is an idealist painter who suffers greatly in the hands of a Royalist, and Pagliacci, the archetypical operatic anti-hero, is a clown who loses his mind and is wracked with jealousy when his beloved Nedda is unfaithful. Corelli does get into character well, and vocally he essays the parts without any real flaw. This is a fine tribute to the late great tenor.

Just buy this CD!.......2000-10-25

If you're even reading this page, then you should buy this CD. Much maligned during his career, Corelli has nonetheless proven to be the most perfect tenor of our time. Maybe if Caruso had had the advantage of modern recording technology, we would be singing a different tune. But the planets were in perfect alignment the day this voice was born! Be warned, however, that you will NEVER want to hear Bocelli again.

Possibly the Best tenor aria collection ever........2000-01-23

If you crave the best in tenor arias, this is your CD. This fabulous CD captures Corelli at his best, doing some of the most well known tenor arias. His Nessun Dorma simply cannot be improved upon. His performances of the role of Andrea Chenier from the opera of that name are considered definitive and his performance of some of the best arias from that opera on this CD (e.g., Come un bel di di maggio, Col pito qui ma vete) feature Corelli at his best. Likewise, his arias from Il Trovatore (Ah si, ben mio, and Di quella pira) are breathtaking and perfect, as is his Mama quel vino from Cavalleria Rusticana. His Vesti la giubba from Palliaci is also stunning. You simply can't go wrong with this CD if you want a collection of some of the greatest tenor arias being performed by the best operatic tenor of the last 50 years at his peak.

Simply put... The world's Greatest Tenor.......1999-12-01

To all of those who think that the "The Three Tenors" and Bocelli are "Great Singers", get real. The truth is, that Corelli, was the finest tenor that we have ever had and I doubt any other tenor will match his flawless technique, his unbelievable control, and his incredible passion. I was lucky enough to see him sing years ago, and unlike that "Salami", Pavarotti, Corelli was also an actor and a believable hero in Heroic parts. When you get serious about Opera, you find Corelli. This CD has his utterly breathtaking arias from Il Trovatore (His first signature role), and mix of great vintage Corelli parts. It is worth it's weight in Pure gold...one of the only REAL five star CD's I know.

Average customer rating:

Power

Grandi Voci: Mario del Monaco

Manufacturer: Polygram Int'l
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Classical | Imports | Stores | Music

Opera & Vocal | Imports | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Mario del Monaco: Historical Recordings 1950 - 60
Mario del Monaco: Opera Arias
The Very Best of Franco Corelli
Mario del Monaco
Heroes - Franco Corelli

ASIN: B00000E582
Release Date: 1993-08-09

Tracks:

Aida: Se Quel Guerrier...Celeste Aida - Orch Dell'Accademia Di Santa Cecilia, Roma/Alberto Erede
La Forza Del Destino: La Vita e Un Inferno All'infelice.. O Tu Che In Seno Agli Angeli - Orch Dell'Accademia Di Santa Cecilia, Roma/Francesco Molinari-Pradelli
Ernani: Merce, Diletti Amici... Come Rugiada Al Cespite - New SO Of London/Alberto Erede
Un Ballo In Maschera: 'Forse La Soglia Attinse.. Ma Se M'e Forza Perderti' - New SO Of London/Alberto Erede
Il Trovatore: 'Ah Si, Ben Mio.. L'onda De' Suoni Mistici... Di Quella Pira' - Chor Del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino
La Gioconda: 'Cielo E Mar' - Orch Del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino/Gianandrea Gavazzeni
Tosca: Dammi I Colori... Recondita Armonia - Fernando Corena
Tosca: E Lucevan Le Stelle - Orch Dell'Accademia Di Santa Cecilia, Roma/Francesco Molinari-Pradelli
Madama Butterfly: Addio, Fiorito Asil - New SO Of London/Alberto Erede
Turandot: Nessum Dorma - Chor Dell'Accademia Di Santa Cecilia, Roma/Alberto Erede
Fedora: Amor Ti Vieta - New SO Of London/Alberto Erede
Andrea Chenier: Colpito Qui M'avete... Un Di All'azzurro Spazio - Andrea Chenier
L'africana: Mi Batte Il Cor... O Paradiso - New SO Of London/Alberto Erede
Pagliacci: Recitar!... Vesti La Giubba - Orch Dell'Accademia Di Santa Cecilia, Roma/Francesco Molinari-Pradelli
La Fanciulla Del West: Ch'ella Mi Creda - Cornell MacNeil
Otello: Niun Mi Tema - Chor Dell'Accademia Di Santa Cecilia, Roma
'O Sole Mio - Ernesto Nicelli
Torna A Surriento - Ernesto Nicelli
Granada - Ernesto Nicelli