O Sole Mio: Italian Songs & Arias [Import]

On this CD:

1. Rigoletto, opera La donna è mobile
Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
Performed by Mario Lanza

2. Vien al mio grido d'amor, serenade
Composed by Anonymous
Performed by Mario Lanza

3. Core 'ngrato (Catari), for voice & orchestra
Composed by Salvatore Cardillo
Performed by Mario Lanza

4. Tosca, opera Recondita armonia
Composed by Giacomo Puccini
Performed by Mario Lanza

5. Tosca, opera E lucevan le stelle
Composed by Giacomo Puccini
Performed by Mario Lanza

6. La Traviata, opera Parigi o cara
Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
Performed by Mario Lanza

7. Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera Vogliatemi bene
Composed by Giacomo Puccini
Performed by Mario Lanza

8. La bohème, opera O soave fancilla
Composed by Giacomo Puccini
Performed by Mario Lanza

9. Parlami D'Amore, Mariu for voice & orchestra
Composed by Cesare Andrea Bixio
Performed by Mario Lanza

10. L'elisir d'amore, opera Una furtiva lagrima
Composed by Gaetano Donizetti
Performed by Mario Lanza

11. Mama Mia che vo sape?
Composed by Unspecified
Performed by Mario Lanza

12. Andrea Chénier, opera Un dì all'azzuro spazio
Composed by Umberto Giordano
Performed by Mario Lanza

13. Pagliacci, opera Vesti la giubba
Composed by Ruggiero Leoncavallo
Performed by Mario Lanza

14. A vucchella ("Arietta di Posilippo") for voice & piano (or orchestra)
Composed by Francesco Paolo Tosti
Performed by Mario Lanza

15. L' Africaine, grand opera in 5 acts O Paradiso
Composed by Giacomo Meyerbeer
Performed by Mario Lanza

16. Marechiare for voice & piano/orchestra
Composed by Francesco Paolo Tosti
Performed by Mario Lanza

17. Lolita, serenata spagnola for voice & orchestra
Composed by Arturo Buzzi-Peccia
Performed by Mario Lanza

18. Mattinata, song for voice & piano (or orchestra)
Composed by Ruggiero Leoncavallo
Performed by Mario Lanza

19. La Spagnola for voice & orchestra
Composed by Vincenzo di Chiara
Performed by Mario Lanza

20. Torna a Surriento for voice & piano (or orchestra)
Composed by Ernesto de Curtis
Performed by Mario Lanza

21. O Sole Mio for voice & piano (or orchestra)
Composed by Eduardo di Capua
Performed by Mario Lanza

Tracks:

Gia, Il Sole dal Gange
Son tutta duolo
Se Florindo e fedele
O cessate di piagarmi
Spesso vibra per suo gioco
Caro mio ben
Pur dicesti, O bocca bella
Intorno all'idol mio
Nel cor piu non mi sento
Il mio ben quando verra
O leggiadri occhi belli
Quella fiamma che m'accende
Selve amiche
Sebben, crudele
Tu ch'hai le penne, amore
Se tu m'ami
Chi vuol la zingarella
Amarilli
Delizie contente
Sposa son disprezzata
Vittoria, vittoria!

Amazon.com

The 17th-century Italian art song repertory traditionally reserved for novice singers is given new life via Bartoli's artistry. With impeccable diction and evocative phrasing, she captures every innuendo of these simple, but passionate, pieces. No two repetitive phrases are alike; she chisels every line into a landscape of interpretive magnificence. Scarlatti's simple "O Cessate di Piagarmi" becomes a testament of innocent pain and plaintiveness. Giordano's "Caro Mio Ben" is transformed into a tender cry for love. All embellishments are imaginative and well executed. Accompaniment by György Fischer is equally appealing, sensitive and precise. Every singer questing for the art of singing should study these. --Barbara Eisner Bayer

Customer Reviews:

useful.......2007-04-11

I feel like recommending this compilation to neophites wanting to listen to some old arias to learn if they like this genre and to singing students:
Ms Bartoli's voice is not beautiful, nor perfect when heard live, but her technique sounds perfectly good on record. Here and there her voice gets harsh, flat, losing brilliance and warmth, but most of the time one can concentrate on the accurate rendering of these old and beautiful arias.

She wisely decided to follow the letter of Parisotti's score, therefore meeting the need of all singing students of having a reference for their study. The agility is outstanding but pronunciation and expression, as well as the perfect gusto in presenting the phrases, are what make this compilation worthwhile. Not a word goes wasted or neglected but her being Italian and her sensitivity manage to avoid overkill.

One could wish she would publish compilations of single authors of the xvi and xvii centuries, edited according to philological criteria or else other compilations of the dated but still useful Parisotti edition.

Cecilia Bartoli at her best........2007-03-06

A great singer is one who dedicates singing to the text itself instead to himself/herself.
This is achieved 100% by Ms. Bartoli in this earlier album of hers. The recordings here cannot be termed otherwise than 'immaculate'. The very opening song 'Gia sole dal gange' is a display of Bartoli's unique timbre in its full beauty - glorious, rich and full. Many singers could tackle the range of this song, mezzos or sopranos, but who could pull it off in the manner as Ms. Bartoli? Credit to the one who picked this as the opening song of this fantastic album.
The songs following come in different styles and moods, all given full authentic interpretations by the singer. Compare the 'Vittoria, vittoria mio core' to 'Intorno al'idol mio' or 'Amarilli, mio bella' the vast contrast of mood, brought out equally well. The songs' requirement of versatility of interpretation is fully catered for.
I hate it when people say that this is a learners' album accompanying the 24 Italian Songs edited by one publisher. Such remarks could barely do justice to Ms. Bartoli's superb artistry, though admittedly, this CD would be an invaluable one for THAT purpose. What about the songs NOT included in the 24 Italian songs?

Great companion to Schirmer's 24 Italian Arias book.......2007-02-21

Cecilia Bartoli beautifully demonstrates many of the songs in Schirmer's 24 Italian Songs & Arias Of The 17th & 18th Centuries, which is widely recognized as an intermediate collection of Italian repitoire.

Great Bartoli, but not her best Italian songs.......2006-06-15

'The Impatient Lover' sung by Cecilia Bartoli is a collection of 18th and 19th century songs in Italian which were written by the predominantly German composers, Beethoven, Mozart, Schubert, and Hayden. Oddly, this is very seriously a better, or at least a more enjoyable collection, to my ear, than the 'If you Love Me' collection of Italian songs written by Italians, including Scarlatti, Caldera, and Vivaldi. And, neither collection of Italian songs is as interesting as Mme. Bartoli's collection of French love songs, 'Chant D'Amore'. All are done on London, but with three different accompaniests. I think the French material is just better than the Italian.

Beautiful and useful CD.......2006-03-22

I used this CD as accompaniment and inspiration for a voice class. It's very useful and Cecilia Bartoli sounds amazing.

Average customer rating:

Mostly as good as usual, some of the selections are excellent
One of Pavarotti's best CDs
Luciano's greatest compilation CD

Amore: Romantic Italian Love Songs

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Romantica: The Very Best Of Luciano Pavarotti
Pavarotti: Greatest Hits
Italian Wedding Favorites
Luciano Pavrotti: The Best (Farewell Tour)
O Sole Mio: Favorite Neapolitan Songs

ASIN: B000004218
Release Date: 1992-09-15

Tracks:

'Turandot': Nessum Dorma!
O Sole Mio
La Danza
'Rigoletto': La donna e mobile
'Martha': M'appari tutt'amore
'La Boheme': Che gelida manina
Maira, Mari!
'L'elissir d'amore': Una furtiva lagrima
'Tosca': Recondita armonia
'Fedora': Amor ti vieta
Core 'ngrato
Funiculi-funicula
'Tosca': E lucevan le stelle
'Aida': Celeste Aida
'Pagliacci': Vesti la giubba
'La fanciulla del West': Ch' ella mi creda
Torna A Surriento

Amazon.com

From Calaf's "Nessun dorma" from Turandot, in which the singer exclaims his love for the ice princess and the victory he will have over her, through Lionel's realization that he will have a new life and be happy with Lady Harriet in Martha ("M'appari"), and on to Rodolfo's falling in love with Mimi in La Bohème when he touches her hand ("Che gelida manina"): here we have some of opera's most beautiful love songs, sung by Pavarotti when he was in his golden-voiced prime. His "Una furtiva lagrima" is touching and gentle, while his rendition of the Neapolitan song "Core 'ngrato"--a diatribe against his lover's rejection of him--is heartbreaking. Radames's hymn to Aida ("Celeste Aida") in which he sees Aida as "the splendor of [his] life," is glorious, and all of the other selections are equally fine. For lovers and others, this is a handsome collection. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

Mostly as good as usual, some of the selections are excellent.......2006-02-22

Everybody knows Pavarotti has a good voice, whatever he sings it sounds great. In this CD I think he sounds better than the more recent recordings from him, e.g. the three tenor concerts. In my opinion I like "Una Furtiva Lagrima" the most, when his voice comes out he devoted such a sincerity throughout the song, I can just imagine that I am inside an opera house watching an excellent performance. "Nessun Dorma", which is one of his most "famous in singing well" aria, also excellent, his high notes are so beautiful and always beautiful (well...he is a king of high C man~ for real I rarely heard ppl can sing high notes better than him), but personally I like Franco Corelli singing "Nessun Dorma" more, and "Vesti la guibba" too (but of coz pavarotti also sound really good in this aria). As I read from some books, they said Pavarotti is the biggest lyric tenor nowadays, I think it is pretty true though. But one thing I found Pavarotti not "perfect" is, when he sings, mostly I just feel that "wow he sings this note beautifully", or "he sings everything perfectly", but not always have a feeling of "wow he melts my heart", or "wow he makes such a great atmosphere throughout the song", maybe because of his song selections. In general case I like Domingo and Mario Lanza better, when I heard Domingo sings I almost always feel his passion, musical sense, and communication to the audience; but in Pavarotti I dont always feel that, in this CD some of the song has this tiny problem too (like in "E lucevan le stelle", I really think he just "sounds well", I like Jose Carreras singing this song much better), but well this is just my personal opinion. However, his voice is a "legendary beautiful voice", that's 120% true. Again personally I highly recommend his "una furtiva lagrima", listen it and you won't regret it.

One of Pavarotti's best CDs.......2003-11-21

This is one of the best Pavarotti CDs I have listened to. It contains a great selection of 17 arias and Italian lyric songs. However, if you can afford it, "Pavarotti Greatest Hits: The Ultimate Collection" will offer more in a 2-CD set (a total of 41 arias and Italian lyric songs).

Luciano's greatest compilation CD.......2000-04-28

For over three decades Maestro Luciano Pavarotti has brought joy to human ears all around the world. Sure, the critics may scoff at the big arena concerts and at the later years' natural darkening of his voice. But we the fans just know that listening to him lifts our spirits and opens our hearts to the glory of human voice.

And that's exactly what this collection is all about. To compile it, the Decca producers used material from three albums: "Arias" (his earliest), "Favorite Neapolitan Songs" and "Passione," as well as some complete opera recordings such as "La Boheme" and "Rigoletto." The song "La Danza," Rossini's engaging tarantella is from a rare album "Pavarotti in Concert in Bologna" with Richard Bonynge. Most of these selections, therefore, are from 60s and 70s, in other words, Pavarotti's prime years. As he was establishing himself as one of the all-time greatest tenors on stage, he gave an all-out effort on recordings. And it shows. Listen to the vocal line in "Che gelida manina"; the breath control on "la speranza" is truly unbelievable. There is his signature aria "Nessun Dorma" and, of course, a song often mistaken for Italian National Anthem - Di Capua's "O Sole Mio!"

In addition to magnificent vocal pyrotechnics, Pavarotti's considerable acting-with-voice skills are represented on such demanding arias as "Celeste Aida" and "Vesti la Giubba". And it's a real treat to hear his Duca singing sparkling "La donna e mobile."

Tracks:

Be My Love
I'll Never Love You
Because You're Mine
The Song Angels Sing
Drink, Drink, Drink
Serenade
The Loveliest Night of the Year
La Donna E Mobile
Because
For You Alone
Golden Days
Deep In My Heart, Dear
If I Loved You
Yours Is My Heart Alone
One Night Of Love
Beloved
Beautiful Love
With A Song In My Heart
You Are My Love
Call Me Fool

Tracks:

All The Things You Are
My Song,My Love
Love Is The Sweetest Thing
Will You Remember
Granada
Lolita
Serenade
Temptation
Lygia
Lady of Spain
This Land
Lee-Ah-Loo
Tina-Lina
Boom Biddy Boom Boom
The Bayou Lullaby
The Lord's Prayer
And Here You Are
Song of Songs
Somewhere A Voice Is Calling
I Never Knew

Tracks:

Ciribiribin
Wonder Why
Come Dance With Me
O Sole Mio
Younger Than Springtime
For the First Time (Come Prima)
Never Till Now
Arrivederci, Roma
If You Were Mine
Behold!
A Night to Remember
Love in a Home
Do You Wonder
Softly as in a Morning Sunrise
One Alone
Aida:Celeste Aida
Carmen: Flower Song
La Traviata: Brindisi
Rigoletto:Questa O Quella
Pagliacci:Vesti La Giubba
Cavalleria Rusticana: Addio Alla Madre

Customer Reviews:

Selections from the Greatest Voice of the Last Hundred Years.......2007-03-13

Mario Lanza was, arguably, the greatest tenor and greatest singer of this and the last century. It is difficult to appreciate him without listening to a variety of selections. This collection has some of his best recordings and exhibits the versatility and variety that he possessed that permitted him to "crossover" from opera to popular music with a ease.

I recommend this for those who already know Lanza to some extent but want to go into more depth and understand his marvelous skills.

A Must Have .......2006-12-12

I had forgotten what a beautiful voice Mario Lanza had. This collection contains opera and pop selections that exhibit the power yet sweetness of his voice. Fortunately, we have his CD's and videos so we can remember and listen to his gorgeous, vibrant voice and personality. I highly recommend this collection along with his wonderful movies, especially The Great Caruso.

The Mario Lanza Collection.......2006-11-10

I had forgotten just how beautiful a voice from the past was. It is a wonderful collection

The MARIO LANZA Collection.......2006-08-19

extract from most important LPs. Brilliant sound quality from RCA. Also included are soundtrack recordings from some of his movies. The are several reissues from Mario Lanza but this one is a collection you should have.

WONDERFUL!!!!!.......2005-10-19

The Mario Lanza Collection is a three CD set and it has 61 songs and they all sound great. The mastering on this set is excellent and the song choice is very very good. It would have been perfect if they added a forth CD with more Arias, Italian songs and Sacred Arias. BUT still this set is a great introduction to Lanza. Lanza's voice was powerful and beautiful; if you are a fan of great singing, you will love Lanza. Highlights on this CD set are; Be my Love, Because your Mine, Serenade, With a Song in My Heart, Temptation, The Lord's Prayer, Ciribirbin, O Solo Mio, Ariverducci Roma, and on and on. They are many many great songs on this set, and I highly recommend it.

Giuseppe Di Stefano Sings Neapolitan Songs

Average customer rating:

Guiseppe di Strfano sings Neapolitan Songs
Di Stefano e magnifico!
Distefano has spoken!
Come back to Sorrento with Giuseppe Di Stefano.
Without peer

Giuseppe Di Stefano Sings Neapolitan Songs

Manufacturer: Testament UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Giuseppe Di Stefano Sings Neopolitan & Other Songs
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Italy
Carlo Bergonzi - Italian Songs ~ Bellini · Verdi · Danza · Tosti · Donizetti · Rossini · Mascagni · Puccini

ASIN: B000003XK0
Release Date: 1997-04-10

Tracks:

'O Sole Mio
Marechiare
Dicitencello Vuje
Tu, Ca Nun Chiagne!
L'te Vurria Vasa!
Core Ngrato
Torna A Surriento
Silenzio Cantatore
Chiove
'O Paese D' 'O Sole
Santa Lucia Luntana
Maria, Mari'!
E Pallume
Fenesta Che Lucive
Na Sera E Maggio
Voce E Note!
Autunno
Santa Lucia
Senza Nisciuno
Piscatore
O Maranariello

Amazon.com

Here's a yummy CD platter, filled to the brim with prime examples of the irrepressible Giuseppe Di Stefano, singing what he was born to sing. The tenor is in close to pristine voice throughout these 1953-7 sessions, with none of the frayed edges and crooning that seeped into his work in the 1960s. More to the point, Di Stefano approaches familiar favorites like "O Solo Mio" and "Santa Lucia" with a kind of seriousness of purpose and elegant restraint that will be revelations to listeners weaned on showboating by the Three Tenors. You may, however, wish to investigate Testament's companion stereo volume, which has better sound and a wider variety of material. But Di Stefano fans will gladly dig in. --Jed Distler

Customer Reviews:

Guiseppe di Strfano sings Neapolitan Songs.......2007-01-09

Neapolitan songs sung by Guiseppe Di Stefano was one of my favourite vynil long play records. I no longer have the facility to play vynil records so I was delighted to be able to acquire this CD version from Amazon. I believe that the original recordings were made in 1953 - certainly my vynil was from that era. The digital remastering is very successful and we aficionados have cause to be grateful. A huge part of the enjoyment is the characteristic Italian accompaniment,flowing,soaring, romantic and full bodied,but never over-intrusive, by the orchestra conducted by Dino Olivieri. I mark the CD 4 and not 5 purely because of the advances, since 1953, in recording techniques.

Di Stefano e magnifico!.......2006-12-25

Giuseppe Di Stefano's magnificent tenor voice was never put to better use than singing these Neapolitan songs. They were written for his type of voice and he was born to sing them. His voice is liquid gold; it combines sustained lyricism with tremendous emotional urgency and power. Sweetness and plaitiveness are all there when they are needed to express the text. Diction is perfect. The orchestral arrangements recorded here are very operatic and Di Stefano's voice fills every corner of them. These songs are treasures and through Di Stefano they are brought to the the heights of musical expression.

Distefano has spoken!.......2006-11-28

I get furious when people like the gentleman from Australia waste their alloted space delving in minutiae when it comes to reviewing this album of Neapolitan Songs sung by the greatest exponent of this genre (according to people like Pavarotti, Delmonaco and Corelli). No doubt these gems call for a beautiful - yes, beautiful - voice that can also sustain diminuendo, stress - where needed, passion, pathos, etc. it's no secret that every singer since Caruso - tenor, baritone or classification-less has attempted this repertoire; but none has ALL these qualities..this is Pippo's domain and he has spoken! Buy this and thank the Lord it's available now!

Come back to Sorrento with Giuseppe Di Stefano........2003-07-07

These little Neapolitan songs, many dating from the C19th, travel well across international boundaries, language barriers, and time divisions. Giuseppe di Stefano recorded dozens of them during his prime, and Testament has gathered together 21 of them, recorded in the 1950s, on this CD. The producer and conductor was Dino Olivieri who, twenty years earlier, had added to the repertoire himself and conducted countless records of Neapolitan songs sung by Tito Schipa and Beniamino Gigli.

Di Stefano sings here with more musicianship than the latter and a more robust voice than the former. Dino Olivieri, who likes swirling strings and problematic counterpoints, contrives occasionally with Di Stefano to enact musically something in total contradiction to the words. My favorite songs here - I' tu vurria vasà - depicts the singer lying beside his beloved at dawn and hesitating even to kiss her lest it wake her. What we hear is a performance that is so loud as to suggest something that might lift the roof off the Festspielhaus at Bayreuth. Perhaps the blame lies with the balance engineers. The sound engineering is of the "zoom lens" type, evening out all the dynamic changes in Di Stefano's singing so that everything is heard at a steady forte volume throughout.

If this is one of your favorite singers, you'll want to have this CD, but if you love listening to these perennial favorite songs, which always start in a minor key and then switch to the tonic major key half way through each verse, then try versions by other singers.

Without peer.......2003-03-26

di Stefano is the standard for singing Neapolitan Songs. There is exuberance, warmth, pathos - everything. He puts it all into these gems. I am extremely glad Testament made these discs available. You can't go wrong with these, they are utterly fabulous!!

Average customer rating:

First and His Best
A must have vocal CD
great voice, beautiful singing
"A Must Have"

Romantic Italian Songs

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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This Is Sergio Franchi
The Exciting Voice of Sergio Franchi/ Live at the Cocoanut Grove
Heart of Christmas
Jerry Vale Sings the Great Italian Hits
Classic Italian Love Songs

ASIN: B000003GB2
Release Date: 1997-11-11

Tracks:

Core 'Ngrato
Funiculi, Funicula
O Sole Mio
Mattinata
Mamma Mia, Che Vo Sape
La Vilanella
Marechiare
A Vucchella
Comme Facette Mammeta?
Fenesta Che Lucive
Torna A Surriento
O Surdato Namorato

Customer Reviews:

First and His Best.......2004-08-16

Sergio Franchi's much too short career started with a bang with this album. I have quite a few of his albums on vinyl, but didn't have this one. What I was missing, but now enjoy is Sergio singing beautiful Italian songs with fabulous phrasing, power and passion. Like most singers in his era, he was forced in later years to sing material that wasn't up to his level of talent. Not on this one, and aren't we glad it's on cd. Bravo Sergio!

A must have vocal CD.......2003-08-05

This is a must have CD for all lovers of the vocal art. For those who have only recently come to vocal music by way of Bocelli, Amante or Watson listen to this man and be amazed. Franchi sings circles around these contemporary wannabies. His vocal color, phrasing, legato and above all attention to the lyrics put him in a class by himself. This was his recorded intoduction to America, I bought it as an LP when it first came out. It was and is a vocal find. The sound is still first rate and the performance is wonderful. Now all BMG has to do is release his Broadway I Love You album LSC 2674 and we'll have the best of Sergio on CD.

great voice, beautiful singing.......1999-07-29

I grew up listening to this record and I am delighted to find it on CD. For a classical musician, Franchi's voice is a treat, as he has had classical music training, he sings in tune and with the the skill one expects from a great singer, yet he can sing pop music with the ease that it needs. He is a far better singer than Lanza and I would recommend any of his recordings that you can find.

"A Must Have".......1999-03-15

I cannot say enough about Franchi voice. I usually do not like opera, but I believe it is just because I had not heard a voice like this. There are two fast songs (2 and 6), which are most powerful. The slower songs have a depth that I have not witnessed before. Everyone must have this CD in their collection.

Average customer rating:

An interesting abomination.........
Caruso....re-emerged...or....re-submerged
amazing technology
An Unexpected Pleasure
I was floored

Italian Songs: The Digital Recordings

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Caruso 2000
The Legendary Enrico Caruso: 21 Favorite Arias
Prima Voce - Caruso
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ASIN: B00005MO14
Release Date: 2002-06-25

Tracks:

Vieni sul mar
'O sole mio
Tu can nun chiagne
Santa Lucia
Pecche?
L'Alba separa dalla luce l'ombra
Fenesta che lucive
Mamma mia che vo' sape
Musica proibita
Core 'ngrato
Luna d'estate
Ideale
'A vucchella
Vaghissima sembianza
Tarantella sincera
Senza nisciuno
L'addio a Napoli

Amazon.com

As a follow-up to its Caruso 2000 release, RCA here offers us a remastered, implemented selection of Neapolitan songs recorded by Enrico Caruso between 1906 and 1920. The gimmick is again that the old recordings have been digitally stripped of their oompah, blaring instruments. In their place, the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra has provided modern accompaniment. It's still anachronistic--the voice remains in another acoustical era from the orchestra--but this time, the balance is a little better, and conductor Gottfried Rabl is amazingly sensitive to Caruso's style and phrasing. Moreover, of course, the pops and clicks of the old pre-electrical shellacs are gone. The voice retains its timbre and quality, thank goodness, and one can still marvel at the way the sound grew over the 14 years recorded here. It's always magnificent, but it became more baritonal and muscular with age, without losing any of its thrills. The "Ideale" from 1906 remains an exquisitely tender piece of singing; elsewhere, the sheer visceral excitement of the voice dazzles. Purists may not approve. Those unfamiliar with the Caruso phenomenon should hear him under any circumstances, and this is as good a chance as any. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

An interesting abomination................2007-07-22

This recording is a technical marvel...the producers have taken the acoustic recordings of the greatest tenor that ever lived, digitalized them, "cleaned them up", whatever that means, and added a modern orchestra for background. God help us.

In Caruso's day, the performer sang into a large horn of the type shown in the old RCA ads, the microphone not being invented till 1925, four years after Caruso died. The sound was recorded on a wax disk, which was then used as a master. All of our attempts to listen to ancient records are, to some degree, artificial...I haven't seen a hand crank Victrola since I was a small child, well over 50 years ago. But this?!?....

I admit that this isn't like painting over an old master...the original recordings still exist. And I've already admitted that this is well done, in a technical sense. And about the voice of The Great Caruso there can, of course, be no question. Maybe I'm a traditionalist; I prefer to watch "It's a Wonderful Life" in black & white, I think pretty girls look prettier in dresses, and I'd rather see baseball played on grass. This isn't even like Richard Harwell abridging the works of Douglas Southall Freeman; that at least allows the reader with limited time and money to learn from the master. The original versions of these recordings are readily available, and take the same time to listen to.

We can play "what if" forever...could a modern doctor have cured George Washington? Of course. What would Bobby Jones do with modern golf equipment?? Sorry, Tiger. The originals of these landmark recordings represent the way listeners of Caruso's day heard him. It was state-of-the-art AT THE TIME.

Look, we live in America; the producer of this recording has an absolute right to make it, and you have an absolute right to buy it, enjoy it, and write a five star review of it, stating that I'm a stupid fool. That's the glory of America. Buy, and like, this record if you wish, but know what you are buying.

Caruso....re-emerged...or....re-submerged.......2007-02-15

I have been listening to Caruso recordings, necessarily periodically, for close on sixty years, though I didn't learn anything about music until in my mid twenties. Whilst thrilling hysterically to those top notes one couldn't help being more than a little aware, even as a child, that the trumpet-like noises, as Caruso himself once described it on hearing someone playing one of his records, emanating from the playback equipment, hardly represented a human being. Thanks to the digital restorative efforts of Thomas G Stockham we can appreciate the real art that conceals art, as C again put it, on the twelve CD edition previously published by RCA; since much of the artificial peakiness [ distortions ] has been alleviated - a tribute to the success of these may be concluded from the fact that some notes that previously sounded like he had a throatful of phlegm are simply revealed as record wear; as well as the more important sense of straining for effect being eliminated; far from it as we then appreciate how (apparently) effortlessly he puts those spectacular phrases across. As far as I can discern they have used these registrations here; so far so good. For the sake of this review attempt I listened again to this CD, for the first time since I bought it, probably well over a year ago. My humble opinion is that the orchestrations are too loud, tending to drown him out. Well done no doubt, if crass at times then, but providing little advantage over the Stockham 'recreations'. Maybe that's due to me being one of that army of Caruso lovers, or of any of a myriad of great artists' recordings for that matter, to whom the singing is paramount; the orchestra is merely lucky to be there. Is all that fuss regarding the minutiae of recent orchestral arrangements not just a bit patronising and condescending, with more accent on their problems rather than giving tribute to the singer who had no benefits of any post editing whatsoever; never mind the terribly restrictive recording environment and session period in which to do it ? I guess, like all hero worshippers, I'm possibly waxing unnecessarily defensive at this juncture. What if we could hear Caruso recorded now, as a contemporary of, say, Andrea Bocelli; would we be at his feet ? Maybe that's where this compilation really comes in, reaffirming the legend, dressed up to the nines. Does giving a monochrome phantom flash clothes, like those colourised photos, really make him more visible ?

On a personal note; it would have been an improvement had they NOT included "Vieni sul mar"; "L'Alba separa dalla luce l'ombra" and "Luna d'estate". "A Dream" would have been nice; also "I' m'arricordo e Napule" or, what I think is one of the best recordings of Caruso - Denza's "Si vous l'aviez compris" [ also Massenet's "Elegie" ], albeit they have piano/violin accompaniment, which would have presented a challenge to the engineers.

amazing technology.......2005-05-20

The Italian songs of Caruso have been a longtime favorite of mine -to hear this amazing voice - backed with a wonderful modern orchestra is just something else -I believe it is bringing 90 -100 year old recordings back to life - the voice is always clear and strong with no distortions one would expext from vintage recordings .The Vienna orchestra is wonderfully sensitive providing a lush sound behing this wonderful voice - my partner came in to see what I was playing, she said the voice was moving her to tears ," with a voice like honey" and I guess this was what the great Caruso was doing in his day to sell so many records

An Unexpected Pleasure.......2004-12-19

I have been an avid fan of Enrico Caruso for over forty years. I have heard just about every gimmicky process that has ever been attempted to make his recordings more modern sounding (read "electrical"). Each has its own virtues and inadequacies. I had not planned on purchasing this disc because, quite frankly, Caruso 2000 had been a disappointment. Caruso's voice almost always seemed to have a lid on it.

A certain fact has to be faced here. Caruso never made an electrical recording. No amount of filtering and doctoring can change that. The only way I can imagine that this barrier could ever be overcome is perhaps by computerized extrapolation of the frequencies his voice produced. A computer might some day be programmed to "figure out" from the original recordings the sound frequencies Caruso's voice produced but that the recording horn was too insensitive to record. Those frequencies could then be dubbed into the existing recording. However, it doesn't appear that technology is that advanced yet; perhaps it never will be. In my opinion, it doesn't need to be. All one really needs is a schooled ear to be deeply moved by the gifts, art, and technique Caruso exhibited on his original acoustical recordings.

Incidentally, I am both amused and appalled by individuals who doubt that he was the greatest male singer in the history of recording, perhaps of all time. Anyone who would suggest Mario Lanza's, John McCormack's, or anyone else's singing as more satisfactory isn't listening. Lanza wanted to be the next Caruso, but he was not Caruso, not even a pale imitation. Even Pavarotti willingly acknowledges that he idolizes Caruso. And McCormack was a completely different kind of singer.

The best way to enjoy Caruso, Italian Songs and even Caruso 2000 is to set them aside as seperate works of art, rather than expect them to be improvements over the original recordings. They're not. Caruso's voice is not reproduced as accurately as it is on original recordings played on the proper equipment in the proper environment, especially on Caruso 2000. But the beauty of his art and technique remains intact. It seems the recording engineers did less manipulation of the voice on this new CD; the voice is more faithful to the originals, but still not the same. It occurs to me that perhaps these recordings are best for those who cannot tolerate surface noise and Victor's almost exclsive use of wind instruments for the orchestra.

That said, the digital accompaniment added unexpected emotion, power, and drama to every piece. I was caught completely off-guard. The music on this disc had me in tears. Music is about emotions, and this disc overpowered mine. If the degree of emotion induced by a performance is the standard for its evaluation, then this disc rates five stars without question. And if this is the way more modern ears than mine must be introduced to the artistry of this great singer, let it be! The instrumentation and arrangements fit every selection, and the synchronization with Caruso's stylizing is nearly always perfect. I highly recommend this disc to budding opera and classical voice lovers as a worthy introduction to Caruso's artistry. And for the seasoned aficionado of classical voice, it is a refreshing, yet emotionally moving collection of great singing in its own right. Neither type of listener would be disappointed.

I was floored.......2004-02-14

This was a vast improvement over the last effort. When you listen to it on a regular stereo, as background music, you could swear you are listening to something that was recorded altogether, as if the singer was there. I also like the folk approach that was put forth by it. It is not Caruso trying to be the character of the song that comes from the opera, but Caruso being Caruso, without all the operatic techniques. It sounded like he was just having fun with the recordings, and the jovial personality that he had shows through clearly. I would be interested in seeing if RCA would consider doing more.

Average customer rating:

Quartetto Gelato

Manufacturer: Linus
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

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General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | International | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

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Masses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

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Rustic Chivalry
Neopolitain Cafe
Aria Fresca
Travels the Orient Express
Favourite Flavours - Best Of... (Import)

ASIN: B00066U2VA
Release Date: 2004-09-15

Tracks:

Chitarra Romana
Concerto Sopra Motivi DellOpera
La Boheme Prelude and Arioa
Dark Eyes
Danny Boy
Russian Medley
Piece en formede Habanera
O Sole Mio
Allegro
Rondo - Tempo di Minuetto
Addio Sogni di Gloria

Album Description

Linus Entertainment is proud to re-issue the first four albums by the critically acclaimed Quartetto Gelato. With members from three countries playing nine instruments and a repertoire that unites classical masterworks and operatic arias with tangos, gypsy fiddling and folk songs, Quartetto Gelato is one of classical music's most imaginative ensembles. They have sold in excess of 30,000 units in Canada alone over their 5 albums. Their latest album Quartetto Gelato Travels The Orient Express (2 70025) released in March 2004 is one of the Top 10 best selling Classical albums in Canada for the first half of 2004, according to Neilson Soundscan.

In My Heart - 17th and 18th Italian Songs

Average customer rating:

misguiding
He missed the point
A (perhaps too) romantic approach to some old favorites
Adequate
Highly Recommended

In My Heart - 17th and 18th Italian Songs

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Mexico | International | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music

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Similar Items:

Cecilia Bartoli - If You Love Me (Se tu m'ami ), 18th-Century Italian Songs
The Soul of Italy
Carlo Bergonzi - Italian Songs ~ Bellini · Verdi · Danza · Tosti · Donizetti · Rossini · Mascagni · Puccini
Ramón Vargas - L'amour, l'amour / Viotti
Ramon Vargas - Canzoni (Neapolitan Songs and other Italian Classical songs)

ASIN: B00006JO9L
Release Date: 2002-10-14

Tracks:

Amarilla, mia bella
Vittoria, mio core!
O cessate di piagarmi
Gil sole dal Gange
Toglietemi la vita ancor
Pur dicesti, o bocca bella
Sebben, crudele
Come raggio di sol
Per la gloria d'adorarvi
Il mio bel foco; Quella fiamma
Teco, si, vengo anch'io
Nina
O del mio dolce ardor
Nel cor piu non mi sento
Plaisir d'amour
Caro mio ben

Amazon.com

Those who prefer 17th- and 18th-century music performed in a "historically correct" manner may balk, but these "old songs and arias" ("arie antiche") are beautifully presented and sung. It's not that Ramón Vargas approaches them in a verismo style or that he overexclaims them. Rather, he sings with ardor, generous portamento, and a Romantic, cushioned voice filled with vibrato and expression. At the same time, Vargas embellishes the vocal line in very much the style popular and proper 200 and 300 years ago, and these embellishments are attractive and in excellent taste. But the voice is the thing, and it's gorgeous and beautifully used. The opening, earliest song (for instance) is sung sweetly and softly from start to finish--it's hard to recall the last time one heard such sustained elegant, gentle vocalism from a major tenor. Vargas never overstates his case, and by refusing to do so, sells us these brief, lovely items one at a time. Another winner from this unique tenor. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

misguiding.......2007-04-09

Those who love Mr Vargas' singing will probably be satisfied.
His voice is beautiful and this repertoire is most apt to show it to advantage. His technique is good (some problems with pianos), his agility commendable.

Those instead looking for an adequate rendering of old arias will find this compilation lacking: he chose (as declared in the booklet) to ignore philologicas and stylistical issues, singing them beautifully but also romantically, as late Donizetti or early Verdi. Problem is that this, to educated ears, sounds incredibly wrong, nearly inaudible.

A pity: with more attention to style this could have been a useful compilation for singing students too. Such as it is, it is only good for Mr Vargas' fans.

He missed the point.......2005-11-12

I am sorry I bought this album. I did not listen to the sound bytes first...my bad! Vargas croons his way through music that has been orchestated out of all recognition. It sounds syrupy and sentimental, not intensely emotional. The Carissimi is a joke! The Scarlatti is painful to hear. There are too many fine performances of 17th & 18th century music out there for this to pass muster. For example, if you want to hear Bononcini as he should be sung, listen to Martin Oro or Gerard Lesne. My recommendation is a most emphatic "NO".

A (perhaps too) romantic approach to some old favorites.......2003-11-27

Ramon Vargas is probably the most elegant and classy tenor singing today. If I may be forgiven an ethnic cliche, the Mexican singer's voice reminds me of dulce del leche ice cream - rich, sweet, and smooth as caramel. Having sung both on stage and on records a wide operatic repertory ranging from bel canto to French works to Puccini and Verdi, Vargas now turns his efforts to this album of arie antiche entitled (rather unimaginatively, I think) `Nel Mio Cuore' - In My Heart. Nearly all lovers of classical vocal music are familiar with the songs represented on this disc; many singers have recorded them and just about everybody who has ever had a voice lesson has studied at least some of them. The defining feature of these songs - which is why they are used by voice students - is that while it is easy to learn the basics of singing them, it takes true expertise to handle all their technical challenges and to bring out all their nuances. If some misguided performance practice decisions make the CD a less than total success, Vargas' vocal beauty, excellent technique and total commitment make this a mostly very enjoyable listen.

As Vargas says in his brief comments, he wants to sing this music in a more 'romantic', (i.e. unrestrained and overtly emotional) manner than many other performers do, to bring a 21st century sensibility to mostly 17th and 18th century music. Vargas as a child was a soloist in the choir of the Basilica Guadalupe of Mexico City, and it was standard procedure there to sing sacred music from this and earlier periods that way. While this approach to the actual singing works very well, I am not entirely happy with the decision to use a small 'salon' orchestra instead of the usual piano or harpsichord, and I suspect many will agree with me on this. I don't object to orchestral arrangements on principle - the arrangements of the arie antiche recorded by Richard Tucker on the superb CD 'The Soul of Italy' work very well, particularly the delightful 'Gia sole del Gange'. On this disc, however, few of the arrangements (by Sascha Goetzel and Joseph Turrin) really enhance the music or make it more interesting, and sometimes they just get in the way. Perhaps in an actual salon or concert setting, this wouldn't be as big a problem. In general, the best arrangements are the most quiet and unobtrusive ones, such as 'Nina' or 'Plaisir d'amour', allowing Vargas to sing softly and tenderly instead of just ardently. The major exception to this is actually the best track on the disc, `Sebben crudele', where the music helps Vargas' anguish and pain reach appropriately operatic proportions. Gluck's `O del mio dolce ardor', an actual opera selection often sung with orchestra, also responds well to this treatment. For most of the other selections, however, it might be helpful to play individual selections or a few at a time instead of the entire album at once, and I wouldn't advise playing it at much more than medium volume.

The good news, though, is that Vargas sings this music with real passion, warmth, and style. The arrangements may require him to sing the music more loudly than many singers do but he never forces or shouts - his heart may be on his sleeve, but is sincere and never vulgar. He pays close attention to the meaning of the words and is musically sensitive and expressive. His Italian diction is excellent, although his French could be a bit crisper. His long experience with bel canto operas makes runs and articulated grace notes easy for him, and he inserts some lovely decorations. The musicians, led by pianist Katherine Chu, do an excellent job with what they are given, and Vargas should actually have been credited as their conductor. I note particularly the beautiful wind playing in 'Teco, si, vengo anch'io'.

In addition to Vargas' comments, there are also notes on the music and full texts and translations. However, I thought the tone of the notes was just a bit too defensive of the more 'modern' approach. All the musicians are listed by name, a nice touch.

The sheer beauty of Vargas' voice, his enthusiasm and his sincerity should set aside most objections to the performance decisions made here. However, I would definitely recommend a more 'traditional' piano-or-harpsichord-accompanied set of this music alongside this if you don't already have one. Cecilia Bartoli's 'Se Tu M'Ami' is essential, and I would also suggest that if you are interested in hearing the music sung by a tenor, you should listen to Alfredo Kraus, especially since many opera lovers consider Vargas to be an heir to this late great Spaniard. Also, Vargas' 'Canzoni' album, from a live concert in Mexico City, shows how wonderful his voice sounds with piano in Italian and Mexican songs - including 'Gia sole del gange' sung in much the same way it is here. It's at super-budget price, too. Still, `Nel Mio Cuore' will give admirers of this lovely tenor the opportunity to wallow in a wonderful voice and experience the heart of an artist.

Adequate.......2003-05-20

Lovely music, but somehow I find it not very involving. Listen to it some, if possible and see if it really is what you are looking for.

Highly Recommended.......2003-03-10

Every beginning classical singer works on these arias that Vargas chose for this album, so naturally, they are often heard and almost always abused. Vargas makes them music again. Absolutely stunning work. He is the real thing - voice, brains and musicality. This combination is sadly lacking in many of todays top operatic stars.

From the Heart: Italian Arias & Neapolitan Songs

Average customer rating:

A very good CD and a talented singer
Richard Leech Will Be One Of The Best In Operatic History!
Richard Leech - From the Heart - Italian Arias and Songs
Mr. Leech's voice is glorious - a most listenable tenor.

From the Heart: Italian Arias & Neapolitan Songs

Manufacturer: Telarc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Arias | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
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Amore: Romantic Italian Love Songs

ASIN: B000003D1Z
Release Date: 1996-09-24

Tracks:

Recondita Armonia
E Lucevan Le Stelle
Una Furtiva Lagrima
Addi, Fiorito Asil
La Donna E Mobile
Nessun Dorma!
Lamento Di Federico
Che Gelida Manina
Aprile
'A Vucchella
Torna A Surriento
Senza Nischiuno
'O Sole Mio
Non Ti Scordar Di Me
La Serenata
Mattinata

Customer Reviews:

A very good CD and a talented singer.......2001-12-01

While I won't go as high as 5 stars for this one, I would put it right above 4 (at 4.2 or so if Amazon allowed me). Richard Leech has a nice, lyrical tenor sound that matches up well with the repertoire he selected for this CD. As a former student of voice, I must be frank in saying that he has somewhat of a wobble that creeps in occasionally (the other reviewers seemed to miss that); however, it doesn't detract from the overall performance or effect, and most people probably wouldn't even notice it.

Mr. Leech has an incredible top and is surely one of the rising stars of our time. He doesn't rise to the quality of Ben Heppner or Roberto Alagna, but he is light years ahead of Andrea Boccelli and the host of pseudo-singers that are now haunting the classical CD sections at most music stores. I would have given Leech 5 stars if he had corrected that wobble I referred to, but even with it, he is an excellent singer, and this CD would make a very nice addition to anyone's classical voice collection. I have a feeling we'll be hearing more from Mr. Leech in the future.

Richard Leech Will Be One Of The Best In Operatic History!.......2000-10-09

The three tenors should not discount Richard Leech as an equal and it would be nice to see him added in as the newest fourth. I sang as a youngster with Richard Leech in Binghamton, New York's Tri-Cities Opera and never realized I would one day see him leading the tenor contingent in opera houses across the world! Mr.Leech sings with both conviction and sincerity, as was taught him by Tri-Cities Opera founders Carmen Savoca and Peyton Hibbitt, whom I'm sure to this day Leech gives due credit. His recording of "From the heart, Italian arias and Neapolitan Songs" is a top notch proof that he should be included with the other great tenors! Binghamton, New York and Tri-Cities Opera has produced some great performers, among them being baritone Jake Gardner and soprano Cynthia Clarey, both peers of Mr. Leech. I recommend that anyone in love with music and opera be sure to purchase one of Leech's recording and see what all the talk is about!

Richard Leech - From the Heart - Italian Arias and Songs.......1999-12-11

Excellent Choice! I recall hearing Richard back in the early '80s live at the Hollywood Bowl. He was a local tenor favorite developing his career singing with clarity and passion. He sings directly from the heart, without question. Now he is a Metropolitan Opera favorite! This collection of songs shows the tremendous talent of Mr. Leech quite well. He has taken some of the most famous tenor repertoire and made it his own, singing with honesty, sincerity and genuine warmth which can often be left out in place of bravado. It is a powerful display and an excellent choice.

Mr. Leech's voice is glorious - a most listenable tenor........1999-10-13

I first became aware of Richard Leech when his was the lead article in the Met's "Opera News" this past Spring. Mr. Leech credits his interest in singing to his boyhood idolation of Mario Lanza, whom he heard on his father's record player. Now, a renowned tenor himself, when not on the world's operatic stages, he presents concerts tracing Mr. Lanza's career, interprersed with pieces the great tenor recorded. Prior to attending such a concert last week at Carneige Hall, I purchased this CD from Amazon. Many of the selections were featured in the concert, with Skitch Henderson and the New York Pops. Skitch is now 80! Mr. Leech's voice is remarkable. No grimaces, screaming, or fancy affectations. Just wonderful music, wonderfully presented. The "Three Tenors" would do well to purchase this CD - you should also!