Le Roi David [Cast Recording]

On this CD:

1. Le roi David, dramatic psalm, H37
Composed by Arthur Honegger
Performed by Utah Symphony Orchestra with Netania Davrath, Jean Preston, Marvin Sorenson
Conducted by Maurice de Abravanel, Ardean Watts

Customer Reviews:

A great modern oratorio.......1999-11-24

I had never before given a careful listen to Honegger's , no less sat and followed the French text that was inspired by the reopening of a village theater in 1921. When I got the Naxos release (8.553649) of the original version of this work, I was taken immediately not only by the beauty of the music but by the dramatic delivery of this cast. After this work had been successfully staged, a wealthy patron arranged a Paris concert version, which called for an expansion of the orchestrations and the addition of a narrator. What emerged was a 20th century oratorio. It tells the story of David from his life as a young shepherd to his death in the simplest and most vivid way: theatrically. It reminds me greatly of the Martinu "Gilgamesh" (which I highly recommend you hear also) but is less solemn. I think almost any one who like serious music will like this work; and local choral groups should take notice. Michel Piquemal conducts the Orchestre de la Cité with soloists Jacques Martin, Christine Fersen, Danielle Borst, Marie-Angel Todorovitch, and Gilles Ragon, and the Choeur Regional Vittoria d'Ile-de-France.

Average customer rating:

A good church recording, but what's it doing on Amazon.com?
Wonderful moments
How Disappointing

King David
Honegger
Manufacturer: Gothic Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Honegger:Le Roi David (Original version)

ASIN: B00000I9UJ
Release Date: 1999-03-23

Tracks:

King David: Introduction
King David: Song The Shepherd David
King David: Psalm 'All Praise To Him'
King David: Song Of Victory
King David: March
King David: Psalm 'In The Lord I Put My Faith'
King David: Psalm 'Oh Had I Wings Like A Dove'
King David: Song Of The Prophets
King David: Psalm 'Pity Me, Lord!'
King David: The Camp Of Saul
King David: Psalm 'God, The Lord Shall Be My Light'
King David: Incantation Of The Witch Of Endor
King David: March Of The Philistines
King David: Lament Of Gilboa
King David: Song Of The Festival
King David: The Dance Before The Ark
King David: Song 'Now My Voice In Song Upsoaring'
King David: Song Of The Maidservant
King David: Psalm Of Penitence
King David: Psalm 'Behold, In Evil I Was born'
King David: Psalm 'O Shall I Raise Mine Eyes Unto The Mountains?'
King David: The Song Of Ephraim
King David: March Of The Hebrews
King David: Psalm 'Thee Will I Love, O lord'
King David: Psalm 'In My Distress'
King David: The Crowning Of Solomon
King David: The Death Of David

Customer Reviews:

A good church recording, but what's it doing on Amazon.com?.......2006-06-06

I couldn't agree with another reviewer (K.Hume) more. I needed a copy of this CD rather quickly to learn the music for myself and this is the only one that was affordable that could come in soon, so I purchased it in spite of the negative review. I'm giving it two stars instead of one for the orchestra. They performed it well to my ear (not being an instrumentalist) and kept the rhythm going, despite the director, Donald Pearson's penchant for slowing it down incredibly. In this sense, one cannot help but imagine how painful rehearsals must have been.

The soprano soloist, Maureen Sorensson, has a crystalline quality to her tone which is quite beautiful, however she is sharp throughout the ENTIRE piece and in the final movement it stands out like a sore thumb. Ms. Sorensson sings a full out forte, one FULL half-tone sharp in contrast with the entire soprano section, thus ending the piece in a dissonant mess.

Bottom line: the chorus was not ready to record this piece, much less perform it.

Wonderful moments.......2004-02-16

The soprano soloist is the reason to buy this CD. Ms. Sorensson's sparkly, shimmery voice shines thoughout the album and brings the work to a glorious and perfectly in tune conclusion. The choral singing is adequate throughout and someimes exciting although it often has the blatty tone quality common to adult choruses whose women are asked to sing like little boys.

How Disappointing.......2003-11-24

I have the Dutoit, originally released on an Erato LP, I seem to recall, and very successfully transferred to CD. A really gorgeous production that "gets it" with both Honegger's score and the associated texts. I had been wanting an English translation of the piece, which I'd seen successfully staged a couple of times in my mis-spent youth, so was glad to see this edition when I went searching. But the music is just not on. It drags, and the chorus minces through passages that should move with much more energy (the Victory theme, where Saul has slain his thousands etc. on the sample here will illustrate the problem). The producers chicken out by using women soloists when the score calls for a boy singer, though that is hardly a unique sin. But the solost in the final passage keeps coming in sharp, often way sharp, in what should be a crystalline passage of music and that is near inforgivable. I'd buy it, barely, absent a better English rendition, but if that isn't an issue, skip it and stick to the Dutoit.

The Art of Courtly Love - David Munrow & The Early Music Consort of London

Average customer rating:

Superb Early Music. Buy It.
A Fiver from one of the Archangels of early music performance
Outdated but Still Rivetingly Interesting
If 6 were available, this would get them!
One of the finest early music performances ever recorded

The Art of Courtly Love - David Munrow & The Early Music Consort of London

Manufacturer: Virgin Records Us
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Music of the Gothic Era
The Art of the Netherlands
Music Of The Crusades
John Dunstable: Motets / Hilliard Ensemble
Early Music Festival / David Munrow, Early Music Consort

ASIN: B000002SSB
Release Date: 1996-07-16

Tracks:

A vous douce debonaire (Chansons)
Hareu! Hareu! le feu - Helas! ou sera pris confors (motet)
Amours me fait desirer (ballade)
Trop plus est belle - Biaute paree - je ne sui mie certeins (motet)
Amis tout dous vis (rondeau)
Se ma dame m'a guerpy (virelai)
Se je souspir (virelai)
Dame se vous m'estes lointeinne (ballade)
Quant je sui mis au retour (virelai)
Mes esperis se combat (ballade)
Ma fin est mon commencement (rondeau)
Douce dame jolie (virelai)
De Bon Espoir - Puis Que la douce rousee (motet)
De toutes flours (ballade)
Quant Theseus - Ne quier veoir (double ballade)
Anon La Septime estampie Real (dance)
Quant j'ay l'espart (rondeau)
Phyton le mervilleus serpent (ballade)
Armes amours - O flours des flours (double ballade)
A l'arme a l'arme (virelai)
Phiton Phiton (virelai)
Two variants on the tenor 'Roussignoulet du bosi' Borlet: He tres doulz roussignol (virelai)
Fumeux fume (rondeau)
De home vray (ballade)
Istampitta Tre fontane (dance)
Ma douce amour (ballade)

Tracks:

Tres doulz amis - Ma dame - Cent mille fois (rondeau)
Plasanche or tost (virelai)
Amour m'a le cuer mis (ballade)
Tribum quem (motet)
Helas! je voy mon cuer (ballade)
Contre le temps (virelai)
Andray soulet (canon)
Le greygnour bien (ballade)
Restoes restoes (virelai)
Ce moys de may (rondeau)
La belle se siet (ballade)
Je ne fai tousjours que penser (rondeau)
Files a marier (chanson)
Amoreux suy et me viente toute joye (rondeau)
Je loe Amours et ma dame mercye (ballade)
Navre je sui d'un dart penetratif (rondeau)
Lamentatio Sanctae Matris Ecclesiae Constantinopolitanae (O tres piteulx - Omnes amici) (motet)
La Spagna (Variant 1) (basse danse)
Par droit je puis bien complaidre (rondeau)
Donnes l'assault (rondeau)
Vostre tres doulx regart (rondeau)
Helas mon dueil (virelai)
Bien puist (rondeau)
Vergine bella (stropha)
La Spagna (Variant 2)

Customer Reviews:

Superb Early Music. Buy It........2005-12-13

'The Art of Courtly Love' is a two CD set, condensed from a three LP album performed by The Early Music Consort of London. I know less than I would like about early music, considering how much I enjoy it, but one very important thing I do know is that the director of this recording, David Munrow was, until his untimely death, the big man in early music.

One of the many things I especially like about this collection is that by showcasing a lot of vocal music, the tinny quality of a lot of early music is moved to the background. Antother thing I like is the fact that one can plainly distinguish secular from liturgical music by listening carefully to these selections. The biggest differences I see are the appearance of percussion instruments and male / female duets.

One reviewer commented on the quality of the notes. I agree they are good, but only about average for an old music offering by a major label.

Highly recommended to all who like early music.

A Fiver from one of the Archangels of early music performance.......2005-06-26

I bought this when the album was first released. Even though scholarship has advanced, and it can be argued that Munrow's interpretations are dated, what has been lost over the years is the joy in performing this music. Many modern performances are ponderous and much, much too serious. But David Munrow found this music as a wonderous discovery. Through albums such as this one, he released into the open air music that had been locked away, languishing in the libraries for years, trotted out occasionally for a scholarly study, and then tucked back on the shelves. Munrow's enthusiasm for this music is evident in this collection, and his performances make them walk - no, dance - in the open air once more. This album is beautifully performed. I hope the notes in the CD are as good as the ones in my original release.

In 1974, I had the great pleasure of meeting David Munrow and the other members of the Early Music Consort, and was blown away with that enthusiasm and unselfishness, their willingness to discuss their work - I remember Munrow trading recorder performance tips with a friend of mine - and Munrow's truly amazing store of energy. He radiated! : -)

Outdated but Still Rivetingly Interesting.......2005-05-01

This 2-CD boxed set is the digital version of a 3-LP box from 1973 and was reissued in 1996 as part of the edition with which EMI/Virgin celebrated the twentieth anniversary of David Munrow’s unfortunate demise. The recordings, made at London’s prestigious Abbey Road studios, are digitally remastered to a very high standard, so that I found myself enjoying them via headphones more than via loudspeakers, something which is pretty unusual with CDs from the old analogue days. The two discs contains no less than some 156 minutes (51 tracks) of absolutely fascinating music. The first part is devoted to Guillaume Machault’s songs, works which can be dated around 1350 to 1360. The second part of the programme is concerned with the so-called avantgarde from Avignon (including names such as Matteo da Perugia), composers who wrote for esoteric circles around 1380 to 1410. And the third part (the third LP of the original) is devoted to fifteenth-century music from the court of Burgundy, the two great composers here being Dufay and Binchois.

Of course, David Munrow’s performances, fascinating and rivetingly interesting as they are, were shaped by his own interests and research at the time, and the booklet notes point out that since then “scholarship and performance practices have moved on healthily”, which I interpret to mean that today nobody would dream of performing this music the way Munrow did: for instance, he has most of the songs accompanied by a whole plethora of ancient instruments, although today it is generally agreed that works from this period should be sung unaccompanied or with minimal instrumental support. Munrow also performs some of the songs as purely instrumental pieces, a legitimate decision perhaps. Munrow also uses the two countertenors James Bowman and Charles Brett for many of the songs, and not everyone will appreciate being bombarded with their somewhat forced androgynous falsetto for nearly three hours; personally, it was the singing of Martyn Hill, tenor, and Geoffrey Shaw, baritone, which delighted my ear during these sessions. Along with the instruments, of course: slide trumpet, cornett, shawm, crwth, fiddle, rebec, citole and so on, plus several tracks with the amazing Christopher Hogwood playing an organ that sounds, at least, very old – unfortunately, the otherwise good liner notes give no details concerning the instruments used.

The Old French texts are printed in full with English translations, so it is possible to follow every nuance. Exceptionally good value for money! – For more historically-informed performances of music of this kind, I suggest searching names such as Gothic Voices, Hilliard Ensemble or Binchois Consort.

If 6 were available, this would get them!.......2002-02-16

Lovely, beautiful, amazing, charming, and vital. I'll not replicate the previous reviewer, though my favorites differ from his, but I bought this on LP 25 years ago and it changed my life. These are exhilarating performances, that move you effortlessly through time and space into a world both far away and very, very close. So much great music, wonderfully performed. Take a chance--it might change your life as well!

One of the finest early music performances ever recorded.......2001-09-03

And an intriguing work of scholarship besides. This was originally released back in the early 1970's by the late David Munrow as a three album box set.

The first part of this recording is basically dedicated to Machaut and his contemporaries. The chanson -Amours me fait desirer- remains striking to this day, with its unusual leap in its first measures. -Amis tout dous- is a lovely miniature, and so also is the monophonic -Quant je sui mis au retour-. But the high point of this part of the record is -Quant j'ay l'espart-, a duet between countertenor and bass cornetto (a serpent?), understated and heartbreaking.

The second part is weirdness from the Avignon court of the Popes, the time when rhythmic notation got more sophisticated, and composers grew more experimental. The unusual chromaticism of -Fumeux fume- is given a great performance here. The -Tre fontane- estampie is given a reading here that is truly frenzied. -Plasanche, ou tost- is a lovely song. You also get rhythmic oddities like -Le greygnour bien-.

The third album nears Renaissance music, and focuses on Dufay and Binchois. Loud instruments like sackbuts and shawms are featured on pieces like -Donnes l'assault-, which seems risky, but sometimes works. The usually quiet pieces on the -La Spagna- ground are here given a marching-band performance on loud winds. The real high points here, though, are the motet -O tres piteulx-, Binchois absolutely gorgeous -Amoureux suy-, and the setting of Petrarch's -Vergine bella-.

This is a definitive early music performance that should never be allowed to go out of print. My only complaint with the CD edition is that it lacks some of the more extensive notes that came with the phonograph record booklet.

Mer Jolie: Chants d'Acadie
Average customer rating:

Acadia, blessed spirit of the waters...

Mer Jolie: Chants d'Acadie

Manufacturer: Atma Classique
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Tout passe: Chants d'Acadie

ASIN: B00063MB2Q
Release Date: 2004-09-14

Tracks:

Long de la Mer Jolie
Reels CBenoLeblanc
Avec un Avocat/Bransle de Poitou
Valses Beno
Joli Bois
Belle Se Prom
Medley Guinchard
Mari Jaloux
Valse d'angne/Acadiana Two Step
En Montant la Rivi
Chanson Grand Vent
Naufrage en Mer
Medley Briand
Nourrice du Roi

Customer Reviews:

Acadia, blessed spirit of the waters..........2007-05-19

This is an unusual disc - baroque specialist Suzie LeBlanc has collected some Acadian songs that speak of waters and the shores beside the sea. Not only is the repertoire unique, but Suzie LeBlanc's singing is luminous, haunting and utterly exquisite. Her voice - a lyric shining soprano of great purity used in such a way that one hears every nuance of superbly articulated emotion - is a blessing. Lovers of early music will be familiar with her singing of Vivaldi, Rossi, Mouline, Strozzi, etc.

The same qualities, as well as a wonderful affinity for the fresh charm of these French Canadian songs (Ms LeBlanc is French-Canadian herself), make this recording an enthralling one. I can never listen to Suzie LeBlanc without thanking God for her exquisite contributions to the world of music, and this recording was no exception.

She has just released another very similar recording, called "Tout passe: Chants d'Acadie", in which the focus, while remaining upon Acadian songs, is shifted to reflect the great upheaval of Acadians forced out of their homelands, to wander upon what one could call a type of pilgrimage. That sense of pilgrimage is strongly highlighted in the recording - and once again, Ms LeBlanc's singing and choice of (often extraordinarily haunting) songs combine to produce a CD of great beauty and unforgettable interpretation.

I very highly recommend both this recording "Mer jolie" and its new "companion" CD of "Tout Passe". I have just played both recordings twice over while doing some research, and they are so charming and moving that it will be with reluctance that I move on to the next CD waiting to be heard.

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Carnaval

French Coloratura Arias

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Sumi Jo - Virtuoso Arias ~ Verdi, Rossini, Donizetti, Meyerbeer
Sumi Jo - Bel Canto / Arevalo · ECO · Carella
Sumi Jo - Les Bijoux / Carella
Sumi Jo sings Mozart
Sumi Jo - La Promessa / Vincenzo Scalera

ASIN: B00020QW9G
Release Date: 2004-09-14

Customer Reviews:

Carnaval.......2005-12-05

There is no track listing on Amazon for this album. It is a re-release of Sumi Jo's album "Carnaval" which had, for some insane reason, gone out of print (something to do with a merger).

As for the album itself, there is no way to accurately describe how impressive this singing is. Jo's coloratura may not be as fast as Emma Kirkby's or as accurate as Cecilia Bartoli's, but nobody can surpass her sense of fun or the ease with which she sustains her highest notes.

Two tracks in particular stand out: "Le jour sous le soleil beni" is a rather slow, beautiful aria (the only non-coloratura aria included on the disc) which is capped with what must be the longest sustained high D-flat in history--sung pianissimo. Montserrat Caballe, eat your heart out. The other is the Carnaval de Venise, made famous by Mado Robin. Although Jo does not hit Robin's B-flat above high C, her version is infinitely more impressive, particularly the last two minutes, which is simply a roller-coaster ride of coloratura with no rests, no rubato, and very few breaths. Everyone I've ever played this track for has been rendered speechless.

Although those two arias stand out, there are really no tracks on this album which are not impressive and/or beautful. The Sevillana captures her sense of fun, "Canari" and the "Couplets de Mysoli" emphasize her control of pianissimo high notes, and "Jours de mon enfance" and "Reves d'amour, reves de gloire" both end in perfect, sustained high E's. One of my favorite albums ever. I'm happy it has been re-released.

Average customer rating:

Bruce Ford - Great Operatic Arias
Gioachino Rossini , George Frideric Handel , Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , Friedrich von Flotow , Leo Delibes , Giuseppe Verdi , Georges Bizet , Edouard Lalo , Gaetano Donizetti , Nikolay Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov , David Parry , Bruce Ford , Barry Banks , and Geoffrey Mitchell Choir
Manufacturer: Chandos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Great Operatic Arias: Bruce Ford, Vol. 2

ASIN: B000000A6R
Release Date: 1998-02-17

Tracks:

The Elixir Of Love: Nemorino's Romanza - 'I Saw The Tear...' (Una furtiva lagrima)
The King Of Y's: Mylio's Aubade - 'Since Your Unbending Guardians...' (It Is Vain My Fairest Angel)
The Fair Maid Of Perth: Henry Smith's Serenade - 'The Sounds Of Distant Laughter...' (A la voix d'un amant fidele)
Martha: Lionel's Aria - 'None So Rare, None So Fair...'(M'appari)
Lakme: Lakme's And Geralds Duet - Love Lay Asleep In Your Heart
Falstaff: Act III Second Part, Fenton - 'From These True lovers Lips
The Abduction From The Sersglio Belmont's Aria: Belmont's Aria - Costanza, Costanza, To See You Once More!
Armida: Ubaldo's and Carlo's Duet-Murmuring Breezes Cool The Air
Semele: Jupiter - 'Where'er You Walk...'
Sadko: Song Of The Hindu Merchant - 'From Crystal Waters And From Misty Mountains...'
The Barber Of Seville: The Count's Aria - 'Finish This Futile Argument'

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Domingo, Freni, Ghiurov, Success!
A Faust That Soars

Charles Gounod: Faust (Highlights)

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Gounod: Faust (Complete Opera); Domingo, Freni, Ghiaurov, Allen, Pretre
Gounod: Faust (Highlights)

ASIN: B000002S0Y
Release Date: 1989-06-06

Tracks:

Act II - 'Vin ou bi'
Act II - 'O sainte m?daille...Avant de quitter ces lieux...Le veau d'or est toujours debout' (Mephistopheles)
Act II - 'Nous nous retrouvons mes amis! ...Ainsi que la brise legere...Ne permettrez-vous pas, ma belle demoiselle' (Mephistopheles, Faust, Marguerite)
Act III - 'Quel trouble inconnu me ptre!..Salut! demeure chaste et pure' (Faust)
Act III - 'Je voudrais bien savoir...Il etait un roi de Thule...Ah!...Je ris' (Marguerite)
Act III - 'Il se fait tard!.. Adi ( Marguerite, Faust)
Act IV - 'Seigneur, daignez permettre...Souviens-toi du passe...Quand du Seigneur' (Mephistopheles, Marguerite)
Act IV - 'Glorie immortelle de nos aieux'
Act IV - 'Vous qui faitl'endormie (Mephistopheles )
Act V - 'Alerte, alerte...Anges purs, anges radieux...Christ est ressuscite' (Mephistopheles, Marguerite, Faust) )

Customer Reviews:

Domingo, Freni, Ghiurov, Success!.......2005-08-09

Faust has never sounded more lush and dramatic than in the hands of these seasoned singers. Placido Domingo as Faust is appropriately conflicted, emotional and romantic. He gets into character from his first scene as he curses God for his futile existence and old age and to his last scene when he is dragged to Hell. Mirella Freni is in fine voice as Marguerite, truly her performance is the greatest of all possible Marguerites on record or stage. She's got a full lyric voice that soars with passionate intensity (the Church scene and the last scene in which she tries to save Faust from damnation and she's sent to Heaven). Her husband (or soon to be husband depending on the time of this recording) bass Nicolai Ghiurov, a great Russian bass, is on fire as the Devil, with all the darkness and power in his vocal performance alone. George Petre, a famed French conductor leads a primarily French orchestra with singers who are absolutely brilliant in their mastery of the French text. This cd offers only highlights (not the full-length recording available on Amazon.com as well). Here are the Waltz, the Calf Song, Marguerite's ornate "Jewel Aria" the Church Scene complete with demonic chorus, and the outstanding Final Trio (Ange Pure Ange Radieux)which I feel could somehow be better but is not all that bad. A great highlights CD.

A Faust That Soars.......2005-03-17

This recording of Gounod's Faust made in the late 70's, stars Placido Domingo, Mirella Freni and Nicolai Ghiuarov, a powerful trio which is reason enough in itself to seek this album for purchase. Opera fanatics, such as myself, are never content with one recording of one opera, when they can indulge in a variety of singers and styles of conducting. I own this recording and the one with Hadley, Gasdia and Samuel Ramey. Now, while I think this is a great Faust, it is only second best to the recording with Hadley/Gasdia/Ramey, mainly because the real spirit of the work, active in the orchestration and especially in the bass voice of Samuel Ramey, is more true to Charles Gounod's vision. This one, though, holds its own, mainly through the dramatic prowess and rich vocals of tenor Placido Domingo, soprano Mirella Freni and her husband bass Nicolai Ghiurov. Pretre, who is French, is also enjoying his slow pace of conducting, probably slowing down what ought to be faster so as to focus on the lush lyric beauty of the French style of the lead singers who have mastered the French technique down to a "T". Superb, top-notch performances by all three lead singers is what makes this album so attractive. These are only highlights from the full length album. In this album, we find the opening chorus, the Waltz and the scene in which Faust meets Marguerite in person for the first time, the Devil's "Calf Song", Marguerite's "Jewel Song", the Church Scene in which Marguerite prays while the Devil and demons mock her, and the awesome Trio Finale "Ange Pure, Ange Radieux".

For Gounod, Faust proved a masterpiece and the one opera that would become a standard repertoire for most opera companies at that time and now. The Met opened in the 1880's with Faust. It's the tragic tale of a pathetic elderly scholar/scientist who longs for eternal life and youth and romance. When the Devil tempts him with a vision of the beautiful village girl Marguerite, and offers him youth and good looks, he makes a deal with the Devil, offering up his soul. The plan takes effect when Marguerite, seduced by jewelry and materialistic things, is seduced by Faust. She eventually becomes pregnant with his baby. At the end of the opera, Faust is dragged to Hell while Marguerite is saved and ascends to Heaven. Faust, written by the German writer Goethe, figured in a lot of Romantic Era 19th century music. Berlioz composed La Damnation De Faust and Boito wrote "Mephistophele", while the "diabolically radical" composer Franz Liszt enjoyed composing themes on Faust and symphonic poems about it.

Sumi Jo - Carnaval ! ~ French coloratura arias / ECO · Bonynge

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Wonderful!
This album will knock your heart off!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This recording will knock your socks off...
Sumi Jo at her Best!

Sumi Jo - Carnaval ! ~ French coloratura arias / ECO · Bonynge
Jacques Offenbach , Léo Delibes , Ambroise Thomas , Andre-Ernest-Modeste Gretry , Michael William Balfe , Andre Messager , Felicien David , Adolphe Adam , Ferdinand Herold , Jules Massenet , Francois-Adrien Boieldieu , Victor Masse , Richard Bonynge , Sumi Jo , English Chamber Orchestra , William Bennett , and Anthony Marwood
Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Sopranos | Voices | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
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Sumi Jo - Virtuoso Arias ~ Verdi, Rossini, Donizetti, Meyerbeer
French Coloratura Arias
Sumi Jo - Bel Canto / Arevalo · ECO · Carella
Sumi Jo - La Promessa / Vincenzo Scalera

ASIN: B00000422V
Release Date: 1994-11-15

Tracks:

Un mari a la porte: Valse tyrolienne
Don Cesar de Bazan: Sevilana
La Perle du Bresil: Couplets du Mysoli - Sumi Jo/William Bennett
L'Amant jaloux: Je romps la chaine qui m'engage
Le Puits d'amour: Reves d'amour, reves de gloire
Madame Chrysantheme: Le Jour sous le soleil beni
Le Songe d'une nuit d'ete: Malgre l'eclat qui m'environne
Les Pantins de Violette: La Chanson du canari
Le Pre aux clercs: Jours de mon enfance - Sumi Jo/Anthony Marwood
Le roi l'a dit: Portons toujours des robes sombres
Si j'etais roi: Grand air: De vos nobles aieux
Le Fete du village voisin: Bolero
La Reine Topaze: Carnaval de Venise

Amazon.com

Now that conductor Richard Bonynge doesn't have his now-retired wife Joan Sutherland to accompany him on his arcane journeys into forgotten French opera, he has hooked up with the spectacular coloratura Sumi Jo for a series of recordings exploring mid-19th-century operetta. This one is a nice aria compilation, especially welcome since you wouldn't want to hear the entire scores of these works by Adam, Grétry, Messager and Delibes. One hears influences by Rossini, flashes of Mozart, and lots of vocal fireworks-- especially the final selection, Carnaval de Venise by Massé. --David Patrick Stearns

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful!.......2001-07-15

This CD is a MUST GET! It's very relaxing - great to listen to when guests are over or you simply feel like being alone from the world. In this CD - you can see that she's matured more and is better then ever ... Those who like Sumi-Jo, grab it as soon as possible!

This album will knock your heart off!.......1999-11-20

Just an intriguing episode to add here. When this album was released, quite a few people thought that it is absolutely impossible for a human to sing like Jo did. They conjectured that there must be a sort of mechanical manipulations added. To prove that there was no mechanical aid to this recording, Sumi Jo sang the whole arias in "Carnaval" in front of millions of French TV viewers and audiences. And the result was: She was technically exactly the same as in the recording. Her live singing was even more touching and impressive! Her "Les Pantins de Violette: La Chanson du canari" was so beautiful that it caused tears from my eyes. And everyone in the audience gave her a long standing ovation!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......1999-09-02

No words could describe the beauty of Jo's voice and her input of emotions in this album. Sentimental, nostalgic and GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Felt dizzy intoxicated by "Carnaval de Venise".

This recording will knock your socks off..........1999-08-26

Sumi Jo is more than just a soprano but a consummate artist, elegant to her fingertips. Her coloratura ranges from sweet and clear to absolutely thilling, as in the final Carnival de Venise. A few top notes sound thin (noticeable splicing has been used to conclude some of the arias with high notes), but those are little qualms considering her elegant, supple phrasing and perfect diction. In the internationalized climate of the modern opera world, it is reassuring that there are still performers who understand the sensitivity of the French style.

Sumi Jo at her Best!.......1999-08-03

This album is definitely one of the best coloratura recitals on records. Sumi Jo is simply enchanting. She has a voice of great beauty and perfect technique. Her command of trills, roulades and legato line is simply astonishing. Sumi Jo' performance on this recording (a collection of not very known arias from French opera comique) reminds me a lot of Amelita Galli-Curci in her combination of charm and vocal virtuosism. The recording is a delight from start to finish. Among the hightlights are Sevillanas, Charmant oiseaux ( the cadenzas with flute are amazing), the beautiful liricism and stunning high D flat of the aria from Madame Chrysantéme, and of course the Carnival of Venice, a true feast of vocal fireworks. This recording is a must for all the fans of great singing.

Average customer rating:

great interpretation!
A landmark recording, finally on CD

The Art of the Recorder

Manufacturer: Testament UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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

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Similar Items:

The Art of the Recorder
Handel: The Complete Sonatas for Recorder
Early Music Festival / David Munrow, Early Music Consort
Music of the Gothic Era
Henry VIII & His Six Wives

ASIN: B0007VXZDQ
Release Date: 2005-06-14

Customer Reviews:

great interpretation!.......2007-05-13

Great interpretation on this tribute to magnificient Early music player as David Munrow, superb! principally at the CD number one! thanks...

A landmark recording, finally on CD.......2005-07-11

David Munrow is often credited as an essential force in the revival of old instruments for modern performance; while many felt that this would be a passing fad, old instrument performance seems as strong as ever today, some 30 years later. I first obtained an LP set of "The Art of the Recorder" in 1980; it immediately became and has remained one of my favorites. I've been waiting for a CD reissue of since I got my first CD player. In its LP form, the audio textures were novel and enrapturing to me even in its 1970's audio, and Testament has carefully transferred the EMI recording to compact disc.

Speaking as a music lover, the repertoire in "The Art of the Recorder" went a long way to feed my interest in early music, spanning from medieval to 20th century works, solo recorders to ensembles that represent all the musical instruments, including vocal selections from the late baroque. The performance practices may seem a bit dated now (perhaps the baroque era more than others), but it's played with liveliness and conviction from start to finish.

The CD set also includes 36 tracks from Munrow's "Instruments of the Middle Ages". In the LP form where I first knew it, Munrow narrates with descriptions of the instruments; the narration is unfortunately absent, and the audio transfer sounds fuzzy compared with my memory of the LP. But it's still nice to have if you want to hear a gittern contrasted with a citole.

If you collect period instrument recordings, I heartily recommend "The Art of the Recorder" for your library.