| 1. Ouvre Les Yeux |
| 2. Pour Ma Demo |
| 3. Entre Dans Ma Secte |
| 4. Jungle Vibes |
| 5. Hollywood |
| 6. Dans le Marecage |
| 7. Large |
| 8. Engrenage |
| 9. Babe |
| 10. Nos Enfants |
| 11. 8 Measures Pour 12 Types |
| 12. Sous Les Cocotiers |
Ouvre Les Yeux,Bambi Cruz,Olivi Records,France,Int'l & World Music,Pop
Ouvre Les Yeux [Import]
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Maria Callas, the Voice of the Century
Manufacturer: EMI Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00000631B Release Date: 1998-03-17 |
Tracks:
- Norma: Casta Diva (Atto I): Norma
- La Sonnambula: Compagne, teneri amici...Come per me sereno (Atto I): La Sonnambula
- Il Barbieri Di Siviglia: Una Voce poco fa (Atto I): Il barbiere di Siviglia
- Lucia di Lammermoor: Regnava nel silenzio...Quando, rapito in estasi (Atto I): Lucia di Siviglia
- Rigoletto: Gualtier Mald...Caro Nome (Atto I): Rigoletto
- La Traviata: E Strano!...Ah, Fors'e lui...Sempre libera (Atto I): La traviata
- La Boheme: Si, Mi chiamo Mimi (Atto I): La boheme
- La Boheme: Donde Lieta Usci (Atto III) (Mimi's Farewell): La boheme
- Madama Butterfly: Un Bel di Vedremo (Atto II): Madama Butterfly
- TOSCA: Vissi D'arte (Atto II): tosca
- Turandot: In questa reggia (Atto II): Turandot
- La Wally: Ebben? ne andro lontana (Atto I): La Wally
- Andrea Chenier: La mamma morta (Atto III): Andrea Chenier
Tracks:
- Orphee et Eurydice: J'ai perdu mon Eurydice (Acte V)
- Alceste: Divinites du Styx (Acte I)
- Dinorah: Ombra leggiera (Atto II) (Shadow Song)
- Romeo et Juliette: Ah! Je veux vivre (Acte I) (Waltz Song)
- Faust: Les grand seigneurs...Ah! je ris (Acte III)
- Lakme: Dov'e l'indiana bruna? (Atto II) (Bell Song)
- Samson et Dalila: Printemps qui commence (Acte I)
- Samson et Dalila: Mon coeur s'ouvre a ta voix (Acte II)
- Les Pecheurs De Perles: Me voila seule...Comme autrefois (Acte II)
- Carmen: L'amour est un oiseau rebelle (Habanera)(Acte I)
- Carmen: Les tringles des sistre tintaient (Acte II)
- Le Cid: De cet affreux combat...Pleurez mes yeux! (Acte III)
- Manon: Je ne suis que faiblesse...Adieu, notre petite table (Acte II)
- Louise: Depuis le jour (Acte III)
Customer Reviews:
Beautiful Collection of Songs.......2006-07-15
A Legend in all.....La Callas........2005-04-24
'...her voice is of unparalleled beauty, having an inimitable, completely own timbre of sopranos and altos...a performance of superior musical quality..a phenomenon amongst contemporary singers'
' ...One of the most spectacular Verdi arias, of Elizabeth from Don Carlo, and one, In Germany tottaly unknown, terrific scene from Bellini's opera Il Pirata were enough to enchant huge numers of television viewers, who can say at her next performance: 'we have seen La Callas''(Hamburg concert 1959)
'- from the contra-alt-f to the f - thats Callas' voice range, spanning over 37 half-tones. Callas herself has drawn the range of her voice. In her concert repertoire the contra-alt-f can be found in e.g. the aria from I Vespri Siciliani. In an aria from Rossini's opera Armida she reaches the 'F'. five half-tones above the high C. Normal voices couldnt possibly even whistle this high F. Though there are other singers, whose voices contain these three octaves - Erna Sack with her coloratura soprano, the lyrical singer Ema Berger and the dramatical singer Zinka Milanov from the New York Metropolitan Opera - simple fact is that the phenomenon Meneghini-Callas lies in her fabulous vocal versatility. She is a coloratura singer, drama-player and lyrist in one person - and an exceptionally talented ac-tress at that.'
Excuse from a journalist of the German Newspaper for the Diva :
Article Title : 'I am sorry!'
'I owe Maria Callas an apology. She is a unique vocal talent, a great artist. She is a primadonna. And she has her moods. Moods for which i ask her to forgive me. Because i misunderstood them - and many others too. That much i gathered from her latest television concert. Even in the flickering of the screen this woman's nervousness and enormous effort were visible.
La Callas is a fragile, rather shy person. Her moods are fear of failure. The moloch audience expects her to always go to any lenght, show the brilliance others just dont have. She is not allowed to get weak. Decent country singers are not decapitated for a false note. La Callas, on the other hand, is the identifying mark of the extraordinary. Even the slightest hint of a mistake would cost her her uniqueness, her stardom....a perverse triumph for all bathtube singers.
That explains her inhibitation to perform when she isnt well, her cancellations when she is not in the right mood. I understand them now. If she werent moody, she wouldnt be a primadonna, would not be La Callas.
Stars like her do not fit in our world of standards and programmed data. They pay dearly for their moods, have to put up fights and, undoubtedly, shed many a tear. So one more, my apologies, Maria Callas'
(Hans im Bild)
That's all folks!:D
Excellent compilation of La Divina's arias.......2005-03-21
Holly Mathews doesn't know how to appreciate art. Kathleen Battle and Renee Fleming themselves have admitted to the supremacy of Callas' singing over theirs, even if their voices seem more beautiful than La Divina. Why else would Callas be a legend and they wouldn't? They are equally good in their own right, but none of them would surpass the accuracy of La Divina's singing and phrasing. Holly Mathews' left side of the brain must be made of clay or foam, dead material that couldn't absorb any beauty.
Some people have no business reviewing this.......2005-01-25
Anyway, this is an excellent compilation of SOME of Maria Callas' greatest arias. Although I do wish some arias like Pace Pace Mio Dio were included here, I do think it is a very good compilation all in all. Although she has many detractors, they still have to admit that Callas is the sheer embodiment of singing and drama. She was an actress...a panther on the stage. Listen to her La Mamma Morta and her Suicidio...those brought chills to my spine when I listened to them. Maria is the only singer in the history of opera besides the great Caruso-tenor Franco Corelli who touched me, moved me even. This is probably the reason why I love Maria Callas' music so much. If you want to hear Medea's anger and Norma's anguish and Butterfly's hopeful blindness, listen to Maria Callas. If you just want a golden voice, then go to Renata Tebaldi or Joan Sutherland. And don't even compare her with Charlotte Church or Hayley Westenra! The distaste of some people!
BELLA BELLA BELLA!.......2004-11-23
Average customer rating:
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The Art of Joan Sutherland
Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000654OUQ Release Date: 2005-03-15 |
Customer Reviews:
Valuable compendium.......2007-01-24
Rareties available on CD at last!.......2006-03-29
While this newest set does include a lot of bits of this and that, ranging from her very first LPs to excerpts from complete recordings most Sutherland fans already have and a few "live" performances, what is perhaps most significant about it is that it features the complete contents of the "Sutherland Sings Wagner" LP--a real repertoire departure for her--and the double-LP album called "French Opera Gala" (in the U.S.--the British title was "Romantic French Arias"), neither of which, to the best of my knowledge, has been available on CD before. "Opera News" magazine once ran an article in which they asked various stars to name the one album that they felt best represented their artistry for future generations, and Dame Joan selected the "French Opera Gala," so for Sutherland fans, this is a long-awaited treat.
I'm not going to waste space saying how miraculous I consider Dame Joan's artistry. If you are familiar with her work already, you know whether you adore her or not; and if you aren't, this massive set is probably not the best place to start (that would be "The Art of the Prima Donna" album that introduced her to most listeners decades ago)--especially since this newest set doesn't contain the lyrics, a must for newcomers. Let's hope Decca/London gets around to releasing the rest of her recordings intact instead of endlessly scrambling and repackaging the same selections over and over.
Heavenly.......2006-01-31
WHO ELSE CAN SING LIKE THIS TODAY?.......2005-04-10
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Offenbach - Les Contes d'Hoffmann / Alagna, van Dam, Dessay, Vaduva, Jo, Lascarro, Dubosc, Ragon, Sénéchal, Bacquier, Lamprecht, Nagano
Jacques Offenbach , Roberto Alagna , Natalie Dessay , Kent Nagano , Choeur et Orchestre de l'Opéra National de Lyon , Leontina Vaduva , Sumi Jo , José van Dam , Catherine Dubosc , Gilles Ragon , Gabriel Bacquier , Doris Lamprecht , and Juanita Lascarro Manufacturer: Erato ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000005E4D Release Date: 1996-10-29 |
Tracks:
- Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Prelude - Kent Nagano
- Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Act 1, Scene 1: Glou! Glou! - Kent Nagano
- Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Couplets de la muse: La verite, dit-on, sortait d'un puits - Kent Nagano
- Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Elle est sur la scene, un peuple l'acclame - La Muse - Kent Nagano
- Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Scene 2: Le conseiller Lindorf, morbleu! - Lindorf, Andres - Kent Nagano
- Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Scene 3: Vayons? Pour Hoffmann! - Kent Nagano
- Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Couplets: Dans les roles d'amoureux - Kent Nagano
- Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Deux heures devant moi - Scene 4: Vite, vite, qu'on se remue! - Lindorf, Luther - Kent Nagano
- Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Scene 5: Choeur des Etudiants - Drig, drig - Kent Nagano
- Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Vrai Dieu! Mes amis - Kent Nagano
- Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Eh! Luther! Ma grosse tonne - Lindorf, Luther, Nathanael, Hermann, Wolfram, Wilhelm - Kent Nagano
- Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Scene 6: Bonjour, amis! - Kent Nagano
- Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Couplets and Andante: Va pour Kleinzach! - Kent Nagano
- Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Peuh! Cette biere est detestable! - Kent Nagano
- Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Duo: Et par ou votre Diablerie - Kent Nagano
- Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Simple echange de politesse - Kent Nagano
- Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Je vous dis, moi - Kent Nagano
- Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Ma maitresse? - Kent Nagano
- Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Final: Messieurs, on va lever le rideau! - Hoffmann, Nicklausse, Lindorf, Luther, Nathanael, Hermann, Wolfram, Wilhelm - Kent Nagano
- Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Act 2: Entracte - Kent Nagano
- Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Scene 1: La! Dors en paix - Spalanzani - Scene 2: Ah! Bonjour! Enchacte! - Spalanzani, Hoffmann - Scene 3: Fais allumer partout! - Spalanzani, Cochenille - Kent Nagano
- Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Scene 4: Allons! Courage et confiance! - Kent Nagano
- Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Pardieu! J'etais bien sur - Kent Nagano
- Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Couplets: Une poupee aux yeux d'email - Nicklausse, Hoffmann - Kent Nagano
- Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Scene 5: C'est moi, Coppelius! - Kent Nagano
- Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Je me nomme Coppelius - Kent Nagano
- Les Contes D' Hoffmann: J'ai deux jeux, de beaux yeux - Kent Nagano
- Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Serviteur - Kent Nagano
- Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Ah! Ange du ciel, est-ce bien toi? - Nicklausse, Hoffmann, Coppelius - Kent Nagano
- Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Scene 6: Hein! Vous! - Hoffmann, Coppelius, Spalanzani - Kent Nagano
- Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Scene 7: Choeur des Invites: Non aucun hote vraiment - Kent Nagano
- Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Vous serez satisfaits, messieurs - Hoffmann, Spalanzani, Nicklausse - Kent Nagano
- Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Scene 8: Mesdames et Messieurs - Kent Nagano
- Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Mesdames et Meisseurs, fiere de vos bravos - Kent Nagano
- Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Air: Les oiseaux dans la charmille - Kent Nagano
- Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Ah! Mon ami! Quel accent! - Hoffmann, Spalanzani, Nicklausse, Olympia, Cochenille - Kent Nagano
- Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Scene 9: Ils se sont eloignes! Enfin! - Kent Nagano
- Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Ah! Vivre deux! - Kent Nagano
- Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Tu me fuis? - Hoffmann, Olympia - Scene 10: Eh! morbleu! modere ton zele! - Hoffmann, Nicklausse - Kent Nagano
- Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Scene 11: Voleur! Brigand! Quelle deroute! - Coppelius - Kent Nagano
- Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Scene 12: En place les danseurs - Kent Nagano
- Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Voila! Assez, assez, ma fille - Kent Nagano
- Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Ah! Quoi? L'homme aux lunettes, la! - Spalanzani, Cochenille, Hoffmann, Olympia, Nicklausse, Coppelius - Kent Nagano
Tracks:
- Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Act 3: Entracte - Jacques Offenbach
- Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Scene 1: Elle a fui, la tourterelle - Antonia - Jacques Offenbach
- Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Scene 2: Malheureuse enfant! - Crespel, Antonia - Scene 3: Desespoir! Tout a l'heure, encore! - Crespel - Scene 4: Frantz! n'ouvre a personne! - Crespel, Frantz - Jacques Offenbach
- Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Scene 5: Jour et nuit je me mets en quatre - Frantz - Jacques Offenbach
- Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Scene 6: Frantz, c'est ici! - Hoffmann, Frantz - Jacques Offenbach
- Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Scene 7: Enfin je vais savoir pourquoi - Jacques Offenbach
- Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Romance: Vois sous l'archet fremissant - Jacques Offenbach
- Les Contes d'Hoffmann: C'est une chanson d'amour - Hoffmann, Antonia, Nicklausse - Jacques Offenbach
- Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Scene 8: Ah! Je le savais bien - Jacques Offenbach
- Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Ah! J'ai le bonheur dans l'ame - Jacques Offenbach
- Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Pourtant, o ma fiancee - Jacques Offenbach
- Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Viens la comme autrefois - Jacques Offenbach
- Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Qu'as-tu donc? - Antonia, Hoffmann - Scene 9: Rien! J'ai cru qu'Hoffmann etait ici! - Hoffmann, Crespel, Frantz, Miracle - Jacques Offenbach
- Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Scene 10: Pour conjurer la danger - Jacques Offenbach
- Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Allons, parle! et sois bref! - Jacques Offenbach
- Les Contes d'Hoffmann: J'ai la certains flacons - Miracle, Crespel, Hoffmann, Antonia - Jacques Offenbach
- Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Scene 11: Ne plus chanter - Hoffmann, Antonia - Jacques Offenbach
- Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Scene 12: Tu ne chanteras plus? - Jacques Offenbach
- Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Ah! Quelle est cette voix? - Jacques Offenbach
- Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Ta mere, oses-tu l'interroger? - Jacques Offenbach
- Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Non! Assez! - Jacques Offenbach
- Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Ja cede au transport qui m'enivre! - Miracle, Antonia, La Voix - Jacques Offenbach
- Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Scene 13: Mon enfant, ma fille! - Crespel, Antonia, Hoffmann, Nicklausse, Miracle - Jacques Offenbach
Tracks:
- Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Act IV: Entracte - Jacques Offenbach
- Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Scene 1: Messieurs, silence! - Jacques Offenbach
- Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Recit et Chant bachique: Et moi, ce n'est pas la - Jacques Offenbach
- Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Amis, l'amour tendre et reveur - Hoffmann, Nicklausse, Giulietta - Jacques Offenbach
- Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Scene 2: Je vois qu'on est en fete! - Schlemil, Giulietta, Pitchinaccio, Hoffmann - Scene 3: Au premier reve je t'enleve - Nicklausse, Hoffmann - Jacques Offenbach
- Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Scene 4: Tourne, tourne, miroir - Dapertutto - Jacques Offenbach
- Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Scene 5: Cher ange! - Dapertutto, Giulietta - Jacques Offenbach
- Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Scene 6: Melodrame: Vivat! J'ai tout gagne! - Giulietta, Schlemil, Dapertutto - Jacques Offenbach
- Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Scene 7: Giulietta, palsembleu! - Jacques Offenbach
- Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Air de Giulietta: Vous ne jouez pas? - Jacques Offenbach
- Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Que dit-elle? - Jacques Offenbach
- Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Giulietta, je vous jure! - Jacques Offenbach
- Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Oui, fut-ce au prix de ma vie - Jacques Offenbach
- Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Sextuor and Choeur: Helas! Je vais encore la suivre - Jacques Offenbach
- Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Morbleu! - Jacques Offenbach
- Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Il a ma cle - Jacques Offenbach
- Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Scene 1: Ton ami dit vrai! - Jacques Offenbach
- Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Romance: O Dieu, de quelle ivresse - Jacques Offenbach
- Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Jusque-la, cependant - Jacques Offenbach
- Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Si ta presence m'est ravie - Jacques Offenbach
- Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Ah! Tu m'as defiee - Giulietta, Hoffmann, Dapertutto, Pitchinaccio - Jacques Offenbach
- Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Scene 2: Alerte, Hoffmann! - Jacques Offenbach
- Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Voyez! Il n'a plus le moindre reflet! - Jacques Offenbach
- Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Je n'aime pas qu'on me defie! - Jacques Offenbach
- Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Ainsi, tu mentais! - Nicklausse, Hoffmann, Dapertutto, Pitchinaccio, Giulietta - Jacques Offenbach
- Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Act V: Entracte - Jacques Offenbach
- Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Scene 1: Choeur: Folie! Oublie tes douleurs - Jacques Offenbach
- Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Voila quelle fut l'histoire - Jacques Offenbach
- Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Choeur des Esprits et des Etudiants: Glou! Glou! - Hoffmann, Luther, Lindorf, Nathanael, Nicklausse - Jacques Offenbach
- Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Scene 2: Stella, Stella! - Jacques Offenbach
- Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Couplet: Pour le coeur de Phrygne - Jacques Offenbach
- Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Denouement: Hola! Quelqu'un de fort pour emporter Hoffmann! - Jacques Offenbach
- Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Ingrat! Et moi? - Jacques Offenbach
- Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Adieu! Je t'abandonne - Andres, Hoffmann, Nicklausse, Stella, La Muse, Lindorf - Jacques Offenbach
Amazon.com
Of all the revisionist Hoffmanns, this one is the best, using the latest (and one trusts) last version of Michael Kaye's edition, based on sketches recently discovered for the unfinished opera. Most of the changes are in the Giulietta act; it now tracks better dramatically, and unlike some restoration attempts, its length is sensible. In the title role, Roberto Alagna is full of imaginative touches of characterization, singing the famous Kleinzach song with an intentional vocal roughness in a worthy effort to convey the Hoffmann's debauched state. As the mechanical doll Olympia, Natalie Dessay proves she's not only a phenomenal singer but a great comedienne. Kent Nagano deploys his Lyon Opera forces with great stylistic authority. --David Patrick StearnsCustomer Reviews:
Not a flawless version, but one to be REALLY loved.......2006-05-09
First, about the edition. The Kaye edition restores a lot of music including recitatives written by Offenbach and a number of musical numbers. It also goes for the Guiraud recitatives which some versions totally omit and replace by the dialogues which Offenbach likely might have intended. Compared to, say, the historical Sutherland/Domingo/Bonynge version, this version is significantly longer and more substantial, musically speaking. With more than 30 minutes of music compared to the Bonynge edition, it is understandable why the Kaye version needs up to 3 CDs to bear the substantial amount of music.
While fans of Contes d'Hoffmann would likely be grateful at the ressurrection of so much musical material, I personally find this version sometimes just too painfully long. The Guiraud recitatives sometimes simply are bland and cause the opera to just drag along. Yes, Guiraud obviously has a lot of skills and bright ideas in these recitatives, mostly shown by the quoting of music by Offenbach in these recitatives to give the opera a better sense of unison. But compared to the simpler recitatives that Offenbach himself wrote, the Guiraud sometimes just seems aloof. Unless you really have a lot of time, you might want to stick to the more important musical numbers. Also, the new ending, with Hoffmann facing the Muse in the apotheose is a wonderful ensemble, with sounds from the church organ that gives the scene its necessary "holy" feel.
Now to the singers. Alagna has a masculine voice and is dramatically very effective. He also has a perfect French diction-crisp, idiomatic and a real joy to listen to. His instrument naturally is not very beautiful; and I personally find his Hoffmann a bit beefy and hysterical; but his good understanding of the role still helps him come across as a better Hoffmann. The best Hoffmann is in my opinion either Domingo or Schicoff.
The ladies are provided with quite a luxury cast. Natalie Dessay's Olympia is perhaps second only to Sutherland and Sills. To everyone who honors La Stupenda's E flats, listen: Dessay presents the role of the mechanical doll with FOUR Gs, yes 4 full-voiced, stunning, jaw-dropping Gs!!! Musically speaking, Dessay is not as comedic as Sutherland; her tone is a little thin and nasal but her coloratura and lovely portrayal of the role is simply untterly convincing.
Vaduva's Antonia is excellent: excellent diction, girly tone and very successfully portrays the youngsinger's vulnerability and sensibility. She however lacks power in the trio and that C sharp falls flat. Her "Elle a fui la tourterelle" is however wonderfully touching and moving. The best Antonia, in my opinion, is Victoria de Los Angeles. To one of the reviewers here, Vaduva is not a Slavic singer. She is a French singer of Romanian origin. A totally Latin singer!
Sumi Jo portrays a very convincing Giulietta with very believable spinto qualities, which she provides effectively with chaning in tone. The rediscovered coloratura, with a couple of E flats and spellbinding runs, well, brings the wonderful Korean coloratura soprano to her prime best. Her French is surprisingly idiomatic.
Lascarro's got a small role as Stella. I personally don't like her tone; but she is good enough in the beautiful apotheose ensemble.
Jose Van Dam's quartet villain almost matches Bacquier's famous portrayal. His voice is not as dark or evil-sounding as Bacquier's but still gives a top-notch interpretation. His doctor Miracle might have been the best on record if he took some of those melodramatic laughs in the Trio. His reluctance, combined with Vaduva's small voice, creates a flat Trio. This being said, the French bass's quartet of villains stills ranks among the undisputed best. My favorite villain quartet, Gabriel Bacquier has a cameo role here as Crespel, which he does a great job.
Gilles Ragon's a good tenor and his stuttering in the portrayal of Cochenille is very convincing. I however find him a bit too serious and heavy for these tenore buffo roles. The same can be said for Senechal's Spalanzani. Compared to Charon's Spalanzani on the Bonynge recording, he is very unfunny. The "brigand! Bandit!" quarrel after the destruction of the doll is bland and lifeless.
Catherine's Dubosc has a lovely voice and does great job as Nicklausse. There is nothing to criticize about her singing qualities. My only objection is that the casting of this trouser role for a soprano harms the overall balance of the opera: 5 soprano roles and 1 mezzo role (the voice of the mother): this is not a good balance. The Barcarolle duet, in particular, suffers from both a misbalance and a ridiculous fast tempo.
Kent Nagano's conducting does not have the solid tempos of Bonynge and sometimes overwhelms the singers: most notably in that C sharp of the Trio. But he has really interesting ideas and provides invaluable support.
With the exception of a bland Spalanzani, some strange tempos and the unusual length of the edition, this is a very good Hoffmann. Together with the Bonynge version, this is another very good all-around recording. The set is a tad expensive, but given the substantial amount of music and a very informative booklet, this is a recording to really consider. It will provide a lot of listening pleasures. You will not be disappointed.
The best of a mediocre-to-bad lot.......2003-10-30
Now that musicologists have finished playing with the Mahler 10th Symphony (which ended rather well) and the Beethoven 10th (which ended rather badly), they have been taking a whack at "Hoffmann," rushing to revise music the composer never sanctioned and adding music found in buckets and boxes long after his death. My personal feeling was, if it ain't broke, don't fix it: you're not Offenbach, and to speak for him requires a tremendous amount of chutzpah. And a lot of the revisions, to my ear, simply do not work well, such as turning Giulietta into a coloratura soprano, spinning out an aria that ends much like Olympia's doll song as on this recording.
I'm also not fond of switching the Antonia and Giulietta acts from their traditional positions for both dramatic and musical reasons. To begin with, having the "tales" end with Antonia gives Hoffmann's character a certain sense of redemption that simply isn't there the other way. Also, the Giulietta act is musically the weakest: as primiarily an operetta composer, Offenbach simply had a hard time creating music for this act which is darker and more tensely dramatic than anything else in the work. The superp trio that climaxes the Antonia act, on the other hand, is one of the most brilliant and transcendent things he wrote.
That being said, there is much to admire in this set. Kent Nagano conducts briskly, which is his wont, thereby tying together the music in a cohesive and satisfying way where others (particularly Cluytens and Cambreling) sound slow and rambling. On the other hand, his chorus of the spirits, though light and brisk, just misses the rapt, enchanting sound achieved by Bonynge; and though it was probably Offenbach's intent to have only a few strings play the violin motif in the Antonia trio, they sound too thin, not sweeping or driven enough, for the dramatic situation. Nagano also conducts the famed "Barcarolle" at a shade-too-fast tempo, thus robbing the music of its mysterious charm (even Arthur Fiedler made a better recording of the instrumental version). These moments point to a lack of "theatricality" in Nagano's conducting style that Bonynge, Rudel and even Beecham managed to capture.
Alagna is not as suavely beautiful or haunting in the role as Robert Rounseville or Stuart Burrows were. This is something of an abrupt, nervous reading, though if one knows something about E.T.A. Hoffmann and his tales it is perfectly in keeping with his character. (I have yet, however, to see ANY tenor perform the role made up to LOOK like Hoffmann, a scrawny little man with a square jaw, popping eyes and a shock of unruly, frizzy hair. I guess no tenor really wants to look like that!)
This is unquestionably the finest performance Dessay has ever recorded: her voice is brilliant, in focus, on pitch and wonderfully secure. Only Bond in the Beecham performance and Sutherland come close, though I personally feel that Sutherland was funnier in the role. She had a real flair for comedy, whereas she did not possess enough personal warmth for Antonia or Giulietta.
The Sutherland recording also had the best "villains" in Gabriel Bacquier in his prime, but to my ears Van Dam is an excellent second. (Treigle, in the Sills set, was good but not great, his somewhat gruff voice rather overwhelimg the roles with too much histrionics.)
Vaduva has a pretty tone but your typical "Slavic wobble," more noticeable in the early and late parts of her act. For some reason, the voice is better focused in the middle sections, but she does not efface memories of de los Angeles who was the best Antonia ever.
Jo is surprisingly good as Giulietta: though her voice is even smaller than Dessay's, it had a fuller lyric sound in the mid-range which captured well on records. (I have beel told that her "live" career is just about over on stage as the voice is too small to carry in most modern theaters.) I liked Margherita Grandi in the old Beecham film, but a chesty, spinto Giulietta is apparently persona non grata in the new Michael Kaye edition of the work.
Dubosc is a good Nicklausse, though I preferred Tourangeau and the singer (I forget her name) from the Beecham film. Bacquier, with far less voice, is still predictably good as Crespel; the timeless Senechal is a classic Spalanzani; Ragon is an excellent Cochenille, not so memorable as Franz. (I miss Andrea Velis, the old Met comp, who was brilliant in these roles but was never recorded in them.) The other small roles range from excellent (Tezier as Schlemil) to poor (Juanita Lascarre as Stella).
An ideal modern "Hoffmann" would have Elisabeth Vidal as Olympia, Hong as Antonia, Fleming as Giulietta, Alvarez as Hoffmann, Rene Pape as the three villains, and someone like Pappano or Plasson conducting.....but we can dream all we want. The era of complete opera recordings, according to many inside sources, is over as we know it--even the Bobby & Angela act is being shelved--so we must pick from what we have, and this is simply the finest over all "Hoffmann" on record, with Bonynge's being a good second choice, though I do not like Domingo's hard-voiced, beefy Hoffmann.
Hoffman contines to elude the recording world.......2001-10-03
I prefer Domingo's more passionate Hoffman to Alagna's workmanlike effort, which is still quite fine.
On the other hand, having different female vocalists, as this recording does is preferable to my ear than having the same throughout as the Domingo/Sutherland recording does. The three female leads here range from good (Dessay) to excellent (Jo). Having heard Sumi Jo sing Olympia on record and in person, I find it hard to enjoy Dessay's quite as much. Jo is here as Antonia however.
No single recording of Hoffman is clearly preferable and listening to each is recommended. In the meanwhile, there is still an opening here for a more fully satisying Hoffman.
Excellent but not definitive.......2001-04-20
First, the good points. Listening to this recording one definitely thinks of the opera's characters rather than the artists portraying them.... I find Alagna's voice quite beautiful on this recording and feel that he portrays the character of Hoffmann with spectacular success....
Van Dam is one of the recording's great assets as the villains. The three main heroines are each memorable(.).......(Jo's) interpretation of Giulietta's long-lost coloratura aria is spectacular and features a spine-chilling moment in her climactic cadenza ...she sings a rising series of notes almost identical to one sung by Dessay as Olympia in Act II, emphasizing the connection of the heroines. ...Lascarro does a very good job in the small role of Stella (....Dubosc is excellent as the Muse and Nicklausse, giving a truly memorable performance of nearly the entire role. Unfortunately, Nicklausse's Antonia-act aria, arguably the artistic and emotional heart of the entire opera ...,seems somehow disappointing on this recording. Dubosc's voice does not cut through the orchestra as it should when she sings in her lower register, and as a result the aria fails to have the cathartic impact on me that it has when I have heard it in Metropolitan Opera broadcasts. .... Ragon gives an excellent, highly memorable performance in the four "grotesque" roles.
Now I may turn to the disappointing features of this recording. ....(T)his recording contains no extra-musical sound effects whatsoever. To a certain extent this is a valid approach to recording an opera. The problem is that "Hoffmann" contains an unusually high number of passages which were composed with the extra-musical sounds that would be heard from the stage in mind and which lack some of their intended impact without sound effects. The effectiveness of the students' drinking song is reduced when we don't hear them banging their glasses together and on the tables, and without the winding-up sound the pauses in Olympia's song when she runs down make less sense. We also should hear Coppelius smashing Olympia, Hoffmann and Schlemil moving around heavily as they duel, the death-gasp of another character who dies in the new ending of the Giulietta act (I won't spoil the unfamiliar twists of plot here), and various other sound effects which would add to the drama of the story. Moreover, Van Dam's villains never laugh except when their laughter is notated in the score, even though the libretto specifies some additional evil laughs, notably the one as Dr. Miracle disappears and Antonia falls dying at the end of the trio for Miracle, Antonia and the voice of Antonia's mother.
One of the main problems with the recording is that Van Dam, Ragon and Dubosc are the only performers to play multiple roles. Not only are the heroines played by four different sopranos, but none of the artists who play Luther and the students reappear in other roles in the acts devoted to Hoffmann's three stories. All of this goes against what are presumed to be Offenbach's wishes for his opera, despite the fact that this is a recording of Kaye's critical edition (in its "grand opera" version). Moreover, this recording was, unfortunately, made before Offenbach's own finished finale for the Giulietta act, written very shortly before his death, became available for inclusion in Kaye's edition. ....
Finally, it seems bizarre that the aria "Scintille, diamant," which has been one of the most popular numbers in the opera for a long time, is not included on this recording. ....
Despite these flaws, this recording is recommended. It is extremely enjoyable and represents the totality of Offenbach's intentions for "Hoffmann" more fully than any other recording currently available. One hopes that a new recording of Kaye's edition, with the definitive ending for the Giulietta act and with a single soprano playing all four heroines, will be made in the not-too-distant future.
O Dieu, de quelle ivresse embrasse-tu mon âme?.......1999-11-21
This recording is undoubtedly one of the two benchmark recordings of this opera, the other one being the classic Sutherland/Domingo/Bonynge set. It is the most complete set with the "newly-discovered" Giuletta ending, and even includes the terrific but apocryphal sextet that is missing in the Bonynge recording. Alagna is the true star here, reflecting the spirit of Hoffmann throughout the opera, and singing in a very ideomatic French (unlike Domingo). The four heroines are marvellous, even though I prefer a single soprano singing all the four roles. Van Dam is great as the four villians, but he could have been more sinister in the trio in the Antonia act. Nagano is fine, but has some problems with the tempi at times.
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The Most Relaxing Opera Album in the World...Ever!
Manufacturer: Angel Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000AXWGWM Release Date: 2005-10-04 |
Tracks:
- La Traviata - Prelude, Act I - Giuseppe Verdi
- Falstaff - Sul fil dun soffio etesio (Nanettas Aria) - Giuseppe Verdi
- Andrea Cher - O pastorelle, addio - Umberto Giordano
- Manon - En fermant les yeux - Jules Massenet
- Les Peurs de Perles - Zurga, quant tous deux Au fond du temple saint - Georges Bizet
- Adriana Lecouvreur - Ecco! Respiro appena Io son lumile ancella - Francesco Cilea
- Cosan tutte - Soave sia il vento - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
- La Boh - Smi chiamano Mim Giacomo Puccini
- Don Giovanni - Dalla sua pace - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
- Tannher - Wie TodesahnungO du mein holder Abendstern - Richard Wagner
- Guilliaume Tell - Quel jour serein le ciel prge - Gioachino Rossini
- Orfeo ed Euridice - Che farnza Euridice? - Christoph Willibald Gluck
- Cavalleria Rusticana - Intermezzo - Pietro Mascagni
- Norma - Casta Diva Vincenzo Bellini
- Lelisir damore - Una furtiva lagrima - Gaetano Donizetti
- Turandot - Signore, ascolta - Giacomo Puccini
- Don Giovanni - Deh, vieni alla finestra - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
- Lakm Viens, MallikaDis (Flower Duet) - Leo Delibes
Tracks:
- Introduction to Khovanshchina - Modest Mussorgsky
- Rusalka - Song to the Moon - AntonDvorak
- Porgy and Bess - Summertime - George Gershwin
- Les Contes dHoffmann - Belle nuit, it damour (Barcarolle)
- Xerxes - Ombra, mai fu - George Frideric Handel
- Le Nozze di Figaro - Porgi amor Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
- Gianni Schicchi - O mio babbino caro - Giacomo Puccini
- La Traviata - Di Provenza il mar - Giuseppe Verdi
- Nabucco - Va, pensiero - Giuseppe Verdi
- Le Nozze di Figaro - Voi che sapete - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
- Die Zauberfl- Dies Bildnis ist bezaubernd sch Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
- Orfeo ed Euridice - Dance of the Blessed Spirits - Christoph Willibald Gluck
- Don Giovanni - Il mio tesoro - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
- Samson et Dalila - Mon cur souvre a voix - Camille Saint-Sa
- La Wally - Ebben?Ne andrntana - Alfredo Catalani
- Les Peurs de Perles - Je crois entendre encore - Georges Bizet
- Le Nozze di Figaro - Deh vieni, non tardar Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
- Madama Butterfly - Humming Chorus - Giacomo Puccini
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Favorite French Excerpts
Manufacturer: Opera D'oro ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B0000A1HO1 Release Date: 2003-07-01 |
Tracks:
- Pres Des Remparts De Seville (Seguidille) - Rosa Ponselle
- Les Tringles Des Sistres Tintaient - Emmy Destinn
- Votre Toast (Toreador Song) - Lawrence Tibbett
- La Fleur Que Tu M'Avais Jetee (Flower Song) - Enrico Caruso
- Je Dis Que Rien Me N'Epouvante - Claudia Muzio
- Rachel, Quand Du Seigneur - Enrico Caruso
- Depuis Le Jour - Grace Moore
- Vainement, Ma Bien Aimee (Aubade) - Edmond Clement
- Ou Va La Jeune Hindoue (Bell Song) - Lily Pons
- O Casto Fior (O Chaste Fleur) - Riccardo Stacciari
- Egli E Bel (Il Est Doux, Il Est Bon) - Claudia Muzio
- Instant Charmant...En Fermant Les Yeux - Jussi Bjorling
- Ah! Dispar Vision (Ah! Fuyez, Douce Image) - Tito Schipa
- Je Viens Celebrer La Victoire - Louise Homer
- Mon Coeur S'Ouvre A Ta Voix - Wanda Werminska
- A Vos Jeux, Mes Amis (Mad Scene) - Nellie Melba
- Mi Par D'Udir Ancora (Je Crois Entendre Encore) - John McCormack
- Au Fond Du Temple Saint - Marcel Journet
Tracks:
- Ah! Leve-Toi, Soleil - Jussi Bjorling
- Je Veux Vivre Dans Ce Reve (Juliet's Waltz Song) - Amelita Galli-Curci
- Que Fais-Tu Blanche Tourtourelle? - Elisaveta Petrenko
- Valse Infernale - Juste Nivette
- O Paradiso (O Paradis) - Beniamino Gigli
- Piff! Paff! - Paul Aumonier
- Au Mont Ida - Jussi Bjorling
- Legend Of Kleinzach - Richard Tauber
- Les Oiseaux Dans La Charmille (Doll's Song) - Lily Pons
- Ah! Non Credevi Tu (Elle Ne Croyait Pas) - Giuseppe Di Stefano
- Je Suis Titania - Lily Pons
- Addio Mignon (Adieu, Mignon) - Ferruccio Tagliavini
- Pourquoi Me Reveiller - Giovanni Martinelli
- Ah! Tout Es Bien Fini...O Souverain - Enrico Caruso
- O Sainte Medaille...Avant De Quitter Ces Lieux - Lawrence Tibbett
- Le Veau D'Or - Pol Plancon
- Salut! Demeure Chaste Et Pure - Jussi Bjorling
- Ah! Je Ris De Me Voir (Jewel Song) - Nellie Melba
- Vous Qui Faites L'Endormie - Feodor Chaliapin
- All'Erta, All'Erta - Gina Cigna
- Sous Les Pieds - Ezio Pinza
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Callas à Paris
Manufacturer: Capitol ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B000002RPO Release Date: 1990-10-25 |
Average customer rating:
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Serenata (French & Italian Romantic Songs)
Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000005EE1 Release Date: 1995-09-05 |
Tracks:
- Le Soir
- Quanti mai
- Au Printemps
- La tau stella
- Pena d'Amore
- Risveglio
- Serenata
- Elegie
- Ouvre tes yeux bleus
- Chanson d' Avril
- Ser
- Absence
- Notte di Neve
- Notti d' Agosto
- Ser Napolitaine
- Ser Francaise
- Declaration
- La Chanson des Yeux
- Lasciati Amar
- 'A Vucchella
- L' ultima Canzone
- Intima
- Musica Proibita
Customer Reviews:
Wonderful recital!.......2000-08-29
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Vinson Cole - In Love with Love ~ Love Songs by Massenet, Bizet, Hahn
Reynaldo Hahn , Jules Massenet , Georges Bizet , Jan Zach , Vinson Cole , and Patrick Stephens Manufacturer: Delos Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B0000006YG Release Date: 1994-05-03 |
Tracks:
- Le rossignol des lilas
- J'aime l'amour!
- A Chloris
- Ouvre tes yeux bleus
- Chanson d'avril
- Si mes vers avaient des ailes
- L'Heure exquise
- Elegie
- Berceuse
- Sonnet
- Cantique
- Nuit d'espagne
- D'Une prison
- Stances
- Absence
- Vous aimerez demain
- Infidelite
- La chanson du fou
- Paysage
- Le souvenir d'avoir chante
Customer Reviews:
Ideal Voice.......2000-08-07
Ideal Voice.......2000-08-07
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Was It A Dream
Manufacturer: Brana Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B0001LQJU8 Release Date: 2004-03-05 |
Tracks:
- Jean Sibelius - Schilfrohr Sle
- Jean Sibelius - Schwarze Rosen
- Jean Sibelius - Mhen kam vom Stelldichein
- Jean Sibelius - Ai-je r?
- Jean Sibelius - Der Diamant auf dem Mschnee
- Jules Massenet - Oh! Si les fleurs avaient des yeux
- Jules Massenet Ouvre tes yeux bleus
- Jules Massenet - Heure ve?
- Jules Massenet - Plus vite
- Jules Massenet - Voix Supr
- Henri Duparc - Au pays ofait la guerre
- Henri Duparc - Romance de Mignon
- Henri Duparc - Chanson triste
- Gabriel Faur Au bord de leau
- Pablo Luna - De Espana vengo
- Pablo Sorozl - Noche hermosa
- Sebastide Yradier - La Paloma
- LDelibes - Avril
- Pyotr Ilich Tchaikovsky - Nur wer die Sehnsucht kennt
- Pyotr Ilich Tchaikovsky - Inmitten des balles
- Marguarite Monnot - Hymme a lamour
- Dino Olivieri - Jattendrai
- Louis Gugliemi - La vie en rose
Album Description
Although these composers didn't quite reach the heights of Robert Schumann or Franz Schubert, there is certainly no lack of beauty in the songs found here. Composers such as Sibelius and Tchaikovsky are more often than not, recognised as masters of larger scale works. This collection of songs exposes their smaller masterpieces while at the same time demonstrates the art of the French masters; Fauré, and Duparc. A touch of spice is added by the exotic Zarzuela composers Pablo Luna, Sorozobál, Yradier as well as two songs written by Edith Piaf.
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The Incomparable Callas (Favourite Arias)
Manufacturer: Capitol ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B000002S16 Release Date: 1990-05-07 |
Customer Reviews:
A fabulous compilation of the divine one!.......2004-01-14
poor sound, bad singing.......2003-05-26
Summit of expressing human instinct.......1999-06-19
Rap Music:
- Planet Bass
- Power in Numbers [Explicit Lyrics]
- Primetime [CD-single]
- Product of the Streets [Explicit Lyrics]
- Pure Groove
- Rappin' Black in a White World [Explicit Lyrics] [Import]
- Regulate...G Funk Era [Clean]
- Scream [CD-single] [Explicit Lyrics]
- Set The Record Straight
- Shaheedullah and Stereotypes
Recommended Music:
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