American Opera Singer

Lawrence Tibbett (Artist), Leonard Warren (Artist), Robert Merrill (Artist), Sherrill Milnes (Artist), Ferruccio Mazzoli (Artist), Franco Calabrese (Artist), Samuel Ramey (Artist), Ludwig van Beethoven (Artist), Vincenzo Bellini (Artist), Georges Bizet (Artist), Arrigo Boito (Artist), Gustave Charpentier (Artist), Leo Delibes (Artist), Friedrich von Flotow (Artist), Christoph Willibald Gluck (Artist), George Frideric Handel (Artist), Pietro Mascagni (Artist), Jules Massenet (Artist), Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Artist), Jacques Offenbach (Artist), Giacomo Puccini (Artist), Gioachino Rossini (Artist), Camille Saint-Saens (Artist), Ambroise Thomas (Artist), Giuseppe Verdi (Artist), Richard Wagner (Artist), Antonio de Almeida (Artist), Arturo Basile (Artist), Bruno Reibold (Artist), Dimitri Mitropoulos (Artist), Erich Leinsdorf (Artist), Fernando Previtali (Artist), Fritz Reiner (Artist), Georges Prêtre (Artist), James Levine (Artist)

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 11, 1997)
• SPARS Code: ADD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: RCA
• ASIN: B000003GB7
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #306,418 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars American? Mostly..., August 19, 2002

By A Customer

Hmm...the conundrum of what constitutes an "American". The book that this CD accompanies devotes an entire chapter to Caruso, though this collection only slips him in with Geraldine Farrar. I agree, too, that Callas should most definitely be included, as she was born in New York. As far as squeezing in Pons, I believe that although she was native to France, she took American citizenship after her US film career took off. I could be wrong here. Please correct me if I am! And the comments about Heppner being Canadian, he is slipped in on a track with Voigt, so this is more excuseable. My question is, should Saskatchewan-born Jon Vickers be included?

But this is just squabble...this collection is a wonderful sampling of the rich history American singers have had to offer. My only regrets would be to replace the Aida track of Ponselle's with her wonderful "Tu che invoco" from Spontini's La Vestale, and how unfortunate it is that such a dynamic artist as Marian Anderson did not record operatic arias until so late in her career. Her Ulrica is thrilling, but it is undeniable that her technique was beginning to show age by the time this track was recorded.

All in all, a wonderful collection, especially Pons's wonderful Bell Song, and Vaness's seething anger via Elettra.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars America, June 21, 2001

By	William Maher "Opera Buff 38" (Warrensburg, New York United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I believe that Canada is still part of America. This set then could have included Leopold Simoneau, Maureen Forrester etc.etc. More importantly, this very fine collection could have included Cornell MacNeil and my favorite, Maria Callas.I shouldn't harp on what's not included. This is a very fine collection.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Opera Singers, Mostly American, April 6, 2002

By	Donald M. Traeger, M.D. (Grass Valley, CA USA) - See all my reviews

The performances are highly variable both in recorded sound and quality of performances. The album is mis-titled. Ben Heppner is Canadian and Lily Pons was French!