Aria: The Opera Album

Andrea Bocelli (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 7, 1998)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Philips
• ASIN: B0000069CO
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (96 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #20,472 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #1 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Voices > Tenors
  • #7 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Featured Performers, A-Z > A to B > Bocelli, Andrea
  • #67 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Arias > General AAS

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Andre Bocelli is no opera singer, but he shows far more potential in this album than does another pop-vocalist tenor-wannabe, Michael Bolton. For one thing, he can shake off the crooner mannerisms and really sing when performing music that calls for it. At his best, he has a rich, dark timbre and an easy, unforced top. At other times, however, the tone turns dry and thin and the high notes are constricted, the inconsistency suggesting a lack of technique. Never does one get the impression that he could be heard over a medium-sized orchestra without amplification. This isn't bad singing per se, but there is much better out there, readily available on disc. --Sarah Bryan Miller

Product Description

Exclusive Australian Gold pressing released to coincide with his first public appearance in Australia. He'll be performing at the opening ceremonies and then onto to tour the land down under. His back catalogue will be released & re-packaged in slipcases with his signature on them as well as all of them pressed on gold plated CD's. This pressing includes 17 tracks, all sung in his native Italian Tongue. 1998 release. Standard jewel case.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The opera buffs continue to miss the entire point, September 11, 2003

By 

David Coletti (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Aria: The Opera Album (Audio CD)

I gave this 3 stars for the main reason that I wasn't crazy about the selection/order of arias, I didn't think it made for a natural flow of tracks. I would have preferred for maybe a few tracks of the same opera before moving onto the next.

But looking over the other reviews it really surprises me how the serious opera listeners think they can dissuade or discourage Bocelli fans by simply running off a list of legendary names (the logic being one listen to these greats and Bocelli will be all but forgotton) or pointing out things like "he could not be heard over an orchestra" and therefore his fans should not enjoy his recordings. This is being very presumtious and completely ignores what Bocelli is all about.

Bocelli is NOT an opera singer in the true sense of the term... he has not built a career that way, but more importantly his sound is not purely opera either. But that's exactly WHY he's been able to carve out a career and a large following and been able to expose people to this kind of music... As great as top-quality serious tenors are (the ones who can be heard over an orchestra), most people's impression from hearing them at first is not favorable. It's just too much of everything for the average ear to take in... Some would say it's a type of singing so highly specialized that it doesn't sound "human" and therefore they cannot relate to it. Bocelli instead has a far more relateable sound, he brings a certain type of popular sensibility to his singing most people instantly find pleasureable. He combines this with seriousness and enough passion and enough technique to the music he is singing that people can't help but equate him with opera. Simply put: his voice has the better qualities the general public associates with opera singing (smooth delivery, beautiful high notes, pleasing tone), and none of the qualities they are usually turned off by (overpowering/piercing power, overwhealming intensity, complex phrasing, sound they cannot relate to).

I don't believe his desired intent with these opera recordings is to make people forget Pavarotti in his prime and turn the opera world on it's ear. Instead he tries to "evoke" an opera singer's image and sound in the minds of people who would otherwise not even begin to have interest in opera. That's a very big difference, so it makes no sense to even try to bring up the legendary tenor names as if these are valid comparison points. Also it makes no difference whatsoever if Bocelli is closely miked or not since he is not competing for stage vocal power agaist real career opera tenors, his aim is for the general public not serious opera buffs.

As for this CD, my favorite track was the first ("Quest o quella"). Bocelli's phrasing was spot on perfect for that. Some of the following tracks seemed less than perfect. My guess is the production was rushed and Bocelli did not have much preparation and study to give his all for so many diverse arias. For example, this was his first recording of "Che gelida manina" and to me it sounded a bit dead, but I prefer the one the recorded for the "La Boheme" full opera CD... it was MUCH better focused and polished, a definite improvement. Same for "E lucevan le stelle" here compared to the much more dramatic, passionate rendition Bocelli delivered on the full "Tosca" CD. This proves to me Bocelli is capable of improving his interpretations and could do better than what was in this earlier attempt but he needs the right direction to accomplish that.

I'm not a fan of so many diverse arias on one CD so that's basically why I prefer some other Bocelli recordings to this one.

29 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Why...?, March 13, 2006

By 

Katherine Graham "Katherine Graham" (Sparta, NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Aria: The Opera Album (Audio CD)

Why is there all this continuing controversy after so many years about whether or not Andrea Bocelli is - or is not - Operatically sound? All I know (and that's not saying much for me in this genre), is that after having listened to Amazon.com's sampling of the music on this Audio CD a few moments ago, I wept. Andrea Bocelli always makes me weep - because of his profound spiritual depth. And I don't care what anyone thinks on that issue. All I do know is this. The man sings from his soul...and nothing could surpass that - ever.

42 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars CHANGE YOUR REVIEWER !, March 1, 2000

By 

DAVID WILLIAMS (BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Aria: The Opera Album (Audio CD)

Thanks to Rick Holden ([e-mail]) for showing Ms Miller how to write a proper review. Having listened to the album myself I can only agree whole heartedly with his comments. Unfortunately there are too many critics out there who try to analyse music note by note and impress us with their technical jargon. The joy of music is all about liking what you hear, and whether or not the music moves you. How can anyone enjoy listening if they're listening for flaws or mistakes instead of enjoying what they hear. Perhaps Andrea Bocelli isn't the greatest Opera singer, I don't know, but I can say that he has one of the most wonderfully melodic voices I have ever heard and he sings like a man who is enjoying every note he delivers. His background or his potential for the future don't bother me, he is the man of the moment, and that's all that matters. I recently watched a video performance of his 'Evening in Tuscany' which I would reccommend to all fans. Maybe Andrea will never be a great Opera singer, but who cares? He can move audiences without all the fancy dress. VIVA ANDREA!