Aria: A Passion for Opera [Original recording remastered]

Tito Gobbi (Performer), Georges Bizet (Composer), Ruggero Leoncavallo (Composer), Giacomo Puccini (Composer), Gaetano Donizetti (Composer), Giuseppe Verdi (Composer), Gioachino Rossini (Composer), Gustave Charpentier (Composer), Leo Delibes (Composer), Vincenzo Bellini (Composer), Georges Prêtre (Conductor), Lovro von Matacic (Conductor), Charles Mackerras (Conductor), Francesco Molinari-Pradelli (Conductor), Riccardo Muti (Conductor), Leone Magiera (Conductor), Julius Rudel (Conductor), Alceo Galliera (Conductor), Franco Ferraris (Conductor), Alain Lombard (Conductor) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Tito Gobbi
• Conductor: Georges Prętre, Lovro von Matacic, Charles Mackerras, Francesco Molinari-Pradelli, Riccardo Muti, et al.
• Composer: Georges Bizet, Ruggero Leoncavallo, Giacomo Puccini, Gaetano Donizetti, Giuseppe Verdi, et al.
• Audio CD (February 15, 1994)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: EMI Classics
• ASIN: B000002S5M
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #62,915 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #6 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Divas > Callas, Maria
  • #12 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Divas > Freni, Mirella
  • #13 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Divas > Caballe, Montserrat

Track Listings

1. Carmen, opera: Quand Je Vous Aimerai?...L'amour

2. Pagliacci, opera: Act 1: Recitar!...Vesti La Giubba

3. Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 2: Un Bel Dě, Vedremo

4. L'elisir d'amore, opera: Act 2: Una Furtiva Lagrima

5. Nabucco, opera (Nabucodonosor): Va Pensiero (Chorus Of The Hebrew Slaves)

6. Gianni Schicchi, opera: O Mio Babbino Caro

7. Rigoletto, opera: La Donna E Mobile

8. Il barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville), opera: Largo Al Factotum

9. Louise, opera: Depuis Le Jour

10. Lakmé, opera: Act 1: Viens, Mallika...Sous Dome Epais (flower duet)

11. Turandot, opera: Act 3: Nessun dorma!

12. Norma, opera: Casta Diva

13. Gianni Schicchi, opera: A Vete Torto!

14. Tosca, opera: Act 2: Vissi d'arte, vissi d'amore

15. Tosca, opera: Act 3: E lucevan le stelle

16. La Rondine (The Swallow), opera: Act 1: Che Il Bel Sogno di Doretta

17. Il Trovatore, opera: Di Quella Pira

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

If you've ever heard an opera excerpt in a film or TV commercial and wondered from whence it came, this compilation will probably provide your answer. The disk is an extensive superstar sampling of opera's greatest arias, featuring beloved stars from 1958-1987. Newbies will delight in hearing the young Freni's developing, but not yet perfected, artistry; Corelli's soaring tenor emoting in "Vesti la guibba" and "Nessun Dorma"; and Callas being Callas in "Habanera" and "Casta Diva." Megatalents Caballé, Gobbi, Di Stefano, and Domingo round out the mix. It even includes the Lakme duet and the chorus from Nabucco, in case arias aren't enough. An enjoyable variety. --Barbara Eisner Bayer

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Music to Wed By, August 10, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Aria: A Passion for Opera (Audio CD)

Corelli's "Nessun Dorma" makes the overplayed Pavarotti version pale by comparison. We (a pair of newlyweds) heard it while sampling this album for wedding reception music and were so blown away that we used this piece for our recessional, earning the following wisecrack from our Cantor, "Oy! You followed me with Corelli? Thanks for nuthin'." We dare you to listen to this track without getting a shiver.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Always on my CD changer, August 30, 2005

By 

Kelly L. Norman "li'l rock & roller" (Plymouth, MI United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Aria: A Passion for Opera (Audio CD)

I bought this CD long ago as a neophyte in opera appreciation. I had just seen Turandot and wanted the recording primarily for "Nessun Dorma", which I also love because of its use in the film, "The Killing Fields". But I have also appreciated the exquisite renderings of the other songs on the album. Callas. Caballe. Freni. Often, when a compilation like this comes out, one senses that the interpretations are second rate. In this case, it is just the opposite, or at least it seems that way to me.

The CD contains well known songs like "Vesti la Giubba" from Pagliacci, and "Un bel Di" from Madame Butterfly, but there are lesser known, and beautiful songs as well, such as "Viens, Malilika...sous Dome Epais" from Lakme', an absolutely gorgeous duet for two sopranos. I would highly reccomend this CD if you want to learn more about opera, or if you simply want some beautiful vocal music to listen to.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful compilation - Great intro!, November 8, 2004

By 

Emma de Soleil "I moved to the UK for another... (On a holiday In Ibiza, then back to the UK for studies) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Aria: A Passion for Opera (Audio CD)

This compilation features operatic legends like Domingo, Caballe, Freni, Corelli, Callas etc. at their very best. Wonderful for those who want to start to get aquainted with the magic that is opera. TOP NOTCH!!!! A+++++++++++