Bellezza vocale ~ Beautiful Opera Duets

Jaques Offenbach (Composer), Richard Strauss (Composer), G. F. Handel (Composer), Claudio Monteverdi (Composer), W.A. Mozart (Composer), Leo Delibes (Composer), Jesus Lopez Cobos (Conductor), Munich Radio Orchestra (Orchestra), Hei-Kyung Hong (Performer), Jennifer Larmore (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Hei-Kyung Hong, Jennifer Larmore
• Orchestra: Munich Radio Orchestra
• Conductor: Jesus Lopez Cobos
• Composer: Jaques Offenbach, Richard Strauss, G. F. Handel, Claudio Monteverdi, W.A. Mozart, et al.
• Audio CD (May 18, 1999)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Teldec
• ASIN: B00000IWR5
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #225,753 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #7 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Divas > Larmore, Jennifer
  • #26 in Music > Classical > Historical Periods > Baroque (c.1600-1750) > Vocal & Song

Track Listings

1. Belle nuit, 6 nuit d'amour: Les Contes d'Hoffmann (Hoffmanns Erzählungen) -

2. Mir ist die Ehre widerfahren: Der Rosenkavalier

3. Caro....Bella: Giulio Cesare (Julius Cäsar) -

4. 'Signor, hoffi rinasco': L'incoronazione di Poppea -

5. ' Non ci pentiam': La Clemenza di Tito

6. 'Viens, Malika': Lakmé

7. 'Mira, o Norma': Norma

8. 'Dio, che mi vedi in core': Anna Bolena

9. 'Una nave da guerro': Madame Butterfly - Blumenduett

10. 'Fiero incontrol': Tancredi -

11. 'Sandmann war dal': Hänsel und Gretel - Abendsegen

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just beautiful, January 29, 2000

By 

Leina R. Mojica "lanewayne" (San Jose, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bellezza vocale ~ Beautiful Opera Duets (Audio CD)

I bought this cd three weeks ago and felt that I had to give it like forty listenings before writing a review...and I am please to say that I thoroughly enjoyed all forty listenings of this cd. Ms. Hong's delicate high voice contrasted perfectly with Ms. Larmore's powerful low voice. This a wonderful example of the way duets written for soprano and mezzo are supposed to sound. "Barcarolle" is definitely my pick of the compilation---it's sung so peacefully and calmly. And I really enjoyed the Hansel und Gretel lullaby. Mozart fans out there will not be disappointed by "Non ci pentiam...Ah perdona al primo affetto" from La clemenza di Tito... Ah, just wonderful, just beautiful.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Two great artists-pure pleasure!, February 4, 2000

By 

Sasha Castel "sashacastel" (Canberra, Australia, formerly of NY, NY, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bellezza vocale ~ Beautiful Opera Duets (Audio CD)

Boy did they name this album correctly! Hei-Kyung Hong has long been a favorite with Metropolitan Opera audiences, but unfortunately she doesn't sing much outside NY. This album shows what an exquisite artist she is. Jennifer Larmore is more of a known quantity, and she is phenomenal as well. I am such a jaded operagoer (and I'm 26!) that I was shocked to find tears come to my eyes during a couple of the selections--most notably the Butterfly and the Hansel & Gretel. I bought this album when it came out and it has taken up permanent residence inside my Discman. If you are bored with the "cookie-cutter" sameness of many of today's singers, BUY THIS NOW. I promise you won't regret it.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Vocal Duet Album in 48 Years, October 13, 1999

By 

madamemusico "madamemusico" (Cincinnati, Ohio USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bellezza vocale ~ Beautiful Opera Duets (Audio CD)

I echo all of the positive comments in Robert Levine's review, but would add three more. First, Hong's soprano is an absolute revelation. Her bell-like, silvery high register reminded me of the legendary French soprano Gabrielle Ritter-Ciampi (there's a name unfamiliar to most people today!) and Larmore, as usual, is without peer in the modern era. Second, the consistently high quality of the singing makes this, in my mind, the most successful soprano-mezzo album ever made and possibly the best duet album since the Jussi Bjorling-Robert Merrill LP of 1951. Thirdly, the dramatic incisiveness of each and every track makes for tremendously exciting listening. If I could give this one 15 stars, I would!