Customer Reviews

Bryn Terfel - Opera Arias

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Bryn Terfl is an artist of the highest caliber, one who brings a tremendous sense of character and subtlty of shading to all the arias he sings (unlike, say, Pavarotti, who often just belts it out to show off his tremendous voice) Terfl's Mozart arias are untouchable, and his Evening Star aria from Tannhauser is indescribably beautiful. You have not heard greast singing until you have heard that track (6) on this CD...

As a fellow bass-baritone, I was too busy trying to emulate and capture the exquisiteness of his technique the moment after I heard his CD to actually rate it for anyone else who wanted to know what I felt! When I first heard the incomparable Sam Ramey in high school, I was awestruck at the possibilities of excellence that lay before me in a future career. When I first heard this CD by Bryn Terfel, who does some of Sam's rep almost as good, I was awestruck by the responsibility of excellence that lay before me as an adult professional. After seeing him perform several times and being driven to happy laughter at his tremendous characterization of Leporello in DON GIOVANNI, I am all the more satisfied by this master class he gives all of us, disguised as a magnificent recital of arias.

Bryn inspires you to run into a practice room before you even find the words to say how good he is. The Mozart is tremendously enteratining- and yes, the Wagner is flawless. Definitely worth owning.

Bryn Terfel's "Opera Arias" is great from start to finish. It displays not only Terfel's glorious bass-baritone voice (with a lovely mezza-voce -- just listen to his seductive "Deh, vieni alla finestra"!), but also his musicality and expressiveness.
Terfel was smart in his choice of arias; each one suits his voice and temperament ideally. The Mozart sequence is perfection. The Dutchman's monologue is amazing. The aria from PRINCE IGOR is magnificent. The "Song to the Evening Star" from TANNHAUSER is greatness itself. I was most surprised, though, by the excellent bel canto renditions (from DON PASQUALE and LA CENERENTOLA), as Terfel is not usually associated with this repertoire. He should definitely perform Don Magnifico in CENERENTOLA onstage someday. Please, do yourself a favor and buy Bryn Terfel's "Opera Arias."

this is an awesome cd. if you're a fan of Bryn Terfel, you should buy this. you'll enjoy every song in this cd. I also recommend his recital dvd.

ps) don't listen to what the guy under my review said. i don't think this person knows how to sing.

This is one of the most amazing recordings that I have ever heard. The Met orchestra is wonderful and play with passion that seems to be lacking from most orchestras today. Levine is in control of them the entire time and brings out the contrasts in the music. Terfel, even at the young age of 29 when he made this recording, shows the incredible voice that has made him an international star. His selection from Tannhauser is one of the most amazing things ever to be recorded. Every piece he sings on this album is strong and lush. One cannot wait for him to release a recording of either Tannhauser or Flying Dutchman. An amazing album

Bravo, Bryn Terfel!

The arias selected for his "Opera Arias" CD capture his versatile range, singing lighthearted as Figaro and later conveying the intensity required of Wagner. This bass-baritone is easy to listen to and even without seeing him, the listener understands the persona of the character. For these reasons, this "Opera Arias" CD is my personal favorite among my opera CD collection.

This is definitely the best recording of the selections chosen from "le Nozze de Figaro" I have ever heard. Terfel has a wonderful sense of musical humour, and is able to make his voice do seemingly, whatever he likes. In fact I think one could liken his voice to a big red bouncy ball, it's so round and fun to play with, you can tell that he himself has fun using it. However this is the only one of his albums I have really fallen in love with, in spite of listening to quite a few. Some of the same pieces are on his other cds, but not as well-sung as in this one.

Terfel is amazing. The voice is warm, wide and sensous, and the acting is top-notch. This recital is the best recording I have heard of him outside full operas, where he is (of course) at his best. Every peice on it is a gem, but especially the first five Mozart arias. You will never hear a better Catologue Aria. I make it a point to listen to his at least once a week.
If you are an opera lover and (God forbid!) have not yet stumbled upon Terfel, this is an excellent introduction. And by the way, you needn't be a singer to appreciate his voice - I know very little of the technicalities of singing (about as much as a year in the church choir can give you), but I play the violin and we violinists are very keen on singers who know what they are doing. In the words of my violin teacher, Terfel is "charming!"

Terfel has warmth, passion, humor and real musical artistry. He has one of the great voices of the century.

After hearing this CD for the first time on a bootleg tape given to me by my voice teacher, and when i finally got the CD, my world changed. His rendition of the aria from Faust, inspired me to have the aspiration to sing this song at somewhere near the quality he sang it. He's truly the greatest performer I have ever heard.