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19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Anna Moffo at her incomparable best, October 9, 2001
This review is from: Canteloube: Songs of the Auvergne / Villa-Lobos: Bachianas Brasileiras / Rachmaninoff: Vocalise (Audio CD)
What an extraordinary album. There have been many recordings of Canteloube's Songs of the Auvergne, but none, in my opinion, come close to capturing Anna Moffo's creamily seductive interpretations. Moffo in her prime had everything one could wish for in a lyric soprano: warmth, power, thrilling high notes and a sense of phrasing that was bewitching.
The Rachmaninov Vocalise and Bachianas Brasilieras No 5 are equally compelling, and Moffo is ably supported by Stokowski in top form. My only regret is that a "blip" has appeared near the end of the Vocalise (which was not there on the original LP), thus giving the misleading impression that the ending was a retake.
This is my desert island soprano album. Now if BMG could just be persuaded to release her sublime One Night of Love album from the early 1960s, then I'll be packing that one as well...
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18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
This is the one!, February 16, 2000
This review is from: Canteloube: Songs of the Auvergne / Villa-Lobos: Bachianas Brasileiras / Rachmaninoff: Vocalise (Audio CD)
There are some pieces of music that I love the composer's concept, but cannot for the life of me find the right recording! Dvorak's Symphony No.9 comes to mind, Rachmaninov's Concerto No.2 is another, and up until I found this recording, Songs of the Auvergne. Wow! Stokowski and Moffo breeze through these pieces like romp through a sparkling lit countryside filled with dewy leaves, a babbling brook, and wafting scents. Her voice is rich, pure, and playful. And Stokowski sets and changes the mood for each piece. My chief complaint for the Te Kanawa and von Stade versions is that all the songs have identical moods. Also included in the Moffo set are the ravishing beautiful Villa-Lobos' Bachianas Brasileiras No.5 and Rachmaninov's Vocalise, wait until you hear that!
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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very impressive, March 15, 1999
By A Customer
This review is from: Canteloube: Songs of the Auvergne / Villa-Lobos: Bachianas Brasileiras / Rachmaninoff: Vocalise (Audio CD)
Because of Anna Moffo's unfortunate vocal crisis in the late 1960's, people tend to forget that she possessed one of the most achingly beautiful voices in the history of recording. This was made at the peak of her career, when her voice was mature but showed no signs of deteriorating. Rachmaninov's "Vocalise" has never been performed better and it's doubtful that it ever will be.
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