Carlo Bergonzi: The Sublime Voice

Carlo Bergonzi (Artist), Giacomo Puccini (Composer), Ruggiero Leoncavallo (Composer), Pietro Mascagni (Composer), Amilcare Ponchielli (Composer), Giuseppe Verdi (Composer), Herbert von Karajan (Conductor), Georg Solti (Conductor), Rafael Kubelik (Conductor) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Conductor: Herbert von Karajan, Georg Solti, Rafael Kubelik
• Composer: Giacomo Puccini, Ruggiero Leoncavallo, Pietro Mascagni, Amilcare Ponchielli, Giuseppe Verdi
• Audio CD (June 12, 2001)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Decca
• ASIN: B00004C8TH
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #143,331 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely flooring, April 30, 2002

By 

Andrew Mayzak "audiophile" (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Carlo Bergonzi: The Sublime Voice (Audio CD)

I have always admired Bergonzi's work in Puccini operas opposite the great Renata Tebaldi and their recording of Aida is very powerful. However, this CD amazed me by showcasing Bergonzi's vast assortment of roles in which he performed. From La Boheme and Tosca to Il Trovatore and Adriana Lecouvreur, his voice seems gorgeously suited to each role and is even in both timbre and stylistic interpretation. Track 10 from Cavalleria Rusticana stunned me with Fiorenza Cossotto and Bergonzi singing the most overwhelmingly involving duet I've ever heard. I am truly amazed by the enormous talent contained in this man. He is easily my favorite singer, the one which I aspire to sound like (lofty goal), and, in my opinion, the best tenor of the century. This CD set is truly a great buy: 40 digitally remastered tracks of the greatest scenes from the greatest operas sung by the greatest singers of our time for about [item price].

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Legendary Greats at his Greatest, November 23, 2001

By 

John G. Gleeson Sr. (Frederic, Mi USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Carlo Bergonzi: The Sublime Voice (Audio CD)

My life-long (and it's long!) love of opera began in the late 1950's with a Met broadcast of Verdi's Macbeth. The tenor in that performance was Carlo Bergonzi. Among opera fans he is recognized as one of the top tenors of the 20th century, and this album shows why. Bergonzi had a sweetness of voice and an interpretive skill that was nearly peerless. The voice is even from top to bottom, and there is never the slightest indication of forcing or strain. Particularly with the music of Verdi, his handling of the vocal line produces meltingly lyric interpretations, to the extent that the music sounds (deceptively) easy to sing. A few years ago, his farewell tour brought him to Michigan, where I had the chance to thank him personally for all the pleasure his singing brought to me. Try this album, and you'll be hooked too. It simply doesn't get any better than this!

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The sublime vocal artist, August 15, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Carlo Bergonzi: The Sublime Voice (Audio CD)

I have seen most of the great tenors of the past 50 years at the Met: Corelli, Tucker, Vickers, Gedda, Pavarotti, Domingo, etc.. For me, Bergonzi over all, was the superior Italian Opera tenor. His legato, agility, breath control, tasteful musicianship, diction, was superior to most of the great tenors. He was outstanding as Nemorino and Rhadames; Edgardo and Alvaro etc.. This CD shows him at his very best, which is a joy to hear. This CD is a must vocal lesson for any aspiring young tenor, as Carlo Bergonzi is a master singer.