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Editorial Reviews
Review
The point with Diana Damrau...is that she's fearless, impressively unpredictable, and about as far as possible from being a 'production line' soprano. -- Classic FM magazine
Product Description
The multifaceted German coloratura soprano, who has been described as "the Meryl Streep of classical music" shows her vocal and dramatic range with this collection of arias from the 19th and 20th centuries.
As Opera News wrote of exceptional German soprano Diana Damrau: "Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them. It's impossible to know whether Diana Damrau was born great, but she has- without question- achieved greatness; Damrau has firm technical command, unaffected mastery of characterization and beauty of tone...More, please."
With the support from the Munchner Rundfunkorchester conducted by Dan Ettinger, Damrau is showcased in a repertoire that ranges from Rossini and Verdi to Stravinsky and Bernstein, from comedy to tragedy and covers four languages: German, Italian, French and English. It includes Zerbinetta's marathon coloratura aria from Ariadne auf Naxos, one of the operas which spearheded Damrau's international career.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
20 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
There's nothing standard about "COLORaturaS," soprano Diana Damrau's stunning new recital disc of opera "standards." As many have noted, Damrau is the total operatic package; a seriously gifted singer with an Actors Studio understanding of how to create character. Another reviewer here noted that he preferred Joan Sutherland's version of Verdi's "Caro Nome." Well, perhaps Sutherland "sang" it better (and that's open to debate), but she certainly didn't capture Gilda's budding sexuality or her cautious thrill that perhaps this man, whose name she says as a kind of prayer, will be the one to free her from both her actual and emotional prisons. It's all there in Damrau's thoughtful, heartfelt rendition. Other tracks are just as complex and revelatory. This is the first time I've heard "Je Veux Vivre" and believed that the singer was a breathless, overwhelmed 13 year old; Damrau's Zerbinetta is wise, playful, practical and world weary...all at the same time; her Lauretta seems to be manipulating Gianni Schicchi as much as appealing to his paternal instincts. And I have never heard a funnier "Glitter and Be Gay." Damrau finds the perfect balance between parody and homage, and still manages to provide insight into Cunegonde's hilariously conflicted psyche. If the way I'm describing the performances sounds in any way academic or studied, rest assured that Damrau does all of the above without ever sacrificing the music itself. The singing is joyous, passionate and technically breathtaking. At every step of the way she is more than admirably supported by Dan Ettinger and the Munich Radio Orchestra.
If I have any quibble with Damrau, it's that her diction is at times a little too pronounced; hard consonants a little too hard, every "r" a little too rolled. Even Bartoli doesn't always sing with such music school precision. Ultimately, though, it's a very minor reservation.
For anyone invested in the future (and present, for that matter) of opera, "COLORaturaS" will be very, very welcome.
If I have any quibble with Damrau, it's that her diction is at times a little too pronounced; hard consonants a little too hard, every "r" a little too rolled. Even Bartoli doesn't always sing with such music school precision. Ultimately, though, it's a very minor reservation.
For anyone invested in the future (and present, for that matter) of opera, "COLORaturaS" will be very, very welcome.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I have been listening to this latest CD by Diana Damrau for quite a while.
No - this one isn't vocal low camp. By comparison, Damrau's coloratura is about the current best in sopranos.
What I tend to agree is that since joining Virgin Classics, Damrau's albums fail to sustain the high quality of her earlier live recordings available in Orfeo or others.
Even so, if you concentrate on the music on the tracks, you would soon realise that Damrau has some thing different to say in each, and her characterisations are about the best in current singers (male and female included).
Her timbre may not be the most beautiful - like the later Callas, people do not simply listen for the timbre; they listen for the music, for the expression, for the joy and pathos...
I am not familiar with the Rake of Progress, and cannot comment on that one. As for other more familiar tracks, I would say that her Oscar is sterling, her Gilda affecting, her Juliet vulnerable, her Linda charming, her Zerbinetta original. Crowning all these, the aria from Bernstein's Candide, the best ever on record.
I have grown rather sick and tired with 'beautiful nonsenses' in opera these days, and would go to any length to dig back the 'good old days' when operatic singers put their characters in the forefront.
Damrau does not feign bel canto - she puts characterisation first and in the foremost. If that's not 'pleasing' enough to some connoisseur's ears, so be it.
No - this one isn't vocal low camp. By comparison, Damrau's coloratura is about the current best in sopranos.
What I tend to agree is that since joining Virgin Classics, Damrau's albums fail to sustain the high quality of her earlier live recordings available in Orfeo or others.
Even so, if you concentrate on the music on the tracks, you would soon realise that Damrau has some thing different to say in each, and her characterisations are about the best in current singers (male and female included).
Her timbre may not be the most beautiful - like the later Callas, people do not simply listen for the timbre; they listen for the music, for the expression, for the joy and pathos...
I am not familiar with the Rake of Progress, and cannot comment on that one. As for other more familiar tracks, I would say that her Oscar is sterling, her Gilda affecting, her Juliet vulnerable, her Linda charming, her Zerbinetta original. Crowning all these, the aria from Bernstein's Candide, the best ever on record.
I have grown rather sick and tired with 'beautiful nonsenses' in opera these days, and would go to any length to dig back the 'good old days' when operatic singers put their characters in the forefront.
Damrau does not feign bel canto - she puts characterisation first and in the foremost. If that's not 'pleasing' enough to some connoisseur's ears, so be it.
13 of 16 people found the following review helpful
By A. F. S. Mui
Format:Audio CD
Apart from being able to just 'sing in a decent manner', German soprano Diana Damrau is a peerless vocal actress.
She is also one of the of the foremost coloratura sopranos in this era (the other being the great Italian coloratura Mariella Devia).
This album showcases Herr Damrau's pyrotechnic, as well as her ability of characterisation.
Having said that, the great pleasure that Damrau's voice carries in the earlier years is regrettably lost to a considerable extent lately, as evident in this latest release of hers. Her ability to express is cut down by the limitations in her voice, and most of the time she is being forced to employ heavy-handed pushes to her voice in order to express what's in the score, some thing that she would not have to resort to in her early years when she possessed a much fuller voice.
This phenomenon is gradually becoming apparent with her recent recordings (after she has signed up Virgin Classics). The sweetness of the timbre has been worn down considerably with strenuous roles that would wreck the greatest of voices.
Damrau has adamantly refused to take on such strenuous roles like the Queen of Night again. A very wise decision that should have made even earlier, judging from what has come to pass.
My only wish is that the voice of this wonderful artist will soon recover fully.
She is also one of the of the foremost coloratura sopranos in this era (the other being the great Italian coloratura Mariella Devia).
This album showcases Herr Damrau's pyrotechnic, as well as her ability of characterisation.
Having said that, the great pleasure that Damrau's voice carries in the earlier years is regrettably lost to a considerable extent lately, as evident in this latest release of hers. Her ability to express is cut down by the limitations in her voice, and most of the time she is being forced to employ heavy-handed pushes to her voice in order to express what's in the score, some thing that she would not have to resort to in her early years when she possessed a much fuller voice.
This phenomenon is gradually becoming apparent with her recent recordings (after she has signed up Virgin Classics). The sweetness of the timbre has been worn down considerably with strenuous roles that would wreck the greatest of voices.
Damrau has adamantly refused to take on such strenuous roles like the Queen of Night again. A very wise decision that should have made even earlier, judging from what has come to pass.
My only wish is that the voice of this wonderful artist will soon recover fully.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great coloratura singer !
This CD covers a wide range of the repertoire, from stock classics like "O mio babbino caro" (heartfelt, didn't loose its emotional strenght) and "Una voce poco fa" to lesser known... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Ignacio Litardo
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very Enjoyable
This recording by Diana Damrau is very enjoyable. She has selected a number of selections which are not often performed (the only exception is Puccini's "O mio babbino caro" from... Read more
Published 24 months ago by MikelMask
5.0 out of 5 stars
DIANA DAMRAU DOES HER DAMRAU BEST...
Ms. Damrau is arguably among the greatest lving lyric coloraturas of the early Twenty First Century. Read more
Published on March 15, 2010 by Robert Lyle
3.0 out of 5 stars
For coloratura fans ONLY
This album...is not great. Damrau sound pretty good in her Mozart album and her Arie di Bravura, but her voice here is a hot ghetto mess, she sound hysterical as if she is trying... Read more
Published on January 19, 2010 by Adam Soleil
2.0 out of 5 stars
Vocal low camp
I suppose that Diana Damrau has gained her swooning fans as a result of her acting, because on the evidence of this CD, it can't be her voice. Read more
Published on January 16, 2010 by Santa Fe Listener
4.0 out of 5 stars
Power? Plenty. Subtlety? Not the Best
I have been bowled over by Diana for a year now.
Her voice is like a row of artillery. GREAT power. And this CD confirms my impression. She is an incredible presence. Read more
Her voice is like a row of artillery. GREAT power. And this CD confirms my impression. She is an incredible presence. Read more
Published on January 12, 2010 by Henry James
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fearless
I saw her ad in the most recent issue of Opera News where it said that Diana has been described as "the Meryl Streep of classical music. Read more
Published on January 12, 2010 by Classics Lover
4.0 out of 5 stars
A CLASSIC LESSON IN HOW TO SING AND COMMUNICATE
The opera audiences of the world now have two incredibly gifted coloratura sopranoes who are also gifted actresses that know how to use text and music as instruments of... Read more
Published on November 28, 2009 by R. Olsavicky
