Giuseppe Di Stefano - Torna a Surriento (Songs of Italy & Sicily) [Import, Original recording reissued]

Cesare Andrea Bixio (Composer), Francesco Bongiovanni (Composer), Enrico Cannio (Composer), Salvatore Cardillo (Composer), Cesare Cesarini (Composer), Francesco Antonio Costa (Composer), Pasquale Mario Costa (Composer), Ernesto de Curtis (Composer), Alberto Favara (Composer), Giuseppe Di Stefano (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Giuseppe Di Stefano
• Composer: Cesare Andrea Bixio, Francesco Bongiovanni, Enrico Cannio, Salvatore Cardillo, Cesare Cesarini, et al.
• Audio CD (February 9, 1998)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Import, Original recording reissued
• Label: Decca (Polygram Int'l)
• ASIN: B000025WWN
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #184,584 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Torna A Sorriento

2. Tu Ca' Nun Chiagne

3. Sona Chitarra

4. Lacreme Napulitane

5. Napule Canta

6. O Surdato 'Nnammurato

7. Catari, Catari

8. Pusilecco

9. Era Di Maggio Matenata

10. Scetate

11. Addio Mia Bella Napoli

12. Parlami D'amore Mariu

13. Munasterio 'E Santa-Chiara

14. Firenze Sogna

15. Canta Pe' Me

16. Che T'aggia Di

17. Come È Bello Far L'amore Quanno È Sera

18. A Canzone 'E Napule

19. Sicilia Bedda

20. Ti Voglio Tanto Bene

See all 29 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars These Songs + Di Stefano: Doesn't Get Better Than That, February 9, 2011

By 

VBON - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Giuseppe Di Stefano - Torna a Surriento (Songs of Italy & Sicily) (Audio CD)

The 2 collections in this set are classics, and for good reason. Giuseppe De Stefano was perhaps the greatest tenor of Italian lyrical opera in our lifetime--at least for many of us who were already around in the 1950's and 60's. Yes, he was so for only a brief time. He apparently lived la dolce vita and abused his voice.
But fortunately, he came to prominence when Angel Records was producing extraordinarily high quality recordings, and many of his performances in the studio were created and preserved. These include his historic operatic performances with Maria Callas which have long since been digitized and converted to cd's. Among others, the TOSCA and LA BOHEME performances are mindbogglingly magnificent. Indeed, whenever I've played these for friends over the years, they always ask about the tenor--i.e., Di Stefano--and rate his performances as the most extraordinary they have ever heard.
In any event, as his operatic voice was in early decline in the mid 60's, he began to record traditional Italian love songs--both Neapolitan and Sicilian. (He was Sicilian, and included several gorgeous songs from Sicily in his albums. I'm Sicilian-American, so I'm partial to these.) The depth of feeling, emotion, loss, anguish, regret, reminiscence, love, euphoria (Maybe a bit manic-depressive here!), together with his gloriously virile yet exquisite vocal instrument and fervor make this collection a virtually certain favorite for anyone who appreciates (as in loves) this universal, eternal music that speaks directly to the human soul.
OK, I'm getting carried away--only a bit actually. Because these songs (e.g., CATARI, ADDIO SOGNI DI GLORIA, PUSILLECO, A CANZONE'E NAPULE, etc., etc.)+ Di Stefano + the lush orchestrations make these performances rivals of the Di Stefano + Callas operas. In other words, it just doesn't get better than this.

5.0 out of 5 stars Impressive male voice, December 22, 2010

By 

Rubyhill (Champaign, IL) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Giuseppe Di Stefano - Torna a Surriento (Songs of Italy & Sicily) (Audio CD)

I originally bought the CD because of a song titled "catari catari". The song performed by Giuseppe Di Stefano is the best. I have listened the same song performed by many other singers including Pavarotti, but nobody but Stefano moved me. I strongly recommend this CD to other people. However, be aware that the song titles will be displayed in Japanese on windows media player although the titles on the CD jacket are listed in English.