The Glory (????) of the Human Voice

Florence Foster Jenkins (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 14, 1992)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: RCA
• ASIN: B000003F97
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (66 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #59,900 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Queen of the Night Aria

2. Musical Snuffbox, for piano (or orchestra), Op. 32

3. Like a Bird, for voice & piano

4. Ou va la jeune Hindoue?

5. Serenata Mexicana, for voice & piano

6. Charmant oiseau

7. unknown "Biassy"

8. Adele's Laughing Song

9. Valentine's Aria

10. Jewel Song

11. Salute demeure chaste et pure

12. Final trio

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

68 of 70 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Please, Ma'am, My Ears Are Bleeding..., September 5, 2003

By 

Robert I. Hedges - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Glory (????) of the Human Voice (Audio CD)

I discovered the original LP of this in the West Charlotte High School (NC) library with a friend in the tenth grade in 1980. We could not stop rolling around on the listening room floor until finally the librarian made us leave. I have been looking for this ever since. This CD is the ultimate in vocal experiences. Florence Foster Jenkins decided to become an opera singer when her wealthy husband died. People realized at once that she was absolutely wretched, yet she attracted bigger and bigger crowds. Finally she sold out Carnegie Hall accompanied by pianist Cosme McMoon (who hid behind a screen, allegedly) and by the wonderful Thomas Burns, a baritone who sounds to my ear exactly like Elmer Fudd. My favorite line from Burns, which still makes me laugh out loud is "My heart is overcome with terror..." It doesn't SOUND like it would be that funny, but you simply must hear it to understand.

Bravo! Mme. Jenkins is one of the all time greats! Buy this CD and put it randomly in your CD changer at your next party between the Dire Straits and Toby Keith. Watch your friends reaction. That moment alone will make the purchase price well worth it.

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lots of passion ..., October 29, 2005

By 

Insomnia - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Glory (????) of the Human Voice (Audio CD)

So, you love Miles Davis and Karajan, but you haven't had the experience of music that gives you goosebumps for quite a while ... then this CD is for you! Or you are a tough nut who munches popcorn while watching The Silence of the Lambs ... then this CD will really give you the creeps!
Now seriously (or not so seriously): Florence Foster-Jenkins was a woman with no talent but lots of passion for music. Which leads us to the question: shall we only do what we are good at? What if we have fun doing something but no talent at all? Shall we only do things that will give us the approval of others? Florence Foster-Jenkins has made her choice to follow her passion - she is my hero!!! :-)

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Glory of the Human Voice - OUCH!, November 24, 2000

By 

Gerald Russell (Brooklyn, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Glory (????) of the Human Voice (Audio CD)

A short bio of Madame Jenkins appears in a wonderful book called "American Eccentrics" by Carl Sifakis. It explains the history (or is it hysteria?) of this most maligned and misunderstood of American coloraturas. The most telling of anecdotes regarding M. Jenkins is that she was riding in a New York taxi that crashed. She was going to sue the taxi company until she discovered that she could sing ". . .a higher F than ever before...". Need I say more? Apparently, she sent the cabbie a box of expensive cigars as a thank-you.

The staff of a classical section of a large CD store in New York City regularly puts on this recording about 15 minutes to closing. They inevitably get several "what the hell is that" questions, a sale or two, and clear out the rest of the patrons in short order - most of them shaking their heads in disbelief.

The "Queen of the Night" aria from Mozart's Magic Flute is, well, magical (sort of). One is never quite sure to cringe or duck as she squawks her way to the high note at the end.

A great party CD - but make sure the guests have had at least one stiff drink first.

Unfortunately, I heard Madame Jenkins' rendition of both the "Queen of the Night" aria and "Adele's Laughing Song" long before I had heard these pieces done "straight". I nearly died when I heard them done "seriously".