Great Carreras

Jose Carreras (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 14, 1994)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Polygram Records
• ASIN: B0000041AJ
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #282,914 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #33 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Divas > Von Stade, Frederica

Track Listings

1. Il Trovatore: Di quella pira

2. La Boheme: Che gelida manina

3. Ave Maria

4. TOSCA: E lucevan le stelle

5. TOSCA: Recondita armonia

6. Panis Angelicus

7. Manon Lescaut: Donna non vidi mai

8. La Boheme: Testa adorata

9. Otello: Notte per me funesta

10. Turandot: Nessun dorma

11. Der Rosenkavalier: Di rigori armato il seno

12. L'Elisir d'Amore: Una furtiva lagrima

13. La Battaglia di Legnano: La pia materna mano

14. La Battaglia di Legnano: E ver? Sei d'altri

15. Un Ballo in Maschera: Forse la soglia attinse - Ma se m'e forza perderti

16. Pagliacci: Vesta la giubba

17. 'O sole mio

18. La danza

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great compilation testifying to a great talent, April 24, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Great Carreras (Audio CD)

I bought this CD in 1994 right after hearing the 2nd Three Tenors concert (in LA). The concert itself had a bombastic quality to it, but I was immediately impressed by sincerity and humanity of a slight but elegant man in the center. Domingo and Pavarotti were household names prior to the concert, but an average person had heard very little of José Carreras. Well, for me personally, he was the single force that drew me into the world of opera and kept me there. I've collected over 5,000 CDs and complete operas of various artists since then, and what started it all was this single CD with a very proper title, showcasing Carreras at his greatest (1970s-80s). Philips has done a splendid job of capturing his electrifying tenor on record. The CD starts with an aria that has been long considered a measuring staff for tenors - Di Quella Pira. The very first time I heard Carreras's version of it I was simply blown away. His voice had a very unique quality (since then I've found that young Di Stefano had it in the early 50s) - his high notes (above middle E) are like bursts of fire, easily carrying above large orchestras and booming choruses. By the way, those thinking it's just Philips's engineering, check out a CD of live performances entitled "Bravissimi Tenori" (just 3 bucks) and you will see that Carreras was even more thrilling live on stage. The disc further has morsels not currently available anywhere, such as a white-hot final duet from Rossini's "Otello", a great scene from Verdi's "La Battaglia di Legnano", and "La Danza", a rousing Italian tarantella. What will strike even a seasoned fan are the two selections from "Tosca". This particular version was recorded under baton of Sir Colin Davis in 1976 and immediately became the best "Tosca" on record. It featured a star-studded cast of Caballé, Wixell, and even young Samuel Ramey in a secondary role, but Carreras's rendition of Cavaradossi stood out as the freshest and most insightful of all. "Recognita armonia" is youthful and triumphant (for some reason, we get the continuation of the scene with the sacristan here), but "E lucevan de stelle" will send chills down your spine for sure. Two sacred songs, Bach (arr. Gounod) "Ave Maria" and Franck's "Panis Angelicus", sound very much like opera arias, and such tenor repertoire staples as "Una furtiva lagrima" and "Vesti la giubba" testify to phenomenal acting abilities of Carreras. While he could sound young and romantic as Rodolfo, or even swaggering (tenor aria from Rosenkavalier), he could also become a deranged murderous Canio or a brooding Riccardo. The voice rings brilliantly and effortlessly on all selections, providing over 70 minutes of pure delight.
Of many compilation CD's this one had the most thought invested into it. For instance, it includes both Puccini's and Leoncavallo's versions of "La Boheme", and most fascinating early Verdi (Carreras has recorded a complete series with Lamberto Gardelli). Hearing this CD will prompt you to do more research on the man and his art, read about his overcoming leukemia and his charitable efforts, about his taking risks with the heaviest tenor roles, and his commitment to the art of opera. And just maybe it will inspire you with courage to take singing lessons and just see if you can sing your own "Vincero!"

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All the best by the best, April 23, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Great Carreras (Audio CD)

This CD has all the most famous arias as well as other great music, sung by one of the best tenors ever. If you're new to opera, this is a great way to start your collection.