Kathleen Battle - Bel Canto Arias

Vincenzo Bellini (Composer), Gioachino Rossini (Composer), Gaetano Donizetti (Composer), Bruno Campanella (Conductor), London Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra), Kathleen Battle (Performer), Richard Croft (Performer), John Constable (Performer), Pal Christian Moe (Performer), Randi Stene (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Kathleen Battle, Richard Croft, John Constable, Pal Christian Moe, Randi Stene
• Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra
• Conductor: Bruno Campanella
• Composer: Vincenzo Bellini, Gioachino Rossini, Gaetano Donizetti
• Audio CD (October 12, 1993)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Deutsche Grammophon
• ASIN: B000001GH1
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #161,089 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #29 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Divas > Battle, Kathleen

Track Listings

1. I Capuleti Ed I Montecchi: Recitativo E Romanza (Atto I): 'Eccomi In Lieta Vesta...Oh! Quante Volte'

2. Tancredi: Recitativo Ed Aria (Atto II): 'Gran Dio! Deh, Tu Proteggi...Giusto Dio Che Umile Adoro'

3. Don Pasquale: Cavatina (Atto I): 'Quel Guardo Il Cavaliere'...So Ancho'io La Virtu Magica'

4. Linda Di Chamounix: Recitativo E Cavatina (Atto I): 'Ah! Tardai Troppo...O Luce Di Quest'anima'

5. La Sonnambula: Scena Ed Aria Finale (Atto II): 'Oh! Se Una Volta Sola...Ah! Non Credea Mirarti'

6. Il Viaggio A Reims: Aria (Atto I): 'Partir, O Ciel! Desio'

Editorial Reviews

This classical cd contains 6 tracks and runs 56 minutes.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Eviva La Diva, May 11, 2001

By 

"bravissimadiva" (Chicago) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kathleen Battle - Bel Canto Arias (Audio CD)

La Divinia is a name well attributed to the late Maria Callas, but it would not be such a bad idea to extend it for the purposes of this CD. Kathleen Battle is amazing. For many years she'd wowed us with her subtlety and her beautiful Mozart. We all know that she can breath life into many a baroque work. We all know how compelling her spirituals and sacred pieces are. But how many of us knew she was aptly equipped to carry off the more weighted Bel Canto Heroines i.e. Amina in La Sonnambula a role we constantly affliate with Dame Joan Sutherland? First let me begin with the praise of her agility and breath control. As a singer who has a few of these pieces under my belt, I can tell you that they are not easy. Lady Battle makes them sound effortless. Her " O luce Quest Anima" and "Ah non Credea" are among the most beautiful that I have heard. Her diction is so clear that even amidst flourid coloratura, you still have clarity of text. This is the trade mark of a great artist. I strongly reccomend this Cd for all lovers of Beauty and Bel Canto...beautiful singing!

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Breathing Beautiful Life into Characters Commonly Dismissed, June 12, 2001

By 

M. Bish (Rochester, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kathleen Battle - Bel Canto Arias (Audio CD)

At last! This is the disc I have waited my whole life for: famed soprano Kathleen Battle showing her awesome talents in the bel canto repertoire. After glimpsing her coloratura abilities as Donizetti's Adina (L'ELISIR D'AMORE) and her ability to soar over ensembles as Mozart's Pamina (DIE ZAUBERFLOTE), we all knew that Ms. Battle was tailor-made for these arias and extended scenes. Miraculously, she never strains, her voice is creamy throughout its two and half octave range (listen to those high E's melt in her Amina's mouth), and her diction is remarkably intelligible. The above-mentioned gifts do not even hint at her ability for expression and gift for improvisation. One thing I have always loved about Kathleen Battle is the fact that she DOES improvise, breathing her own unique life into a characterization (listen to her Semele or Rosina for proof of this). This 56 minute CD has her tackle 2 apiece from Bellini, Donizetti, and Rossini. Once again she shows her affinity for Rossini but, like the previous reviewer, I have to express my surprise and delight at how beautifully SONNAMBULA sits in her throat. In fact, in my own humble opinion, her version is even more impressive than Dame Joan's and Sumi Jo's for its sheer vocalism! In this 15 minute scene, she is lent admirable support from Richard Croft, Randi Stene, and Mark S. Doss but make no mistake: this is Ms. Battle's show. Consider me converted... then again, who am I kidding? I'm one of her biggest fans and supporters! Enjoy this gem of a disc--sit back and be astounded.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My dream woman, January 10, 2007

By 

Robert Petersen (Durban, South Africa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kathleen Battle - Bel Canto Arias (Audio CD)

Another great recital by my dream woman. Battle's voice and style is not to everyone's taste, but that's why we can compare and choose which singers we love and adore! This CD has provided me with endless listening pleasure and I love every minute of it.