Customer Reviews

Kiri

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Kiri Te Kanawa is one of the best lyric sopranos of all time, with luscious sound and a great technique. This album present this beautiful singer in some of her best recordings. The range of her career is presented in full display here, from her brilliant version of Handel's Let the Bright Seraphim through the pop song World in Union. There is a glimpse of her wonderful Mozart in a masterful rendition of Dove Sono from LE NOZZE DI FIGARO and Laudate Dominum from Vesperae solennes de Confessore K339. Other highlights of the recording are the two Puccini arias that she sang as part of the soundtrack of the Merchant Ivory movie A Room with a View. These arias (O mio babbino caro from Gianni Schicchi and Chi bel sogno di Doretta from LA RONDINE) are as beautiful as I remembered from watching the film, the voice is fresh and clear, full of expression. The lighter numbers showcase Dame Kiri's capacity to change musical styles while maintaining an excellent technical skill. All this musical pleasure is enhanced by a booklet with magnificent photographs of the singer, showing how her personal beauty is in perfect harmony with the beauty of her singing voice. The only regret I have is that there is nothing of Richard Strauss here, a composer that has been very important for the soprano's career. Anyway, this CD is a great souvenir of Kiri Te Kanawa's career and a great way to introduce people to an artist who is still today giving much pleasure to people all around the world.

I purchased this CD based on the favorable reviews already listed, and I wish to thank those reviewers profusely. Several years ago I saw a TV special on the life of Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and had always intended to acquire some of her recordings. This compilation fits the bill very well. Nearly all of the tracks have been previously released on other CDs and I will undoubtedly purchase some of those after hearing this sampler. Kiri is the female equivalent of Pavarotti--an opera singer that has a voice and artistic ability to reach listeners without a background or knowledge in opera. I do not know nor care about how opera "purists" might appraise this CD. The voice just captivates me, for its richness and precision. This is another CD that you play when you have the time to just sit and do nothing but listen to it, concentrate and appreciate.

Earlier this evening, I had a unique privilege in seeing Dame Kiri Te Kanawa live here in Edinburgh at Usher Hall and truly it was a captivating experience, I booked the ticket six months ealier for I know it would be sold out.

Dame Kiri has always been my favourite soprano (and of course Renee Fleming), and the moment she sang her first note, it was electrifying. Even the moment she walked on stage with pianist Julian Reynolds, her beauty took my breath away. She has beauty, stage presence and a captivating voice.

I admire Dame Kiri that she has chosen songs/arias which is suitable to her voice which has darkened (but still beautiful) because of age. She's 59 but can still hold an audience with her special brand of kiri magic. i just love her.

This cd is a good introduction to non-opera connoseurs and even to opera purist this will have a wide appeal. From her Handel's Let the Bright Seraphim which catapulted her to legendary status, Puccini's Vissi d' Arte and of course, her hugely successful song from Chants d' Auvergne, Canteloub's Bailero.This cd is worth having.

Her Puccini's O mio babbino caro is something she made her own that when she sang it earlier as the final encore the audience stood up in rapturous applause (I am actually the first one who had the courage to stand up!)

Dame Kiri is perhaps one of the top three greatest female voices that ever lived and I hope she continues to ignite her magical voice to audiences world wide. Rarely would we see a performer who has grace, class, serenity and vocal beauty like Dame Kiri.

Brava Dame Kiri, Brava!!!

Kiri Te Kanawa has one of the most beautiful lyric voices and a solid technique to support her charming instrument. Furthermore she is a gorgeous woman and it is always a pleasure to see her performing on stage.

This CD is not the most representative of her career but everything heard here is truly enjoyable. The Dove Sono stands out as one of the most beautiful readings of this aria. Speaking of Mozart, they should have included arias from operas like Don Giovanni or Cosi fan Tutte as well. Her Strauss heroines are also not here,pity. Kiri is at her best in Mozart and Strauss. She admits that her voice lacks the power Puccini operas require and that she had to push her voice during stage performances to become audible. Indeed, one has to listen to a spinto soprano like Renata Tebaldi to feel the glory of Puccini in arias like Vissi D'arte or In quelle trine. Not that Kiri doesn't sing these well but they sound more like Mozart than verisimo. Her Violetta is acceptable but even better is her portrait of Amelia (Simon Boccanegra) unfortunately not on this CD. I loved all the modern songs. She proves that opera singers can sing modern music superbly if they want to. Many pop stars could learn a thing or two from opera singers about breathing and sound production!

Although I would have wanted more Mozart and a bit Strauss on this CD, it is nevertheless highly recommendable. Bravo Kiri!

Dame Kiri's voice is truly a gift from God and this album is such a wonderful collection to showcase it! Vissi d'arte is fabulous (I actually prefer her rendition to the one I've heard by Callas) and Ecco: respiro appena is also breathtakingly beautiful. Some trivial negatives regarding the selections from the popular repertoire: I've always thought of Someone to Watch Over Me as sultry and torchy, not lighthearted and bouncey and I thought Tonight was handled with a bit too much lagato for my taste; but World in Union, something also from the popular repertoire, was fabulous and inspiring--so things balanced out just fine.

The bottom line is that her voice is a special gift to us all. Listen and be transported by the sheer beauty of the music.

She looks and sounds so beautiful. The first time I ever heard the inimitable voice of Kiri Te Kanawa was on a recording of Salaambo's aria from CITIZEN KANE for the RCA film classics series on vinyl. It was one of the most haunting and beautiful pieces of music ever composed by Bernard Herrmann. It was Kiri Te Kanawa performance of this piece that was so incredible. I had seen the film several times, but to hear a high fidelity recording of Kiri Te Kanawa on this particular piece really demonstrated not only the raw talent but also a depth of intuitive emotion that she brought to Herrmann's composition. Anyone that could interpret the inner struggle behind Herrmann's music so precisely demonstrated an uncommon ability to become one with the music. Her performance of "Ave Maria" on this CD is referent and exquisite. I love Leonard Bernstein's piece from WEST SIDE STORY that Kiri performs so vibrantly with Jose Carreras. I still can't pronounce her entire name correctly but Kiri Te Kanawa is the epitome of a well-honed talent. The selections on this CD are appreciably diverse demonstrating her phenomenal range and abilities. Kiri Te Kanawa has been and still is a gift to us all. This CD is wonderful.

I purchased this CD based on the favorable reviews already listed, and I wish to thank those reviewers profusely. Several years ago I saw a TV special on the life of Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and had always intended to acquire some of her recordings. This compilation fits the bill very well. Nearly all of the tracks have been previously released on other CDs and I will undoubtedly purchase some of those after hearing this sampler. Kiri is the female equivalent of Pavarotti--an opera singer that has a voice and artistic ability to reach listeners without a background or knowledge in opera. I do not know nor care about how opera "purists" might appraise this CD. The voice just captivates me, for its richness and precision. This is another CD that you play when you have the time to just sit and do nothing but listen to it, concentrate and appreciate.

Awesome singing, great song after great song. This is my first Te Kanawa disc; I love the mix of popular songs and opera. A must-have for sure.

I don't have the money for whole sets of disks of each artist I like, so I love these "best of" albums; this disk is my favorite female singer album, just ahead of Cecilia Bartolli: a Portrait and Anne Sophie von Otter: the Artist's Album (two VERY fine disks); that is saying a lot!

Again, this disk is exceptional. Listen and discover...

What a great voice! In this album Kiri sings from pure classical of Handel, Mozart, and Puccini, to contemporary classic of Leonard Bernstein, plus a few popular numbers. Every bit of musicality in the music, no matter if it is the delicacy of Mozart, or the melodiousness of Puccini, or the epic of Leonard Bernstein, you expect it, she delivers it. The strength and the dynamics of her voice appeal to me so strongly. This is a voice that speaks out for itself. While I found that I enjoy her Puccini the most, I cannot resist her interpretation of the popular songs. She can naturally "delearn" her operatic technique to fit the pop tunes, without losing her own style and quality. This is what real versatility means! As much as I like her singing, I admire her grace as an artist, her poise, her depth and her nobility. What a great artist!

I admit straightout to know nothing of opera - the cd is my first of its kind. Knowledge, however, is not required to enjoy this cd, only the ability to listen and feel.

Hearing her voice used as an instrument so beautifully I cannot but fall a little in love with her whenever listening to it.

The selection of tracks is varied; I probably prefer the classical tracks, but all are well performed in my opinion.