Customer Reviews

Opera Arias

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is an interesting collection of pieces sung by Horne in the early stages of her career. It is interesting to hear her "soprano" voice ( which she is said to have used for the first 10 years of her career, but seldom heard on records ), and to really see how secure it was. In her autobiography she says the high C was always hers, but if one listens to this recording carefully one often hears high notes that are high screeches more than sung notes. They are not actually horrible to listen to, but they don't phonate as they should. In the first piece by Bach, one actually senses a mezzo singing with a very elevated vocal center that is not totally natural to the voice. Nothing is unpleasing on the disk, though the sound is at times "overly resonant", almost artificial ( this is a recording problem, or a transfer to disk problem, maybe?).

As one goes through the disk, one starts to hear the "glory of Marilyn Horne" as we are familiar with it. She sings Rossini, and it is amazing that some of her embellishments don't really change with time or with age.

The real drawback with this disk is there is no translation of the text to go with it, and only a very short biography of Horne. Little or no explanation is given for a piece, and if you need words to follow the music, or some sort of story outline, it just isn't to be found.

It is worth the money, and will give many hours of enjoyment just the same.