Customer Reviews

Operatic Arias

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
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Bjoerling will be remembered as one of the greatest tenors ever and while I prefer his early live stuff (E.G. the live Gioconda and Ballo) I find this compilation to be magnificent. Especially Lensky's aria and Chenier's aria, so beautiful.

Another one of the older RCA releases, but still in print because of the great collection of tracks. Try it.

Yes! I know that's saying a lot. There are and have been some fabulous ones out there - Luciano Pavarotti, Carlo Bergonzi, Nicholai Gedda, Fritz Wunderlicht, and Benimini Gili for example (And so many love Domingo but I'm personally impartial to his voice). But the crystal core and expression of Bjoerling's voice moves me like no other. His high notes absolutely melt you and he takes them so effortlessly. Being a dramatic tenor, his range was incredible. He could reach the highs and then dip way down to the lows with continued vibrato. There is never any strain.

His being Swedish only aggravated the Italians with envy and jealousy when he gained such high popularity in the late 40's and 50's. His diction may not have been very good when he sang in other languages but with a voice like that, WHO CARES?!! Troubled by alcohol, he died prematurely at 49. One of his last recordings was with Fritz Reiner performing Verdi's Requiem with Leontyne Price. If there's one flaw, it's that that aria is missing from this CD - and a must have I might ad. But still, I think any opera buff would recognize his pure tone and talent in these recordings.

There's another fabulous recording of his where he sings a duet with Sherill Milnes from the Pearl Fishers that is also worth owning. I will always love to hear him sing and it's his voice I hear in my head when I think of an aria. He truly had a gift.

Excellent service, prompt delivery, excellent conditon
as described, packaged well.
Would use again.