Pavarotti's Opera Made Easy: My Favorite Moments

Sherrill Milnes (Performer), Malcolm King (Performer), Robert Merrill (Performer), Ettore Bastianini (Performer), Giuseppe Verdi (Composer), Leo Delibes (Composer), Georges Bizet (Composer), Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Composer), Richard [Classical] Wagner (Composer), Gaetano Donizetti (Composer), Giacomo Puccini (Composer), Ruggero Leoncavallo (Composer), Richard Bonynge (Conductor), Georg Solti (Conductor), Herbert von Karajan (Conductor), Claudio Abbado (Conductor), Lamberto Gardelli (Conductor), Francesco Molinari-Pradelli (Conductor), Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (Performer), National Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Sherrill Milnes, Malcolm King, Robert Merrill, Ettore Bastianini, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
• Orchestra: National Philharmonic Orchestra
• Conductor: Richard Bonynge, Georg Solti, Herbert von Karajan, Claudio Abbado, Lamberto Gardelli, et al.
• Composer: Giuseppe Verdi, Leo Delibes, Georges Bizet, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Richard [Classical] Wagner, et al.
• Audio CD (August 23, 1994)
• SPARS Code: ADD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Decca
• ASIN: B00000424S
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #316,454 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #46 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Divas > Battle, Kathleen
  • #53 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Divas > Ludwig, Christa
  • #55 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Divas > Sutherland, Joan

Track Listings

1. Il Trovatore, opera: Anvil Chorus

2. Rigoletto, opera: Bella figlia dell'amore

3. Lakmé, opera: Flower Duet

4. Carmen, opera: Toreador Chorus

5. Così fan tutte, opera, K. 588: Soave sia il vento

6. Die Walküre (The Valkyrie), opera, WWV 86b: The Ride of the Valkyries

7. Lucia di Lammermoor, opera: Ah! Verrano a te sull'aure

8. Lucia di Lammermoor, opera: Chi mi frena in tal momento

9. Tosca, opera: Tre sbirri, una carrozza

10. Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Ecco! Son giunte al sommo del pendio

11. Don Carlo, opera: Friendship Duet

12. Nabucco, opera (Nabucodonosor): Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves

13. Un ballo in maschera, opera: È scherzo od è follia

14. Pagliacci, opera: Si puó? Si può?

15. Il Trovatore, opera: Miserere

16. La forza del destino, opera: Solenne in quest'ora

17. Aida, opera: Gloria all'Egitto...Triumphal march...Vieni, o querriero vincice

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Perfect collection for Opera "curious", July 27, 2002

By 

Kurt W.G. Matthies (Colorado, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pavarotti's Opera Made Easy: My Favorite Moments (Audio CD)

It is an unfortunate side effect of modern life that the traditional sources of a classical education are disappearing. Because many classical music radio stations have transformed into yet another commercial outlet of top 40 pap, access to classical music for the general public is generally limited to movies or television in the form of background music. These sources rarely credit their music, so most people are left wondering what is was they heard and enjoyed.

I am known to enjoy classical music and my friends often ask me for listening suggestions.(What is wrong with the public schools? They should be teaching this.) Normally, I shy away from collections like "Adagios" or "The Art of Herbert von Karajan" as they generally show little thought in their organization. I do enjoy and would recommend this disk "Opera Made Easy", which I discovered...one afternoon.

Opera is the most imposing of the classics for the novice. The usual [$$]to [$$]price tag of a double or triple CD can be intimidating when embarking into unknown territory.

This collection contains many favorites from Italian Opera: Donizetti, Mozart, Verdi, and Puccini to name the largest contributors. Many are familiar to even the novice, like the Toreador Chorus from Bizet's Carmen. Some are found in today's television commercials, like Leo Delibes' Flower Duet. There are a couple of show stoppers here: Puccini's Nessun Dorma, performed by a Pavarotti in his prime and Robert Merrill's poignant performance of the Pagliacci Si puo? And who can resist the bubbly quartet Bella filiglia del'Amore from Rigoletto which is sung in style by Pavarotti, Sherill Milnes, Joan Sutherland, and Hugette Tourangeau.

While this collection presents a pleasant introduction of Italian opera to the novice, the opera-aware will also enjoy these stirring performances. A great CD for a Sunday evening dinner with friends and family.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply beautiful, January 7, 2009

By 

IllinoisMom - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pavarotti's Opera Made Easy: My Favorite Moments (Audio CD)

This is one of the best compilations of stirring, exquisite music on the planet. I cannot think of a better opera CD in my collection. Take the time to enjoy Pavarotti (who could be better?) and friends such as Joan Sutherland who sing the standards better than anyone in the world. I have just worn this one out and need a new copy. It's that good.