Plácido Domingo - Verdi ~ The Tenor Arias [Box set]

Giuseppe Verdi (Composer), Arturo Tamayo (Conductor), Carlo Maria Giulini (Conductor), Carlos Kleiber (Conductor), Claudio Abbado (Conductor), Daniel Barenboim (Conductor), Eugene Kohn (Conductor), Georg Solti (Conductor), Giuseppe Sinopoli (Conductor), Plácido Domingo (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Plácido Domingo
• Conductor: Arturo Tamayo, Carlo Maria Giulini, Carlos Kleiber, Claudio Abbado, Daniel Barenboim, et al.
• Composer: Giuseppe Verdi
• Audio CD (October 9, 2001)
• SPARS Code: ADD
• Number of Discs: 4
• Format: Box set
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: Deutsche Grammophon
• ASIN: B00005OC0F
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #121,013 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

There is only one word for this four-CD set: glorious. Released to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Verdi's death, it presents arias from every one of his 28 operas, a comprehensive overview of his work. It is also a tribute to Placido Domingo, one of his foremost present-day interpreters. An extraordinarily versatile artist, Domingo is heard in selections from his signature roles, like Otello, Radames, and Don Carlo, taken from recordings made between the 1960s and the '90s. He's also heard in new recordings of arias from the earliest, unfamiliar operas he has not performed on stage, and alternate arias Verdi wrote for different versions of his operas. Thus, he sings I Lombardi in Italian, Jérusalem in French, and Don Carlo and I Vespri Siciliani in Italian and French.

There are also extended scenes with illustrious colleagues, including Leontyne Price, Katia Ricciarelli, Nicolai Ghiaurov, and Sergei Leiferkus, whose Iago is an exquisitely insidious villain. He is accompanied by the greatest orchestras and conductors. For the new recordings, his partners are Myung-Whun Chung and Valery Gergiev, whose Mariinsky Theater musicians contribute some beautiful string solos. The matchless beauty of Domingo's voice seems untouched by the years, and he can change and vary it to suit the musical and dramatic requirements. His top notes never lose their clarion ring, yet the final B-flat of "Celeste Aida" tapers off, as Verdi demands. Even more remarkable, he can create real characters. Even without the texts, the mood, emotion, and meaning always come through. In this incomparable treasure trove, all opera lovers will find their own favorites, and many new gems besides, all performed to utter perfection. --Edith Eisler

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Required Collection if you love Verdi!, October 18, 2001

By 

operamaryc "operamarty" (DIAMOND BAR, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Plácido Domingo - Verdi ~ The Tenor Arias (Audio CD)

This is a truly wonderful collection by one of the best Verdi tenors ever! I thought the recordings rich and again, struck by Domingo's consistent performance standard. Some of the high notes in the later recordings aren't as easy as the earlier ones but who cares the timbre is so wonderful! The only detraction is in the packaging: Discs seem to be assembled backwards and the individual cd photos often cut off the top of his head which I though was pretty bad photography anyway. However, the libretto and bio book with interesting photos were a very welcome inclusion. This is definitely worth the price! Highly recommended to any Domingo fan or opera lover! Truly memorable performances on all and reminds you of how great his Otello has been as well as many of his other roles. How many international singing stars have a heritage this rich spanning over 30 years!

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Greatest Verdi Tenor of our time, January 25, 2002

By 

Matthew Coffey (Front Royal, VA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Plácido Domingo - Verdi ~ The Tenor Arias (Audio CD)

There are two words to describe this performance: The Greatest. Placido Domingo, at age 60, sounds glorious in the newly recorded material. His ringing b naturals and gutsy high c's are just what the listener is looking for. The french aria from Les Vespri Siciliana is outstanding, contrasting his fortes and pianos, with a most wonderful top b flat to end with. Placido Domingo has recently transposed many live performances, but in this set, he proves that he still can sing like a real Tenor. Any Opera fan should buy this set so that they can listen to the greatest Opera tenor in the world. Ramon Vargas is also very good, but he does not have the power that Domingo demonstrates. One should buy both these cd's. VIVA DOMINGO!!!

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing "young" Domingo of 60 on Verdi!, October 13, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Plácido Domingo - Verdi ~ The Tenor Arias (Audio CD)

What a wonderful challenge for Placido Domingo in the maturity of his age and career to do all those "early" Verdi's arias, with such power, passion,energy, and also this style of "Bel Canto" which is his way to sing so beautifully some melodic lines..I was almost exhausted by myself when I had finished to listen to all the four discs ( here, in Belgium, I was able to purchase the 4CDs Box on Thursday September 27, so you understand why I'm able to review it very deeply because of the long hours to listen to them again and again...since more than two weeks... when it is available for you, only since October 9th !)
He shows a fresh sound like few young tenors could have for so many different pieces, and I was so excited to hear so much "new" Verdi for my ears, with such glorious heroic tone and presence of emotion.
I was specially surprised for the last CD which is completely for new material during 70 minutes, and suddently, the last aria is the "Ingemisco" of the Requiem...from 1970 (with Bernstein) and he sounds just like it was recorded on the same session with the "new" material...so, we can really say that it is a very successful Placido Domingo's achievement, and he could be proud of himself to have now this unbelievable set for all his lovers, all the Verdi's lovers...and, let's say, all the music's lovers.