The Puccini Experience ~ Gheorghiu, Rautino, Botha, Michaels-Moore, ROH Covent Garden, Downes

Giacomo Puccini (Artist), Sir Edward Downes (Artist), Angela Gheorghiu (Artist), Johan Botha (Artist), Nina Rautino (Artist), Francis Egerton (Artist), Anthony Michaels-Moore (Artist), Michael Druiett (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 7, 1995)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: RCA
• ASIN: B0000024FD
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #267,200 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #13 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Divas > Gheorghiu, Angela

Track Listings

1. Le Ville, Act I: Se come voi piccina io fossi

2. Edgar, Act III: Addio mio dolce amor

3. Manon Lescaut, Act I: Donna non vidi mai

4. Manon Lescaut, Act IV: Sola, perduta, abbandonata

5. La Boheme, Act III: Donde lieta usci

6. Tosca: Act I Finale: Un tal baccano in chiesa

7. Tosca: Act I Finale: Or tutto e chiaro

8. Tosca: Act I Finale: Tre sbirri, una carrozza

9. Tosca, Act III: E lucevan le stelle

10. Madama Butterfly, Act II: Un bel di verdremo

11. La Fanciulla del West, Act III: Ch'ella mi creda

12. La Rondine, Act I: Chi il bel sogno di Doretta

13. Il Tabarro: Nulla, silenzio

14. Sour Angelica: Senza mamma

15. Gianni Schicchi: O mio babbino caro

16. Turandot: Act I Finale: Signore, ascolta

17. Turandot: Act I Finale: Non piangere, Liu

18. Turandot, Act III: Nessun dorma

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Ravishing Artists, Glorious Music--Dragging Tempo, March 14, 2000

By 

Aurora Vronsky (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Puccini Experience ~ Gheorghiu, Rautino, Botha, Michaels-Moore, ROH Covent Garden, Downes (Audio CD)

This album from the Royal Opera House features top-knotch performers performing popular as well as rarely performed Puccini masterpieces. The contrast of the singers' voices is indeed interesting. From the first class lyric soprano of Angela Gheorghiu, to the full dramatic soprano,Nina Rautio. The male artists tenor, Johan Botha and baritone Anthony Michaels Moore also rise to occasion in this unique recital. The one fault with this recording,(O mio babbino caro being the most odvious example)is the overall tempo of the pieces. They are much too slow! At times the passion of Puccini is lost and the arias drag. This is a good CD to own for advid Puccini lovers who already own an array of recordings by this prolific composer and would like to experience new interpretations. However, it is not recommended for newcomers for whom it is crucial to hear this brilliant opera giant at his most dramatic.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Slow, schmo...", May 20, 2011

By 

John Quigley "book maniac" (Bucks, Co. Pa. USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Puccini Experience ~ Gheorghiu, Rautino, Botha, Michaels-Moore, ROH Covent Garden, Downes (Audio CD)

OK, so the tempi are slightly retarded, but how about these incredible voices !
My real discovery was/is Nina Rautio...WOW ! A visceral & heart grabbing sound.
And all this for a PENNY (+ S&H, of course). I must be dreaming. *JTQ

3.0 out of 5 stars Some good moments but too slow, January 19, 2010

By 

Anton Karidian (Tennessee) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Puccini Experience ~ Gheorghiu, Rautino, Botha, Michaels-Moore, ROH Covent Garden, Downes (Audio CD)

I am a big Puccini fan, so I almost always enjoy performances of his works, either on audio or video. However, I've played THE PUCCINI EXPERIENCE at least half a dozen times now and I ALWAYS find it boring, which is disconcerting to me since I LOVE Puccini!! I've decided that the main problem is the tempo, which is just sooooo slow that the whole album becomes very lethargic. Adding to this problem are the opera excerpts chosen for the recording, which are mostly slow and less melodic pieces. Also, I am quite a fan of Angela Gheorghiu, and I enjoy her performances here, but if you're looking for recordings of Gheorghiu take note that she divides the soprano selections with Nina Rautio, who also does an admirable job. The tenors on this CD, Johan Botha and Francis Egerton, are decent but don't do a lot for me. However, there is little point in discussing the overall merits of this recording, since the slow tempo problem negates all else! I'm going to trade it in, which I almost NEVER do with a classical music CD.