Rosa Ponselle Sings Verdi

Verdi (Artist), Ponselle (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 2, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Enterprise
• ASIN: B000050I39
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,529,712 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Aida: Act I: Qui Radames Verra... O Patria Mia

2. La Forza Del Destino: Act II: La Vergine Degli Angeli

3. Il Trovatore: Act IV: D'amor Sull'ali Rosee

4. I Vespri Siciliani: Act V: Merce Dilette Amiche

5. Aida: Act IV: O Terra Addio

6. La Forza Del Destino: Act IV: Pace, Pace, Mio Dio

7. Il Trovatore: Act IV: Mira D'acerbe Lagrime

8. Otello: Act IV: Ave Maria

9. Ernani: Act I: Ernani, Ernani Involami

10. Il Trovatore: Act I: Tacea La Notte Placida

11. Aida: Act I: Ritorna Vincitor

12. Aida: Act III: O Patria Mia

13. Otello: Act IV: Piangea Cantando

14. La Forza Del Destino: Act IV: Pace, Pace, Mio Dio

15. La Forza Del Destino: Act IV. Finale: Io Muoio... Non Imprecare, Umiliati

16. Aida: Act I: Ritorna Vincitor

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good introduction to Rosa Ponselle's singing, March 30, 2007

By 

Steven A. Peterson (Hershey, PA (Born in Kewanee, IL)) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Rosa Ponselle Sings Verdi (Audio CD)

Rosa Ponselle was a major singer at the Metropolitan Opera in the late nineteen teens through the 1930s. The liner notes point out that her debut at the Met was with the legendary Enrico Caruso. She retired when still in good voice in 1937, at about age 40 (she was born in 1897). The notes say: "Ponselle's rich dramatic soprano voice covered the entire range evenly, making of her the 'female Caruso,' one of the greatest voices of the century."

Three cuts surely suggest nice artistry. "D'amor sull'ali rosee," from Verdi's "Il Trovatore," shows her voice off to good effect. Recorded in 1918, when she would have been 21 or so, her rich dramatic soprano is deployed effectively. Indeed, there are several decent trills in this piece. She floats some nice piano higher notes. There is a nice final trill and a soft high note.

Another piece from "Il Trovatore," "Tacea la notte placida," was recorded in 1922. This is nicely and richly sung. Her dramatic soprano voice works well in this piece. She demonstrates smooth transitions from lower to higher register. In the latter portion of this work, she shows nice vocal agility. All in all, well done.

Finally, her version of "Ritorna vincitor," from Verdi's "Aida." Again, her voice does justice to this well known work. She also displays a nice characterization in her singing.

All in all, this represents a really good introduction to the work of Rosa Ponselle. Her dramatic soprano voice ranks very highly among the sopranos of the early part of the 20th century. This CD is recommended for those interested in learning more about the singers of that era.