The Ultimate Divas Album

Kiri Te Kanawa (Artist), Cecilia Bartoli (Performer), Marilyn Horne (Performer), Angela Gheorghiu (Performer), Renata Tebaldi (Performer), Montserrat Caballe (Performer), Mirella Freni (Performer), Joan Sutherland (Performer), Leontyne Price (Performer), Renée Fleming (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Cecilia Bartoli, Marilyn Horne, Angela Gheorghiu, Renata Tebaldi, Montserrat Caballe, et al.
• Audio CD (September 15, 1998)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Decca
• ASIN: B00000AFR6
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,298 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #1 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Divas > Von Stade, Frederica
  • #1 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Divas > Battle, Kathleen
  • #1 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Divas > Gheorghiu, Angela

Track Listings

1. La cenerentola (Cinderella), opera: Non più mesta

2. L'italiana in Algeri (The Italian Girl in Algiers), opera: Cruda sorte!

3. La Traviata, opera: Follie! Delirio vano è questo!...Sempre libera

4. La Wally, opera (dramma musicale) in 4 acts: Ebben?...Ne andrò lontana

5. Andrea Chénier, opera: La mamma morta

6. La Gioconda, opera in 4 acts: Suicidio!

7. Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Un bel dì

8. Norma, opera: Casta diva

9. Tosca, opera: Vissi d'arte

10. Otello, opera: Ave Maria

11. Carmen, opera: Habanera (L'amour est un oiseau rebelle)

12. Le nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), opera, K. 492: Dove sono

13. Le nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), opera, K. 492: Voi che sapete

14. Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute), opera, K. 620: Queen of the Night's Revenge Aria

15. Die Entführung aus dem Serail (The Abduction from the Seraglio), opera, K. 384: Durch Zärtlichkeit und Schmeicheln

16. Die Walküre (The Valkyrie), opera, WWV 86b: Du bist der Lenz

17. Tristan und Isolde, opera, WWV 90

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Best of the Best, January 25, 2002

By 

Christopher A. Lanter "music lover" (Mesa, AZ United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Ultimate Divas Album (Audio CD)

I'm sorry I had to give this CD only 4 stars - it really deserves more. I had to subtract a star for the absence of La Divina - Maria Callas - from this disc. If she doesn't qualify as a diva, who does?

That said, this is a FANTASTIC compilation CD. It features all (well, a good sampling) of the great sopranos of past and present. All my favorites are here: Bartoli, Fleming, Battle, Kanawa, and of course, Sumi Jo.

The editors were very careful to include arias which display each soprano's strengths and predilections in repertoire - Bartoli has her bubbly Rossini, Sumi Jo her dazzling coloratura in Mozart, and Renee Fleming, with the most heartrending and beautiful version of Desdemona's "Ave Maria" from Verdi's Otello that I have ever heard. I can't help but catch my breath on the last syllable of "prega" - her tone is that innocent and pure. Kiri Te Kanawa, the consummate Countess, also makes an appearance with a very moving "Dove Sono".

This disc is also teaching me to appreciate the greats of yesteryear like Kirsten Flagstad and Birgit Nilsson - the legendary Wagnerian sopranos.

PLEASE don't listen to the previous reviewer - Kathleen Battle does not "fall flat" on Durch Zärtlichkeit. Only a beautiful soubrette like hers could pull off a challenging aria like that, and she does it marvelously (as usual ;)

BUY THIS CD!

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A gorgeous collection!, March 18, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Ultimate Divas Album (Audio CD)

I heard this CD playing in a music store and immediately bought it. If you are searching for a collection of the finest arias sung by the finest female singers in the world, this is it. My only complaint is that they did not include Maria Callas or Jessye Norman on the recording. If they do not qualify as divas, then who does? All in all, a fabulous album!

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A delightful representation of opera repertoire!, February 16, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Ultimate Divas Album (Audio CD)

The arias on this album are centered around the Classical and Romantic traditions in opera, when beautiful singing was key to expression. The selected performances are among the best and most representative of standard opera repertoire. For newcomers to opera, this album will whet your tastes for more. A more experienced ear will appreciate the collection for its comprehensiveness and the artistry of the performers.