Verdi Arias

et al Dmitri Hvorostovsky (Performer) (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 29, 2002)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Delos Records
• ASIN: B00005YN9V
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #15,732 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #41 in Music > World Music > Europe > Eastern Europe
  • #43 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Arias > General AAS
  • #75 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Historical Periods > Romantic (c.1820-1910)

Editorial Reviews

Audio CD

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb!, October 22, 2002

By 

Rosomax (Boulder, CO United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Verdi Arias (Audio CD)

Being a die-hard Dmitri fan (and a Russian) I was waiting for more Verdi repertoir since "Tchaikovsky & Verdi Arias" -- his debut album. He has since then recorded a complete Don Carlo and La Traviata on Philips label, but the material on this CD was "in the works" for all these years. And rightfully so -- Hvorostovsky's dark baritone voice has gained more depth and his breath control improved even further. So has his characterization ability; his Iago is the devil incarnated, his Rigoletto is multifaceted, and what a great Stankar! In the aforementioned first recital, Dmitri did sing "Il balen del suo sorriso", but here he included "Per me ora fatale" -- a rousing cabaletta where the Count is not at all melancholic. By the way, check out a DVD of "Il Trovatore" from BBC.
The recording quality is quite decent, the only minor disturbance happened at track 9. Overall, I am more impressed with Delos vs. Philips.
Like a previous reviewer, I wish La Forza del Destino would have been represented here. But including rare arias from I Masnadieri made this disc even more a treasure.
In my opinion, any opera fan needs to get this CD. For some it would be a great intro to the art of Hvorostovsky.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dmitri's most dramatic offering, May 23, 2004

By 

Alejandra Vernon "artist & illustrator" (Long Beach, California) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

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This review is from: Verdi Arias (Audio CD)

Dmitri Hvorostovsky's rich, glorious voice is combined with his sense of drama in this recording and captures all the passion and fervor of these magnificent arias.
Verdi made his baritone characters the most complex and interesting of his operas...sometimes evil, sometimes desperate, they would often lose the object of their affections to the tenor, whether it was a love interest like the Conte di Luna (Il Trovatore) or daughter like Rigoletto.

Among my favorite arias is "Alzati ! ...Eri tu", from Un Ballo in Maschera, and Hvorostovsky's interpretation is sublime; other choice selections are "Cortigiani, vil razza dannata" (Rigoletto), and the villainous Iago's "Vanne...credo in un Dio crudel" (Otello). Some of these arias are better known than others, but all are terrific.
Mario Bernardi provides energetic backing with the Philharmonia of Russia, tenor Vsevold Grivnov sings a few lines in "Sogno di Francesco" (I Masnadieri) and bass Alexander Vinogradov is Ferrando in "Tutto e deserto..." (Il Trovatore).
Often thought of as primarily a singer of Russian music, Siberian-born Hvorostovsky is also completely at home with the Italian repertoire, as this fabulous CD proves. Sound is good and total playing time is 68'58.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exiting Verdi Cavaliere, March 23, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Verdi Arias (Audio CD)

Finally long awaited Hvorostovsky's Verdi is out. For everyone's expectation, his artistic quality soared to the highest level. My addiction to Hvorostovsky has gotten only worse. This CD is climbing up the chart fast, competing with "The very best of Maris Callas". Obviously opera audiences anticipated his Verdi roles as much as Hvorostovsky himself.

When he made sensational international debut at the end of 89', he was bonafide Primo Uomo right from the start. He was every opera house's dream but Verdi roles were too heavy for his voice then. He recorded some Verdi arias earlier in his career like Macbeth, Luisa Miller, Don Carlo, Trovatore and Traviata. I was totally mesmerized by him then, and now over 10 years later, his voice has matured and ready for various Verdi's.

With his romantic looks and sounds, it's hard to picture him as Rigoletto or other father figures and villains, but it doesn't matter. I'm overwhelmed by his characterizations, expressive tones and beautiful phrases in Rigoletto, Ballo, Ernani,Trovatore and the rest. It's so exiting to have top notch Verdi Cavaliere again.

Strangely he didn't include Forza's "Urna fatale" in this CD.
I would love to hear his Forza someday. I've attended some of his Verdi opera performances, he was absolutely wonderful in all of them. I loved his Rigoletto in Houston. No one should miss this gifted, brilliant baritone in his prime. I deeply thank Dmitri for giving us tremendous pleasure and his fine work.