Verdi: Rigoletto; La Traviata; Il Trovatore (Highlights)

Howard Dyson (Performer), Neil Easton (Performer), Peter Glossop (Performer), Giuseppe Verdi (Composer), James Lockhart (Conductor), John Matheson (Conductor), Michael Moores (Conductor), Joan Davies (Performer), Maureen Guy (Performer), Patricia Johnson (Performer), Sadler's Wells Opera Orchestra (Orchestra), Ava June (Performer), Elizabeth Fretwell (Performer), Elizabeth Harwood (Performer), Rita Hunter (Performer), Shirley Chapman (Performer), Charles Craig (Performer), Donald Smith (Performer), John Chorley (Performer), John Wakefield (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Howard Dyson, Neil Easton, Peter Glossop, Joan Davies, Maureen Guy, et al.
• Orchestra: Sadler's Wells Opera Orchestra
• Conductor: James Lockhart, John Matheson, Michael Moores
• Composer: Giuseppe Verdi
• Audio CD (September 2, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Classics for Pleasur
• ASIN: B00009KHY6
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #792,349 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. La Traviata, opera: Prelude

2. La Traviata, opera: Act 1. The glass let us fill (Libiamo, ne' lieti calici) (Brindisi)

3. La Traviata, opera: Act 1. See the early rays of morning (Si ridesta in ciel l'aurora)

4. La Traviata, opera: Act 1. How curious!... Ah, was it he?... What folly!... I'll enjoy the round of pleasure (È strano!

5. La Traviata, opera: Act 2. Scene 1. I care for nothing... I lived a wild, unruly life (Lunge da lei... De' miei bollent

6. La Traviata, opera: Act 2. Scene 1. Pure as an agnel (Pura siccome un angelo)

7. La Traviata, opera: Act 2. Scene 2. On me this wretched woman (Ogni suo aver tal femmina)

8. La Traviata, opera: Act 2. Scene 2. Farewell then, for ever (Addio, del passato)

9. La Traviata, opera: Act 2. Scene 2. Come, oh my dearest (Parigi, o cara)

10. La Traviata, opera: Act 2. Scene 2. Ah, Violetta!

See all 16 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Rigoletto, opera: Act 2. My father!... On every Sunday morning... But one thing remains (Mio padre!... Tutte le feste

2. Rigoletto, opera: Act 3. Wayward as thistledown (La donna è mobile)

3. Rigoletto, opera: Act 3. Why need you be so coy?... I'm your slave, sweet girl (Un dì, se ben rammentomi... Bella fig

4. Rigoletto, opera: Act 3. 'Twas my own fault (V'ho ingannato)

5. Il Trovatore, opera: Act 1. How well do I recall that night (Tacea la notte placida)

6. Il Trovatore, opera: Act 2. See how the shadows of night (Vedi! le fosche notturne spoglìe) (Anvil Chorus)

7. Il Trovatore, opera: Act 2. Fierce flames are raging (Stride la vampa)

8. Il Trovatore, opera: Act 2. All the stars that shine above us (Il balen del suo sorriso)

9. Il Trovatore, opera: Act 2. Oh, life has brought you sorrow (Ah! se l'error t'ingombra)

10. Il Trovatore, opera: Act 3. As from that dread pyre (Di quella pira)

See all 14 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Opera in English: Problematic, April 9, 2011

By 

Grady Harp (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Verdi: Rigoletto; La Traviata; Il Trovatore (Highlights) (Audio CD)

The English National Opera has long performed all operas in English. For many hearing the libretto, usually silly in Italian at best, is even more distracting when the singers attempt to make the story more clear by singing in English translations. For the most part the words remain indistinguishable. But the aspect of ENO we forget is the quality of performances by great artists they have presented.

In this collection of excerpts from 'La Traviata', 'Il Trovatore' and 'Rigoletto' on two CDs, once getting past the English 'libretto', there are some very fine performances. The album is worth the price of purchase for a very surprising 'Rigoletto' - Peter Glossop owns the title role, but it is the aria 'Caro Nome' as sung blissfully by Elizabeth Harwood that is staggeringly beautiful and technically perfect coloratura singing. Her ornamentation is breathtaking and her sensitivity to pianissimos and floating of lines is as fine as any soprano who ever sang this role! Elizabeth Harwood ((27 May 1938 - 21 June 1990) may not be a super-famous opera personality, but her talent was extraordinary. This is a performance of an old warhorse aria for the ages! Grady Harp, April 11