Customer Reviews

Verdi without Words: Grand Opera for Orchestra

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This disc, containing selections of Verdi's most famous operatic works, is a must buy for fans of Opera that want to "try out their pipes".

What Opera fan hasn't at least sung a few bars of "La Donna e mobile" while in the shower? This 70 minutes of Opera greats from the pen of Verdi under the able direction of the Cincinati Pops orchestra under the baton of Erich Kunzel will make most opera fans dreams come true.

There are no words on any of these numbers - making it a cross between a Karaoke disc and Verdi's greatest hits. It contains some selections from "Aida", "Othello", "Il Trovatore", "La Traviata", "Rigoletto", "Falstaff", and "Nabucco".

My only "complaint" is that the lyrics to the numbers were not included in the liner notes. That would have made this the world's first Opera Karaoke.

Still worth listening to for the majesty of the music behind the words - music that is often overshadowed by the singers. Worth a look for inclusion in any opera fan's classical library.

Verdi is the finest opera has to offer. His tunes in the opera, his ensemble songs, brindisis and arias are unforgettable. The orchestral music is just as delightful and will delight the listener. Listen to the excellent rendition of the Triumphal March from Aida, the Brindisi from La Traviata and the Anvil Chorus from Il Trobadore. Excellent works. Puccini withour words does the same thing. A must have for opera fans and fans of classical or instrumental music of the opera. What more is there left to be said ? Viva Verdi the master of Italian opera. Encore!

I LIKE OPERA WITHOUT THE WORDS AND THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST I HAVE
PURCHASED LATELY (AND I HAVE BOUGHT MANY LATELY). CARMAN WITHOUT
WORDS IS ALSO VERY ENJOYABLE, AS ARE ALL THE "OPERA WITHOUT WORDS" CDS OUT TODAY. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS CD TO ADD TO ANY
COLLECTION OF CLASSICAL MUSIC..

Such beautiful Verdi and tis a shame to have to fiddle with the volume control on every single track (and even within the track). One will be inaudible, the next will blare.

This recording is a delight for fans of classical music. In opera, the singing/words/text is married to the music, but it is the music above all that must create moods and evoke sentiment- whether it is pity, romance, jealousy, rage, pomp, melancholy, heartbreak, ecstasy, passion, mystery, etc. Eric Kunzel and his Pops Orchestra performs a wonderful array of Verdi music scores from his most famous grand operas. This album opens with Aida and there is much to admire here. The Triumphal March is a spectacle-scene which features parades of dancing girls and wild animals as Radames returns victorious. This music is famous for its prominent use of trumpet and chorus. Its orchestral version is equally bombastic. The Anvil Chorus from Il Trovatore is another smash Verdi hit, a chorus piece but on orchestra, it is very catchy as well. Further to these fine works, the album features music from Verdi's Otello and La Traviata. This is a fine intro to opera for those who wish to begin by listening to the orchestral music first.

"Celeste Aida"
1. Cincinnati Pops did not play the recitativo. Something is missing, if you are an opera freak.
2. The second verse does not include "Il tuo bel cielo vorrei ridarti", which will mislead a whistling person.

"La donna e mobile"
In the second verse, the "refrain" (la donna e mobil qual piu mal vento ...) is replayed. This gives a "queer" feeling for a singing person who is used to practicing singing it "the way it should be sung".