Canteloube: Songs of the Auvergne; Rachmaninov: Songs Op34

Joseph Marie Canteloube (Composer), Sergey Rachmaninov (Composer), Heitor Villa-Lobos (Composer), Leopold Stokowski (Conductor), American Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra), Anna Moffo (Performer)

Product Details

• Performer: Anna Moffo
• Orchestra: American Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: Leopold Stokowski
• Composer: Joseph Marie Canteloube, Sergey Rachmaninov, Heitor Villa-Lobos
• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• SPARS Code: ADD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: RCA
• ASIN: B000003ERS
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #31,189 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #9 in	Music > Classical > Featured Composers, A-Z > ( C ) > Canteloube, Joseph
  #24 in	Music > Classical > Featured Composers, A-Z > ( V ) > Villa-Lobos, Heitor
  #24 in	Music > Classical > Historical Periods > Modern, 20th, & 21st Century > Composers > Villa-Lobos, Heitor

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Anna Moffo at her incomparable best, October 9, 2001

By	D. MCGOVERN "Derek McGovern" (New Zealand) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

What an extraordinary album. There have been many recordings of Canteloube's Songs of the Auvergne, but none, in my opinion, come remotely close to capturing Anna Moffo's creamily seductive interpretations. Moffo in her prime had everything one could wish for in a lyric soprano - warmth, power, thrilling high notes and a sense of phrasing that was bewitching. Forget Von Stade, or the strains of Kiri Te Kanawa, when Moffo sings she really means every word. Start off with her sensuous Bailero, and you'll never look back.

The Rachmaninov Vocalise and Bachianas Brasilieras No 5 are equally compelling, and Moffo is ably supported by Stokowski in top form. My only regret is that a "blip" has appeared near the end of the Vocalise (which was not there on the original LP), thus giving the misleading impression that the ending was a retake.

This is my desert island soprano album. Now if BMG could just be persuaded to release her sublime One Night of Love album from the early 1960s, then I'll be packing that one as well...

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the one!, February 16, 2000

By	Michael Newberry (Santa Monica) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

There are some pieces of music that I love the composer's concept, but cannot for the life of me find the right recording! Dvorak's Symphony No.9 comes to mind, Rachmaninov's Concerto No.2 is another, and up until I found this recording, Songs of the Auvergne. Wow! Stokowski and Moffo breeze through these pieces like romp through a sparkling lit countryside filled with dewy leaves, a babbling brook, and wafting scents. Her voice is rich, pure, and playful. And Stokowski sets and changes the mood for each piece. My chief complaint for the Te Kanawa and von Stade versions is that all the songs have identical moods. Also included in the Moffo set are the ravishing beautiful Villa-Lobos' Bachianas Brasileiras No.5 and Rachmaninov's Vocalise, wait until you hear that!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very impressive, March 15, 1999

By A Customer

Because of Anna Moffo's unfortunate vocal crisis in the late 1960's, people tend to forget that she possessed one of the most achingly beautiful voices in the history of recording. This was made at the peak of her career, when her voice was mature but showed no signs of deteriorating. Rachmaninov's "Vocalise" has never been performed better and it's doubtful that it ever will be.