Puccini - Madama Butterfly / Freni, Pavarotti, Ludwig, Wiener Phil., Karajan

Giacomo Puccini (Artist), Herbert von Karajan (Artist), Mirella Freni (Artist), Luciano Pavarotti (Artist), Wiener Philharmoniker (Artist), Christa Ludwig (Artist), Robert Kerns (Artist), Michel Sénéchal (Artist), Marius Rintzler (Artist), Giorgio Stendoro (Artist), Chor der Wiener Philharmoniker (Artist)

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• SPARS Code: ADD
• Number of Discs: 3
• Label: Decca
• ASIN: B0000041S8
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #22,565 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  #3 in	Music > Opera & Vocal > Divas > Ludwig, Christa
  #6 in	Music > Opera & Vocal > Divas > Freni, Mirella
  #52 in	Music > Classical > Featured Performers, A-Z > ( V ) > Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording
Since Madama Butterfly has more stage time than other sopranos, it is imperative that the singing actress captures extensive dramatic variety in addition to singing with exquisite tone and an affinity to Puccini. Mirella Freni, one of the greatest recorded Butterfly's of all time, succeeds at these demands with vocal sensitivity and eloquence. She is assisted by Karajan's superb, symphonic conducting, crisply and poignantly realizing all of Puccini's vast moods; Ludwig's urgent, loving and tenderly sung Suzuki; and Pavarotti's endearing and almost likeable Pinkerton. In addition, the Pavarotti-Freni duets are nectars of the gods. Get out the tissues and indulge. --Barbara Eisner Bayer

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply fabulous, July 8, 1999

By A Customer

As other listeners have noted, this is an opera that stands or falls on its heroine. With this in mind, Karajan's recording must be ranked among the best. Pavarotti's Pinkerton, recorded during his prime, is fresh and youthful, and Christa Ludwig's Suzuki brings a lieder-singer's attention to the text (although Teresa Berganza on the Sinopoli recording outdoes her). But the reason for hearing this set is the magnificently sung Butterfly of Mirella Freni. While she may not have the sharpness or intensity of Renata Scotto, this is, bar none, the best-sung Butterfly on records. Butterfly's Entrance will never be better done than it is here (that high D-flat at the end is a little slice of paradise), and there are other moments that make the heart stand still. The recorded sound is ravishing, and Karajan conducts with soul and passion. Don't hesitate about the extra cost of this set -- it would still be a bargain at twice the price.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A STUDY IN DETAIL, May 14, 1999

By	Shawn Chua (Singapore) - See all my reviews

The success of Madama Butterfly rests on the shouders of the soprano, more so than any other opera. While a well-sung Pinkerton, Suzuki or Sharpless are appreciated, it is the title role that people think of first. In this aspect, Mirella Freni has excelled. Her performance of Cio Cio San is almost legendary and this recording is a summation of her understanding and interpretation of the role and character. From the passion and love in the duet with Pinkerton to the wrath and despair of the finale, Freni shows us how plaiable her voice can be. Light and dreamy for one, and heavy and dramatic for another. Her "Dormi amor mio" sends chills down spines with its paralysing beauty. Pavarotti sings with ardent brilliance and splendour. His tone as always bright and ringing creates a Pinkerton that does not seem at at that heartless. Ludwig's sensitively potrayed Suzuki complete with the "voice" lend to the work an asset. Karajan, more so than for his recording with Callas, takes a leisurely and unhurried stroll down the trial and tribulations of Cio Cio San, giving a most beautifully performed Butterfly. One point to note however, is that the CD is on three discs and thereby, is dearer. However with such a recording, the extra disc is worth every cent.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best recorded Butterfly, November 12, 2005

By	Daniel G. Madigan (Redmond, WA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Although Renata Scotto is definitive in this role, this would apply to the stage only. On disc Scotto never came across as well as she should have. Scotto recorded Butterfly twice and they are excellent registrations, esp. the Barbirolli for EMI. But somehow it doesn't fill the soul. Mirella Freni recorded this in 1974 and never sang it on stage, but did record it twice, the second time with Sinopoli, a waste of her time.
This set gets her at her most dramatic and most vocally developed shape.Hear for the first time for her nuances in her recitatives, her limpid codas, her ravishing high notes(the entrace final note..noone does it like this, noone in the entire hiostroy of Butterflys) are all graced with that training she had coupled here with a sublime artistry. There is no comparison on disc to anyone else. Others are excellent, yes, but not like this. I think this is her zenith as a singer, and there are other recordings she did, but nothing on this cale, except Don Carlo and Boheme. But note especially here her entrance ,and later, her Che tua madre, later again, her bianca, bianca and then her flower duet, and her finale..not to mention, going back, the ending of Un bel di..finally a soprano who can hold that note with ease, style, and power. This Butterfly of Freni makes you wonder if this could be the greatest singer of that day..she was not, but this is definitive.

Christa Ludwig is superb--all the expressions are there, note especially the Act II opening prayers, and the languorous sighs at the predicament of poverty and desertion. Also, note the beginning of Un bel di....the piangendo of Ludwig, and Freni's blend into it..Von Karajan has never done so much with a score so worked over and rushed to death.

Pavarotti is excellent, and vulagr as he should be..he has an indiffrence to things Pinkerton should have, and his voice rings out, like a brash America, note the opening arias for this, and then, suddenly, at the end of the opera, you get such imapssioned singing, that somehow makes him utterly pathetic.

The conducting is slow, and that is Von Karajan, but you have not heard a slower Butterfly than the second one with Sinopoli and Freni again, with a much worn out Jose Carreras. It takes time to build to the climaxes of Butterfly, and Von Karajan does with brillance, as in his Turandot with the lovely Ricciarelli. Listen to Butterfly's entrance, the strings, also the Morta, and the piuttosto la mia vita vo' troncar at the close of Che tua madre..Freni is ON, and Von Karajan knows it..she's reached the top and he lets her enjoy all of it, and for us, enjoy and weep.

Buy this quickly. The boxed version w/ libretto is going soon..already the reduced in size version is out, same price, and no libretto, no jewel case..ugly.