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Puccini - Madama Butterfly / Freni, Pavarotti, Ludwig, Wiener Phil., Karajan
 
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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)
4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (36 customer reviews) More about this product

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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)

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

    #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

Listen to Samples

To hear a song sample, click on "Listen" by that sample. Visit our audio help page for more information.
Disc: 1
1. Act 1.: "... E soffitto e pareti..."
2. Act 1.: "Sorride Vostro Onore?"
3. Act 1.: "Dovunque al mondo"
4. Act 1.: "America for ever"
5. Act 1.: "Ler l'altro il Consolato"
6. Act 1.: "Ecco. Son giunte al sommo del pendio"
See all 16 tracks on this disc
Disc: 2
1. Act 2.: "E lzaghi ed Izanami"
2. Act 2.: "Un bel dì vedremo"
3. Act 2.: "C'è. Entrate"
4. Act 2.: "Si sa che aprir la porta"
5. Act 2.: "Udiste?"
6. Act 2.: "Ora a noi. Sedete qui"
See all 13 tracks on this disc
Disc: 3
1. Act 2.: Intermezzo
2. Act 2.: (fischi d'uccelli dal giardino)
3. Act 2.: "Già il sole!"
4. Act 2.: "Chi sia?"
5. Act 2.: "Io so che alle sue pene"
6. Act 2.: "Non ve l'avevo detto?"
See all 11 tracks on this disc


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

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Customer Reviews

36 Reviews
5 star:
 (21)
4 star:
 (6)
3 star:
 (7)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:
 (2)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.2 out of 5 stars (36 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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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.
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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.
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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.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Magical
This is one of the great recordings of all time, and it is hard to find any real points to criticize here. Read more
Published 5 months ago by G.D.

4.0 out of 5 stars Freni will break your heart
While this is not my favorite Butterfly (Leinsdorf/Moffo), it is certainly one of the best ever recorded. Read more
Published on May 1, 2007 by Irene Adler

5.0 out of 5 stars An incomparable Butterfly, the best in modern sound
Since its release in 1974, critics have bowed down before an incomparable Madame Butterfly that matched up Karajan, Freni, and Pavarotti at their veyr best. Read more
Published on July 22, 2006 by Santa Fe listener

5.0 out of 5 stars Mirella Freni's First Butterfly: For Fans Only
This late 60's recording is conducted by Herbert Von Karajan and performed by the Vienna Phil, starring Mirella Freni in her first Butterfly on record, Luciano Pavarotti and... Read more
Published on November 12, 2005 by Rudy Avila

4.0 out of 5 stars Not as good as expected
I always had in my mind that this Freni/Pavarotti/Karajan Butterfly was something really good but I was dissapointed. Read more
Published on June 25, 2005 by Javieruli

3.0 out of 5 stars Sad Performance
With such a wonderful cast and a great conductor, who would have thought that this Butterfly would lack the luster of other great performances of this ever so popular opera... Read more
Published on January 14, 2005 by Christian Ocier

3.0 out of 5 stars Not the best Butterfly
Forget about this. It is too slowly paced, and lacks the dynamics that Puccini intended with this opera. Read more
Published on December 8, 2004 by Puccini addict

4.0 out of 5 stars Meraviglioso suono, grandi cantanti
Forse non pucciniano al 100%, ma il suono è meraviglioso, la direzione sicura e le voci sono grandi voci. Che volete di più?
Published on September 8, 2004 by Kanep

5.0 out of 5 stars Heart-aching and very human
We all have our preferences (I intend to get the rare recording featuring Anna Moffo as well) and we may not be particularly moved by something being described as the best... Read more
Published on June 4, 2004 by S Duncan

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful
I remember when this recording was first released very much looking forward to it and then being a bit disappointed by it. Not by Freni, of course. Read more
Published on March 4, 2004 by Good Stuff

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