Essential Opera 2

Georges Bizet (Composer), Francesco Cilea (Composer), Leo Delibes (Composer), Charles Gounod (Composer), Ruggero Leoncavallo (Composer), Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Composer), Giacomo Puccini (Composer), Gioachino Rossini (Composer), Giuseppe Verdi (Composer), Richard [Classical] Wagner (Composer), Charles Dutoit (Conductor), Georg Solti (Conductor), Giuseppe Patanè (Conductor), Herbert von Karajan (Conductor), Istvan Kertesz (Conductor), John Alldis (Conductor), Richard Bonynge (Conductor), Zubin Mehta (Conductor), Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (Performer), Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra)

Product Details

• Performer: Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
• Orchestra: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
• Conductor: Charles Dutoit, Georg Solti, Giuseppe Patanè, Herbert von Karajan, Istvan Kertesz, et al.
• Composer: Georges Bizet, Francesco Cilea, Leo Delibes, Charles Gounod, Ruggero Leoncavallo, et al.
• Audio CD (February 15, 1994)
• SPARS Code: ADD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Decca
• ASIN: B000004232
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #236,958 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  #19 in	Music > Opera & Vocal > Divas > Troyanos, Tatiana
  #36 in	Music > Opera & Vocal > Divas > Bartoli, Cecilia
  #43 in	Music > Opera & Vocal > Featured Performers, A-Z > A to B > Bartoli, Cecilia

Track Listings

1. Die Walküre (The Valkyrie), opera, WWV 86b: The Ride of the Valkyries

2. Carmen, opera: Habanera: L'amour est un oiseau rebelle

3. Le nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), opera, K. 492: Non più andrai

4. Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Humming Chorus

5. La Traviata, opera: Un dì felice

6. Turandot, opera: Signore, ascolta!

7. Così fan tutte, opera, K. 588: Soave sia il vento

8. Pagliacci, opera: Recitar!...Vesti la giubba

9. Il barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville), opera: Io sono docile

10. Les Pêcheurs de perles, opera in 3 acts: C'est toi...Au fond du temple saint

11. Don Giovanni, opera, K. 527: Là ci darem la mano

12. L'Arlesiana, opera: Lamento di federico

13. Lakmé, opera: Dôme épais le jasmin

14. Rigoletto, opera: La donna è mobile

15. Le nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), opera, K. 492: Dove sono

16. Tosca, opera: E lucevan le stelle

17. La bohème, opera: Sì, Mi chiamano mimì

18. La bohème, opera: O soave fanciulla

19. Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute), opera, K. 620: Der Vogelfänger bin ich ja

20. Faust, opera: Soldiers' chorus

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This valuable introduction to opera will have novices riding with the Valkyries and being enticed by Cecilia Bartoli's Rosina, Mirella Freni's Mimi, and Placido Domingo's Cavaradossi. These selections provide a strong cross-section of musical and dramatic styles, including Mozart, Bizet, Puccini, and Verdi to name a few. Plenty of Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti, and Dame Joan Sutherland will titillate the ears of the untrained, who will also melt from their introductory renditions of the Butterfly Chorus and the Pearl Fishers duet. Most performances are easy on the ears and will leave you craving complete versions of the good stuff. --Barbara Eisner Bayer

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A few words..., February 25, 2000

By	Lina (Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates) - See all my reviews

This CD is quite simply one of my favourites and has been for the last three years. The collection is as timeless as the voices of the contributing artists. I have traveled between North America, Europe and the Middle East with only this CD and a good book for company. One of my favourite memories of travelling is watching the sunrise in Amsterdam while listening to Pavarotti and Cecilia Bartoli. I have several of the songs on this CD in other collections but my favourite versions of: La ci darem la mano, Soave sia il vento, La donna e mobile and Non piu andrai are the ones included in this CD.

I would recommended this collection to anyone who loves opera.

4.0 out of 5 stars Great compilation but the title's a misnomer., July 14, 2006

By	ronaldbrian (Quezon City, Philippines) - See all my reviews

This is a better compilation than Essential Opera 1, which itself is a very good collection for opera lovers and opera beginners alike. That said, I however can't agree that this is "essential" opera. Where is Maria Callas in the line-up? Absent Maria, any opera collection that deems itself "essential" deludes itself. Callas is as indispensable to opera as, say, Picasso is to cubism. She is essential to great opera.

I'd give this disc five stars if not for Callas' omission, a grave mistake. In any case, Tatiana Troyano's Habanera, Cecilia Bartoli's "Una Voce Poco fa," Krause, Popp, and Fassbaender's "Saove sia il vento," and Sutherland and Berbie's Lakme duet make this compilation wonderful, exciting, and highly commendable.