CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

Symphony #3

CD-Charts > Music > Divas
from: Nonesuch

Release Date May 19, 1992
Electra Nonsuch, a division of Warner Communications, released a CD several years ago of such power, reverence and intensity that it deserves a second look in 2004. The CD, Henryk Górecki's Symphony No. 3 in three parts is consistent in its elegance and somber tone throughout. Composed in 1976 in the small town of Katowice, the Symphony take us through the account of what occurred in another small town outside Katowice, named OSwiecim, better known to the world as Auschwitz. As the name would suggest, the Symphony evokes images of long human suffering, endurance and ultimately salvation from the human condition of a Nazi concentration camp. Nothing cheery here. But there is something uplifting, too; from the moment the first movement begins: ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

Christmastide

CD-Charts > Music > Divas
from: Universal Music Group

Release Date August 18, 2008
Christmastide is heavenly listening!Excellent sound & glorious arrangements.Jesseye Norman was in stupendous voice while making this recording.I listen to it every christmas,and I'm taken away every year by Jesseye's tremendous achievement.Her O Holy Night brings me to tears.She sings with much joy and with much sacred intensity too.Bringing an unigue interpretation to every single track on this album.Christmastide is destined to become a classic,thanks to Ms.Normans supreme contribution she brought to the making of this album.

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

Requiem K626

CD-Charts > Music > Divas
from: London

Release Date March 27, 1992
I love this recording because the soloists really shine and the tempo is always just right.

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

La Boheme Comp (Ital)

CD-Charts > Music > Divas
by: Luciano Pavarotti

Release Date January 01, 1990
I love Pavarotti's voice and for me Freni is a lovely Mimi, but I think the Serafin recording with Tebaldi and Bergonzi is better. Personally I find Karajan completely overblown whenever he conducts Italian opera, listen for example to the Butterfly with Pav and Freni which is totally over the top. Serafin conducts a much more "Italianate" opera (with a clear beat!) without pushing things to exageerration, which is all too easy with Puccini-kitch. His tempi are too broad and deliberate. Listen for example to Che gelida manina in Act 1- where Pav is completely out of time before going up for his high C (other people have written about this aria without noticing that Pav is out of time throughout this passage). But who can blame him when Karajan ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

Opera Arias

CD-Charts > Music > Divas
from: Universal Music Group

Release Date March 17, 2008
Ms Battle has a wondeful voice and a exquesite tecnique, but when she opens her mouth it sounds like she is losing somehitng: the feeling of music.

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

Messiah Comp

CD-Charts > Music > Divas
from: Universal Music Group

Release Date August 18, 2008
I have read all of the reviews on this site, and noticed a great division of opinion on the merits of this performance/recording. People were either extremely moved, or practically repulsed by it. One brings to mind old notices from world premieres of Wagner works to come up with anything on a similar scale. That said, I place myself among the admirers of this historic recording. I have owned it since the mid 80's (on vinyl), and listened to it many times over the years. Neither have I found it wanting in colour and drama or intensity of expression, though I perceive the problem for many listeners is that its projection of these qualities is subtle without much of the "heart-on-the-sleeve" flavor of many other perfectly fine interpretations. The impetus ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

Rigoletto Comp (Ital)

CD-Charts > Music > Divas
from: Universal Music Group

Release Date January 01, 1990
I was never much of an admirer of Sherrill Milnes. I found his singing to be one diminsional. He also had an odd habit of singing very slightly under pitch.

However, there is something about his performance here that simply blows past any objection I might have. It is almost palpably powerful. He doesn't emit what I find to be beautiful sounds. But there is nothing "beautiful" about this distorted character's story.

This also reminds us of why we all went nuts when the young Luciano Pavarotti burst upon the scene. He was surely something!!

I don't know how often Joan Sutherland sang Gilda in the early days of her career, but it was a rarity in her prime decades. As was often the case with Dame Joan, this recording was preceeded by ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 8
Average Rating:

At Carnegie Hall

CD-Charts > Music > Divas
from: Universal Music Group

Release Date March 17, 2008
God made the nightingale, and somewhere down the line, he touched a little girl named Kathleen Battle with what he originally gave to that bird from the beginning of creation. I cannot, for the life of me, believe that a voice could be so beautiful. I hear it, I marvel, but sometimes the sheer incredible beauty of this woman's vocal artistry is mind altering and surreal. Even the nightingale must suffer a moment of jealousy when a Kathy Battle tune is played!(This is bordering on blasphemous I know, and I beg forgiveness!) But Kathy Battle is simply amazing! This CD captures her at her best.
I'm not an opera buff by any means, but I love the human voice and great singing. There is not a bad song in the bunch. Like one reviewer, I too, am not a big fan of the spirituals segment, but ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 9
Average Rating:

Carmina Burana

CD-Charts > Music > Divas
from: Universal Music Group

Release Date August 16, 1995
This is a fantastic recording of carmina burana some parts are so dramatic I sang carmina burana with my school choir (Trevelyan School) it was a wonderful experience so I could not resist buying it on cd.
AN EXCELENT ACHIEVMENT

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

The Beautiful Voice

CD-Charts > Music > Divas
from: Decca

Release Date February 17, 1998
You will love this CD. I heard a friend playing it and knew that I would have to get it some day. It is truly gorgeous.

I am amazed by some of the reviewers who can dare to give this recording fewer than five stars. I know there are some opera perfectionists out there who can be fickle, but this recording is gorgeous. I'm willing to concede that Renee Fleming may not be the greatest opera singer the world has had in the last 100 years, but her voice is what the title says--beautiful. Fleming has worked hard to get where she is today and it shows. Jeffrey Tate seems to do a fine job, and he doesn't get in the way.

Fleming sings each aria with flair, amazing presence, and musical integrity. Each aria showcases her voice, and yet is quite musically inspiring. "Chi ... Read More: