CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

The #1 Opera Album

by: Giacomo Puccini, Giuseppe Verdi, Léo Delibes, Georges Bizet, Umberto Giordano, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Richard Wagner, Gioachino Rossini, Alfredo Catalani, Jacques Offenbach, Ruggiero Leoncavallo, Charles Gounod, Gaetano Donizetti, Pietro Mascagni, Antonin Dvorak, Richard Bonynge, Herbert von Karajan, Alberto Erede, Lamberto Gardelli, Giuseppe Patane, John Mauceri, Zubin Mehta, Charles Dutoit, Gyorgy Fischer, Riccardo Chailly, Istvan Kertesz, Leone Magiera, Evelino Pido, Gianandrea Gavazzeni, Renée Fleming, Cecilia Bartoli, Luciano Pavarotti, Jussi Bjorling, Renata Tebaldi

Release Date February 27, 2001
I'm new to opera, but this CD has really beautiful music. I use it in my CD clock radio (Timex, that I purchased here also) to go to sleep to.

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

Pavarotti's Opera Made Easy-My Favourite Opera For Children

from: Decca

Release Date August 23, 1994
This is an excellent CD to introduce children to some of the more familiar operas. I would highly recommend this CD for children and also for adults who want to become familiar with opera.

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

The Best Opera Album in the World...Ever!

from: Angel Records

Release Date July 27, 1999
This is a great product if the individual enjoys and appreciates classical music and especially the opera.

CD-Charts Position 4
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Great Recordings Of The Century - Strauss, R.: Salome / Karajan, Behrens, Van Dam, Baltsa, et al

by: Herbert von Karajan, Hildegard Behrens, Jose Van Dam, Agnes Baltsa, Karl-Walter Bohm, Wieslaw Ochman

Release Date September 21, 1999
This recording of Salome, made before the Salzburg Festival's assumption of the opera on the stage for their 1978 season, is perhaps the best recording of the masterpiece ever recorded. Herbert von Karajan isthe best Strauss conductor the world has or ever will see, as this recording and his Elektra, Ariadne, Frau Ohne Schatten, and Rosenkavalier has shown us. His complex understanding of Strauss' musical language and his innate sense of his rich, polyphonic lyricism has allowed his conducting of Strauss' music-dramas to bloom in such a way without the intruding loudness and excess energy that afflicts too any other conductors' perceptions of the pieces. No other recording has featured the waltz-like rhythms of Strauss' composition so effectively as Karajan's ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

Verdi - Simon Boccanegra / Freni, Cappuccilli, Carreras, Ghiaurov, van Dam, Foiani, Teatro alla Scala, Abbado

by: Giuseppe Verdi, Claudio Abbado, Mirella Freni, José Carreras, Orchestra e Coro del Teatro alla Scala, Piero Cappuccilli, Nicolai Ghiaurov, José van Dam, Giovanni Foiani, Maria Fausta Gallamini

Release Date January 27, 1998
As usual, Claudio Abbado brings to life opera (particularly Verdi): DG version of Simon Boccanegra is truly among the best achievements in opera recordings, with its central Grand Council scene shining like a crown daimond of a great composer and a great conductor.
It is, truly, a must.

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

Puccini - Il Trittico / Alagna, Gheorghiu, Guelfi, Guleghina, Gallardo-Domás, Manca di Nissa, Palmer, Shicoff, van Dam, LSO, PO, Pappano

by: Giacomo Puccini, Antonio Pappano, Roberto Alagna, Angela Gheorghiu, Bernadette Manca di Nissa, Felicity Palmer, José van Dam, Carlo Guelfi, Maria Guleghina, Cristina Gallardo-Domas, Neil Shicoff, Francesca Pedaci, Patrizia Ciofi, Roberto Scaltriti, Dorothea Röschmann, Sara Fulgoni, Philharmonia Orchestra

Release Date April 06, 1999
I heard excerpts from this recording on a transatlantic flight and had to have the whole thing. I am a great fan of Gheorghiu, and she is in top form on this recording. Why aren't these three one act operas performed more often? That is the question that this recording leaves with you.

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

Karajan 100th - Volume 2, Opera and Vocals

from: EMI Classics

Release Date April 15, 2008
This really is an extraordinary bargain. When you look at the merits of these recordings it is also an extraordinary achievement. The standard and inspiration maintained across 23 complete opera recordings is phenomenal. Many of these recordings are constantly referred to by experts, collectors and performers as contenders for best recordings, as classics or incredible artistic achievments (Rosenkavalier, Ariadne, Butterfly, Callas Trovatore, the first Meistersinger, Falstaff). Others may be slightly less worshipped but are considered excellent recordings ( the best, or close to by many including the Penguin guide)and are liked for their indiviual approach or interesting choice of singers (Aida, Don Carlo, Tristan, Figaro, Flute, Pelleas, Salome, Fledermaus, Hansel und Gretel etc).
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CD-Charts Position 8
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Delibes - Lakmé / Dessay, Kunde, van Dam, Petibon, Haidan, Konsek, Leguérinel, Plasson

from: EMI Classics

Release Date October 20, 1998
Natalie Dessay's crystal clear coloratura is what brings this set to absolute life. One only needs to hear the beginning of the "Air des clochettes" to know that his has to be one of the greatest artists of our time. The subtlety and clarity in her voice is astonishing. Having heard the Sutherland version, I can say with utmost confidence that this set...kicks the Sutherland one in the pants (and I'm a big Sutherland fan).

The rest of the cast is just as impressive. Gregory Kunde soars to the rafters as Gerald, and Jose van Dam makes a dark and imposing Nilakantha.

The only problem that I could have with this set is the libretto. It was just a little sloppy. Reading the English side, there were several grammatical errors (verb tense and so forth). It was as if the ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 9
Average Rating:

100 Best Opera Classics

from: Angel Records

Release Date August 29, 2006
What can one say but "Bravo!" to EMI's 6-CD box set "100 BEST OPERA CLASSICS." The title says it all.

This is the perfect collection for both the committed opera follower or the mildly interested or newbie. Or for anyone who wants to know what the fuss over opera is all about. This music is guaranteed to tell you -- to delight and inform at the same time.

All the major classics are here --"Voi che sapete" from Mozart's FIGARO, "Un bel di vedremo" from Puccini's MADAMA BUTTERFLY, "Vesti la giubba" from Leoncavallo's PAGLIACCI ... and that is listing only three of the 20 tracks on disc one. Plenty more where that comes from, and all of it worthwhile. You get a fine sampling of great moments from Mozart, Rossini, Verdi, Puccini, Wagner, Gluck, Beethoven, Bizet ... ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

Mozart - Don Giovanni / Raimondi, Te Kanawa, Maazel

from: Sony

Release Date August 29, 2006
I've heard several Dons. Giulini is one the most overrated recording in history; Karajan is dull; both Furtwangler are great, but the sound are hard to listen to; Davis is ok, but doesn't thrill me that much.

This one is clearly the winner. Not only because of Raimondi and Van Dam (both great); but mainly due to the great female cast. Te Kanawa sings here much better than on the Davis record. She is Dona Elvira! Even Schwarzkopf didn't impress me after have listened to this record. Edda Moser and Teresa Berganza are also unbelievable. Just listen to "Forse Un Giorno" or "Vedrai, Carino" to understand what I mean.

This may not be the best opera record ever record, but it is the one that I've listened the most.

My second Don is the Klemperer recording. It is ... Read More: