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 heard this CD on a PBS pledge drive (it was a premium) and found myself loving every cut on it! I was in my car and just wanted to keep on driving and listening. This is by far my most-played CD - I've had to make it a weekend only listen to prevent getting burned out on it. HIGHLY recommend it. Even if you are unfamiliar with some of the pieces, you will quickly learn to love them. . . . I must end this review - I'm off to listen to the "flower duet" for the 100th time. . .

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

Moonstruck (1987 Film)

from: Capitol

Release Date October 25, 1990
All the men are stupid jerks who screw up their own lives and the lives of those around them. Fortunately for the safety of New York City, all of the women are wise, patient and nurturing, and manage to get the bozos back on track. No wonder my wife thinks this is the best movie of all time!

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

The "Pearl Fishers" Duet

from: RCA

Release Date October 25, 1990
To enjoy the artistry of great tenors, I really prefer collections of arias only. If I want scenes, I want the entire opera, to which I listen while following a libretto, since my exposure to opera has been primarily audio rather than visual. So, I would not have purchased this cd for myself. But I received it as a gift for becoming a member of the local PBS station.
I am glad I have it; and I give it a 5 star rating.
Bjoerling's is, of course, the voice that stands out (or is that my favoritism showing?). The duets with Robert Merrill, especially "The Pearl Fishers" and "La Boheme," marvelously portray the compatibility of the two voices. The remaining selections illustrate Bjoerling's ability to project himself into the character ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

The Ultimate Puccini Collection

by: Giacomo Puccini, Herbert von Karajan, Riccardo Chailly, Stephen Barlow, Tullio Serafin, Lorin Maazel, Sir Edward Downes, Giuseppe Patane, Zubin Mehta, Alberto Erede, John Mauceri, Plácido Domingo, José Carreras, Kiri Te Kanawa, John Alldis Choir, Luciano Pavarotti, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Bologna Community Theater Orchestra, Ettore Bastianini, Carlo Bergonzi, Renato Cesari, Fernando Corena, Cesare Siepi, Renata Tebaldi, Gianna D'Angelo, Saint Cecilia Academy Orchestra, Franco Corelli, Alfredo Mariotti, Regine Crespin, Royal Opera House Orchestra Covent Garden, London Symphony Orchestra, Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Orchestra, Rome Opera House Orchestra, Pilar Lorengar, Berlin Philharmonic Brass Ensemble, Mirella Freni, Rolando Panerai, Jussi Bjorling, Leontyne Price, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra

Release Date June 09, 1998
"Quando m'en vo" is not omitted from this CD; it is just called "Musetta's waltz song." It is the same aria.

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

La Boheme

by: Puccini, Tebaldi, Bergonzi, Scrc, Serafin

Release Date August 20, 2002
The other, longer, reviews can give you the details on this recording. I'll just say I read them and thought this sounded like the version to buy. I couldn't be happier. I love it and I've played it half a dozen times since it arrived. I still plan to get the Callas version but it will have to go a long way to be better than this.

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

Christmas Adagios

from: Decca

Release Date October 09, 2001
This is the BEST Christmas collection that I have ever heard. I would like
to purchase 15 more to give as gifts this year; however, it appears that
Decca is out of stock or no longer releasing it. HELP!!

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

The Greatest Opera Show on Earth

from: Polygram Records

Release Date September 16, 1997
I just bought my second copy of this excellent CD because I literally wore the first one out. No matter how I feel before I play this music, I feel joy whenever I listen to it. Highly recommended to beginners and the more experienced opera listeners as well.

CD-Charts Position 8
Average Rating:

Puccini: Madama Butterfly

from: Polygram Records

Release Date March 09, 1999
I had not listened to this CD for a while. I recently heard snippets of the love duet (Callas version...) and decided to listen to it again.
I think I'd forgotten just how beautiful Puccini's music in this opera is. Tebaldi is about as close to perfection in this as one can humanly get. I'd recommend this strongly to those who have not listened to the whole opera yet. I've always found Butterfly more moving than Boheme...I must be in the minority. To me, this opera and Tosca (for very different reasons) are his best.

CD-Charts Position 9
Average Rating:

Amor--Opera's Great Love Songs

from: Decca

Release Date August 11, 1998
I absolutely love opera music, and this c.d. is great for the most part. However, I am completely shocked that Maria Callas is nowhere to be found! In my opinion Callas' versions of Vissi D'arte, Vissi D'amore, L'Amour Est Un Oiseau Rebelle, Oh! MI Babbino Caro, Signore, Ascolta!, and Un bel di vedremo were much better than the versions feature on this c.d. Even Tribaldi made the list! If people enjoy amazing opera music, they would be better off buying a c.d. by Maria Callas. Of course, Pavarotti is also amazing.

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

#1 Christmas Album

by: Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti, Kiri te Kanawa, Franz Gruber, Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Joan Sutherland

Release Date October 09, 2001
I am the proud owner of at least thirty Christmas CD's. This compilation is the best collection of quality music performed superbly that I have ever heard. I had to drive 1400 miles by myself before Christmas and I never tired of listening to this wonderful music. I also ordered several more copies of "#1 Christmas Album" to gift to family and friends who enjoy quality music.