CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

Luciano Pavarotti: The Best (Farewell Tour)

CD-Charts > Music > M to P
from: Decca

Release Date September 13, 2005
I don't know of too many that would give fewer than five stars to Luciano Pavarotti. What an amazing voice...we are fortunate to have been part of one man's unbelievable talent!

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

O Holy Night / Luciano Pavarotti / Special Deluxe Edition (Decca)

CD-Charts > Music > M to P
from: Decca

Release Date October 11, 2005
Pavarotti is in his prime for this one and the selections are both touching and grand. Mille Cherubini, a tender lullaby, is my favorite but his Agnus Dei is rich and grand. The choral backgrounds are also very good. I bought the cassette when it came out in the 70's and I am thrilled that they reissued it as CD to grace my 2007 Christmas .

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

Amore: Romantic Italian Love Songs

CD-Charts > Music > M to P
from: Decca

Release Date September 15, 1992
This is an amzing CD, probably one of Pavarotti's best. For anyone who loves opera and in particular this star, this is a MUST. Even more precious since Pavarotti's death.

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

Romantica: The Very Best of Luciano Pavarotti

CD-Charts > Music > M to P
from: Decca

Release Date February 05, 2002
EASY LISTENING AND GREAT SINGER LOVE HIS MUSIC. CAN RELAX AND ENJOY SOCIAL GATHERING WITH HIS MUSIC IN BACK GROUND. PERFECT

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

Richard Strauss: Salome [Remastered]

CD-Charts > Music > M to P
from: Decca

Release Date June 13, 2006
ABOUT THE ALBUM: Richard Strauss, Salome, Recorded At The Sofiensaal, Vienna, October, 1961, Released On LP, 1962 By Decca Record Company Limited, London, England, Released As A Remastered 2-CD Set, Decca Limited. Picture: Promotional Photo of Birgit Nilsson as Salome.

CAST: birgit Nilsson, soprano (Salome) Eberhard Wachter, baritone (Jochanaan), Gerhard Stolze, baritone, (Herod Tetrach) Grace Hoffmann, mezzo soprano (Herodias, wife of Herod) Josephine Veasey, mezzo soprano (Herodias' page) Aron Gestner (Narraboth) Kurt Equiluz (Jewish Councelor), Max Proebstl (Jewish Counselor) Nigel Douglas (page) Theodor Kirschbichler (Jewish Councelor) Zenon Kosnowski (Jewish councelor) Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, conductor Georg Solti.
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CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

Arias

CD-Charts > Music > M to P
from: Decca

Release Date October 25, 1990
There is nothing that breaks down the walls of adversity like music. It has indeed been said that in music there are no limits, and certainly Pavarotti is a patron of this ideal. In his voice there are no walls, there are no barriers and there's no telling where the vibrations of his vocal chords end and the music begins.
This CD collects the best of his arias, the greatest moments of his passions, in one comprehensive (albeit concise) disk. It would be an understatement (and an obvious statement!) to say that his interpretations are ideal, so I'd prefer to say that his interpretations open a new world: through his music, he has defeated his mortality, he has united people in heart and mind, and most importantly, he's given us a key to our own imaginations ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

The "Pearl Fishers" Duet

CD-Charts > Music > M to P
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 he is portraying. ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 8
Average Rating:

Beethoven: 9 Symphonies - Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique / Gardiner

CD-Charts > Music > M to P
from: Archiv Produktion

Release Date September 20, 1994
Anyone that gives this collection 3 stars or lower doesn't know what they are talking about....I've listened to several other versions of Beethoven's great symphonies...and this one is the best!

Nuff said! :)

CD-Charts Position 9
Average Rating:

Mozart - Così fan tutte / Fleming, von Otter, Scarabelli, Lopardo, Bär, Pertusi, Solti

CD-Charts > Music > M to P
by: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Renée Fleming, Anne Sofie von Otter, Sir Georg Solti, Adelina Scarabelli, Frank Lopardo, Olaf Bär, Michele Pertusi, Chamber Orchestra of Europe

Release Date March 12, 1996
This is such a great recording!!!! Georg Solti was such a master when it came to Mozartian repertoire. Anne Sofie von Otter is a splendid Dorabella. Her mezzo voice has such focus of tone and such beautiful color. Renee Fleming shines as Fiordiligi!!!! I love her voice so much. The "Come scoglio" is brilliant!!! She has both amazing low and high notes, which one needs in order to sing Fiordiligi, (a true tour de force for soprano). Frank Lopardo has such gorgeous ring in his voice!!! I am extremely happy with his Ferrando. Olaf Bar did a good job, but I feel his part sat a little low for him during the ensembles. But he did what any good singer would do in that situation; he never once pushed his voice to a point that would produce ugly tone. Michele Pertusi did a fine ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

Bach - Christmas Oratorio / Gardiner

CD-Charts > Music > M to P
by: John Eliot Gardiner, Nancy Argenta, Olaf Bär, Hans Peter Blochwitz, Alison Bury, Lisa Beznosiuk, Valerie Darke, Valerie Botwright

Release Date October 25, 1990
MONTEVERDI CHOIR AND THE ENGLISH BAROQUE SOLOISTS THE 'STARS' OF THIS RECORDING!!!!!
Johann Sebastion Bach (1685-1750) wrote very little church music after 1730, so it is not surprising that when he produced for Christmas, 1734, an 'oratorio' in six parts he adapted much of it from earlier compositions, mostly from secular odes. Recitatives and chorale settings were, of course, new, but otherwise all but one of the arias and nearly all of the choruses were 'parodies'. The six cantatas of the 'Christmas Oratorio' are designed to be performed on separate days from Christmas to Epiphany, but it does not necessarily follow that they are unconnected. Bach must have composed the work continuously, and there are many, sometimes obvious, sometimes subtle connections between the separate parts. ... Read More: