CD-Charts Position 151
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Dvorák - Rusalka / Fleming · Heppner · Zajick · Hawlata · Urbanová · Czech Phil · Sir Charles Mackerras

CD-Charts > Music > Featured Performers- A-Z
by: Antonín Dvorák, Charles Mackerras, Renée Fleming, Ben Heppner, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Kühn Mixed Choir, Franz Hawlata, Eva Urbanová, Zdena Kloubová Dolora Zajick, Ivan Kusnjer

Release Date October 20, 1998
In 1998 Fleming and Heppner were widely accalimed for this, the most vocally resplendent Rusalk ever recorded. As everyone else says, Ms. Fleming's radiant soprano is thrilling in the title role, and Heppner's heroic timbre is gilt-edged casting. Mackerrass is a Czech specialist from way back, and his conducing is strong and sympathetic. One might lament that we can't have native Czech performers on this level, but Decca recorded most of ts Janacek cycle, also under Mackerras, with non-native leads. I imagine that the Czech pronunciation here is much less than idiomatic, and that there's a good deal more earthiness in Dvorak's music, but those are quibbles. This amounts to one of the most ravishing opera recordings in years.

One ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 152
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Leontyne Price Sings Barber

CD-Charts > Music > Featured Performers- A-Z
from: RCA

Release Date May 10, 1994
BARBER DOES ALL OF THE ACCOMPANYING ON THIS RECORDING!
Samuel Barber(1910-1981), an American composer who studied piano, composition and singing at the prestigious Curtis Institute in Philadelphia, Pa. His works adhered largely to a lyrical, Romantic style within a loosely Classical framework. He left a rich legacy of more than 100 songs(only 37 published) and 3 operas in addition to many instrumental works...

Only a few of Barber's song texts come from American sources; more often he chose the work of Irish or English writers. He was drawn to 'Knoxville: Summer of 1915', a reflection of the American poet James Agee, because for him it vividly evoked his own childhood. With hints of blues and gently shifting rhythms, "Knoxville" ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 153
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Officium

CD-Charts > Music > Featured Performers- A-Z
by: Anonymous, Czech Anonymous, Guillaume Dufay, Pierre de La Rue, Cristobal de Morales, Perotin, Sarum Chant, Hilliard Ensemble, Jan Garbarek

Release Date November 16, 1999
While working on a film in Iceland, ECM label head Manfred Eicher was listening to a mix of medieval European vocal music and the contemporary jazz of Jan Garbarek. In September 1993, Eicher brought together the Hilliard Ensemble and Jan Garbarek in a German monastery for a fresh new crossover concept. As the Hilliard Ensemble performed 14 early vocal pieces, ranging from the most ancient chants to the more elaborate settings of Perotin and Dufay, Jan Garbarek improvised on soprano and tenor saxophones. The resulting music is generally quite beautiful, with the saxophone giving more variety of timbre but the music of the vocal ensemble keeps everything rooted in (pre-)tonality. The interaction of the vocalists and the saxophone nowhere seems forced. Certainly audiences ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 154
Average Rating:

Mario Lanza - The Ultimate Collection

CD-Charts > Music > Featured Performers- A-Z
from: RCA

Release Date June 15, 1999
I'm more a fan of classic popular standards than of classical music, but as the classical numbers give Mario Lanza a little more opportunity to show off his glorious voice, I find myself enjoying these fully as much as the popular selections.

His approach to popular song is admittedly on the operatic side, and it's fascinating to hear how well such pieces translate into a more classical orchestration. And Lanza's versions stand as equals alongside the popular versions (by such greats as Perry Como, Frankie Laine, Kate Smith, Georgia Gibbs, Dean Martin, Vic Damone and Vaughn Monroe) that have been among my favorites for many years.

The spoken introductions on the selections from his show are an added bonus, and (contrary to one of the reviews below) these songs are ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 155
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Wolcum Yule: Celtic and British Songs and Carols - Anonymous 4 with Andrew Lawrence-King

CD-Charts > Music > Featured Performers- A-Z
by: John Tavener, Richard Rodney Bennett, Peter Maxwell Davies, Geoffrey Burgon, Henry VIII, Benjamin Britten, Anonymous 4, Andrew Lawrence-King

Release Date October 14, 2003
Very pretty with vocals and insturmentals. However, if you're looking for something that's actually Pagan and has Yule carols keep looking.

CD-Charts Position 156
Average Rating:

Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius

CD-Charts > Music > Featured Performers- A-Z
from: EMI Classics

Release Date January 25, 2000
Llevaba mucho tiempo tratando de conseguir El Sueño de Geroncio y ha sido la primera vez que he utilizado este servicio. Ha merecido la pena. La grabación es magnífica y es una versión diferente a todas las que había escuchado. La calidad es estupenda aunque sea una grabación que tiene ya unos añitos.

CD-Charts Position 157
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Pavarotti's Opera Made Easy: My Favorite Love Songs

CD-Charts > Music > Featured Performers- A-Z
from: Decca

Release Date August 23, 1994
I really never cared much for opera until I purchased this CD.Now I recognize a lot of music from movies and stage that are actually operas.Must Have CD!!!!!!!!!!!!

CD-Charts Position 158
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Romanza (Italian/Spanish Language Edition)

CD-Charts > Music > Featured Performers- A-Z
by: Andrea Bocelli

Release Date December 09, 1997
he maybe blind but his voice make it for that lost...he is a very good singer.cd came on time and in perfect condition.will order again any time
thank you

CD-Charts Position 159
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The "Pearl Fishers" Duet

CD-Charts > Music > Featured Performers- A-Z
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.
If you enjoy opera, and especially ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 160
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Bruckner: Die 3 Messen/Masses Nos. 1-3/Les Messes

CD-Charts > Music > Featured Performers- A-Z
from: Deutsche Grammophon

Release Date January 23, 1996
For someone like me, unfamiliar with Bruckner, this recording is an excellent introduction. These masses are a large amount of lovely, heartfelt music in a late Romantic idiom. The performances are excellent. The E minor Mass appears to be the most popular but I found the F minor Mass to be the most interesting of the three. Definitely whets your appetite for more Bruckner.