CD-Charts Position 61
Average Rating:

The Very Best of Beniamino Gigli

CD-Charts > Music > Oratorios
from: EMI Classics

Release Date September 02, 2003
I bought this compilation along with "The Very Best of Franco Corelli" because of the low price tag. I was highly anticipating Corelli's superpowered renditions of my favorites but it turns out that THIS compilation was the better shopping decision. Though Gigli seems to add certain inflections and high notes in places where one wouldn't normally expect, he makes it seem as if the songs were written that way(maybe they were). Gigli's voice soars above the outdated recording equipment used to capture it. He sings with sweetness and power, a rare combination. The religious and italian party songs are gems and the "Nessun Dorma" is done well even though he was at the end of his career. Gigli is always called "a worthy successor to Caruso" or ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 62
Average Rating:

Mendelssohn: Elijah / Shaw, Bonney, Quivar, Hadley, Hampson, Atlanta Symphony (Sung in English)

CD-Charts > Music > Oratorios
from: Telarc

Release Date September 26, 1995
I love "Elijah" -- I sang it in college. The music is fine, but when I downloaded it into Windows Media Player the music was split up and stored in a random order, rather than in chronological order. I don't know why, and I couldn't fix it, so I deleted it. When I loaded it into iTUnes for my iPod, however, it was fine.

CD-Charts Position 63
Average Rating:

Lorraine Hunt - Handel Arias

CD-Charts > Music > Oratorios
from: Harmonia Mundi

Release Date May 17, 1994
With Lorraine Hunt you can't go wrong. Her appeal is universal: those who don't fancy opera will love it because of her virtuoso capability, originality and sincerity. Laurent Naouri expressed the core of her appeal: "When she sang her character, people would forget all that is conventional in opera. People would forget even her singing; they would just feel something so deep and true." Bravo, Lorraine, you set a standard for all time.

CD-Charts Position 64
Average Rating:

The Power & The Majesty: Essential Choral Classics

CD-Charts > Music > Oratorios
by: Robert Shaw Festival Singers, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Choruses

Release Date January 24, 1995
A wonderful album. I have several copies of Handel's Messiah, but the performance of the Hallelujah Chorus by Robert Shaw's singers is exceptional, outstanding. I was inspired to have my young son listen to this album: Verdi's "Dies Irae", Orff's "O Fortuna", and Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus".

Notice that there are 3 versions of "Dies Irae" on this album. It's nice to hear others. I am not normally a fan of Requiems. I will say that I do like Bach's Mass in B Minor and the Kyrie Eleison excerpted here is beautiful.

CD-Charts Position 65
Average Rating:

Haydn - The Creation / Piau, Padmore, Davies, Gabrieli Consort & Players, McCreesh

CD-Charts > Music > Oratorios
from: ARCHIV Produktion

Release Date February 05, 2008
The other reviews say it all, although I would add that this is a great album for those just getting into classical or wanting to experience it for the first time. I also recommend this album to all seasoned classical enthusiasts.

CD-Charts Position 66
Average Rating:

Haydn: The Creation / Herbert von Karajan

CD-Charts > Music > Oratorios
by: Herbert von Karajan

Release Date January 27, 1998
This is a performance to die for. The pace of the music is what sets this appart. Every movement is set at just the right tempo so you can completely enjoy this cast of stars.

CD-Charts Position 67
Average Rating:

The Original Jacket Collection: Montserrat Caballé [Limited Edition]

CD-Charts > Music > Oratorios
from: Sony Classics

Release Date June 24, 2008
Commemorating the diva's 75th birthday, the 15-disc collection includes works personally chosen by the operatic heavyweight. All aspects of her long career are here: famous Italian arias and rarities, German Lied repertoire, zarzuela arias and the complete operas of Salome and Norma. Like those in the companion Ormandy set, these recordings have been remastered in state-of-the-art sound from original sources, and presented with CD size reproductions of original LP jackets. Brava!
Celebrating the "Philadelphia Sound"---the lushly expressiv e orchestral signature sound that Eugene Ormandy inspired from his background as a violinist--- this 10-disc limited-edition collection documents one of the greatest conductor/orchestra partnerships in musical history. Listen ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 68
Average Rating:

Montserrat Caballé: Ultimate Collection

CD-Charts > Music > Oratorios
from: RCA

Release Date May 25, 1999
One of my favorite albums ever. A voice that will take your breath away. The more you listen, the more you will be speechless. Redefines operatic singing and sets a standard above the rest.

CD-Charts Position 69
Average Rating:

Joy to the World - Eugene Ormandy, Philadelphia Orchestra

CD-Charts > Music > Oratorios
from: RCA

Release Date October 25, 1990
This music represents what Christmas joy is all about,the thrill of old favorites presented in top quality form. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

CD-Charts Position 70
Average Rating:

Handel

CD-Charts > Music > Oratorios
by: Renee Fleming, Harry Bicket, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, George Friedrich Handel

Release Date September 14, 2004
Though it's true that Fleming's Italian is not that idiomatic, I find her very comfortable and at home in this repertoire, in fact much more so than in Puccini or Verdi, and quite frankly can anyone imagine the great Handel NOT liking her voice?. Let's not forget that Handel went to Italy to look for singers, not only for opera but also for oratorio. At some point he should have had enough of the likes of prim-and-proper Emma Kirkby. Certain roles like Alcina, Cleopatra and Rodelinda demand important voices, and singers with big personalities. The great failure of Rene Jacobs general excellent Giulio Cesare is his Cleopatra. Barbara Schlick is very good in Bach and church music, but the temptress Handel wanted is nowhere to be found; being a specialist in baroque music is not always ... Read More: