Best Operettas
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"That said, he certainly doesn’t overlook the elegance, sparkling wit and romance – though his approach is a bit more analytical than some others – but it seems that anything that happens storywise is bent into the service of his musical vision rather than vice versa. Yes, a case could certainly be made that Solti pushes things too hard, but I myself is happy to hear Un ballo work as a momentous drama at least on the musical level. And importantly, none of them seems to be put off by Solti’s intensity – one would expect that when a conductor pushes his own ideas about the drama as Solti does here the singers and their ability to provide vivid portraits of their characters suffer, but not so here, which is a tribute both to the soloists and the conductor."
"Ulrica tells Amelia to gather an herb with magical powers later that night near the gallows. *Act 2 highlight: "Ma dall'arido stelo divulsa" by Margaret Price. *Act 3 highlight: ""Morrò, ma prima in grazia" by Margaret Price This is when Amelia is begging her husband, Renato, to see her son one last time before what she believes is right before Renato kills her for imagined infidelity."
"Simply superb!"
"This is a performance and recording where his famous clarity and diction really add a great deal to the performance, and he really conveys his sheer joy in singing this music. He is matched by Margaret Price, who provides such an intense and beautiful performance, her smooth and pure voice gliding over this part like hands on a satin sheet, yet still providing drama and skill that would count as a masterclass in and of itself. The recording is top notch with the orchestra coming through with presence, detail, clarity and power in the wonderfully resonant Kingsway Hall, directed by Solti with urgency, drama, authority, and plenty of delicacy and precision."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"After having the LP versions of these overtures by Ormandy/Phil Orchestra and Bernstein/NY Phil from years gone by, I see now that they are not available on CD or out of print."
"Good quality."
"This is a song my family used to hum to me when I was a child and I carried it along to my children and now my grandchildren!"
"This is a good CD."
"This is a great collection of overtures."
"love this music."
"Not in the least, it reminds me of the great shows of my youth, Sergeant Preston of the Northwest Mounted Police, and Captain Video."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I hate that they cut the overture abd the dialogue-They could have abridged it if anyone hadt bothered-but this is the best I have heard of this everygreen."
"I had a record of the Mikado that I loved for years, but I'm not listening to records anymore; don't even have a turntable anymore."
"The version I recall from childhood (one of the D'Oyly Carte recordings) perhaps influences me too much when I complain of the lack of punch, bite, and general emotion in the singing here."
"It has already been said, but I like to add my praise: this is certainly a magnificent performance to enjoy from beginning to end."
"I played this recording at a gathering of G&S lovers, and everyone was singing along !"
"This recording is enjoyable, but is far from best of them all."
"As a general rule, Gilbert and Sullivan operettas are performed by good comic actors with decent, but not top-notch, singing voices, and women's arias in particular are strangled by what the great Anna Russell described as the "piercing British soprano.""
"This is by far the best recording of The Mikado made since 1928. But the Overture wasn't even written by Sullivan, so you're not missing that much."
Best French
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"After having the LP versions of these overtures by Ormandy/Phil Orchestra and Bernstein/NY Phil from years gone by, I see now that they are not available on CD or out of print."
"Good quality."
"This is a song my family used to hum to me when I was a child and I carried it along to my children and now my grandchildren!"
"This is a good CD."
"This is a great collection of overtures."
"love this music."
"Not in the least, it reminds me of the great shows of my youth, Sergeant Preston of the Northwest Mounted Police, and Captain Video."
Best Languages
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"That said, he certainly doesn’t overlook the elegance, sparkling wit and romance – though his approach is a bit more analytical than some others – but it seems that anything that happens storywise is bent into the service of his musical vision rather than vice versa. Yes, a case could certainly be made that Solti pushes things too hard, but I myself is happy to hear Un ballo work as a momentous drama at least on the musical level. And importantly, none of them seems to be put off by Solti’s intensity – one would expect that when a conductor pushes his own ideas about the drama as Solti does here the singers and their ability to provide vivid portraits of their characters suffer, but not so here, which is a tribute both to the soloists and the conductor."
"Ulrica tells Amelia to gather an herb with magical powers later that night near the gallows. *Act 2 highlight: "Ma dall'arido stelo divulsa" by Margaret Price. *Act 3 highlight: ""Morrò, ma prima in grazia" by Margaret Price This is when Amelia is begging her husband, Renato, to see her son one last time before what she believes is right before Renato kills her for imagined infidelity."
"Simply superb!"
"This is a performance and recording where his famous clarity and diction really add a great deal to the performance, and he really conveys his sheer joy in singing this music. He is matched by Margaret Price, who provides such an intense and beautiful performance, her smooth and pure voice gliding over this part like hands on a satin sheet, yet still providing drama and skill that would count as a masterclass in and of itself. The recording is top notch with the orchestra coming through with presence, detail, clarity and power in the wonderfully resonant Kingsway Hall, directed by Solti with urgency, drama, authority, and plenty of delicacy and precision."
Best Polish
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Szymanowski's opera paints a wonderful,contemplative sound world with its heavenly choral singing at the beginning and the often dark orchestral colours used to depict the conflict between King Roger(Norman ruler of Sicily and the "shepherd" Dyonysus),the music is highly charged and often erotic in flavour,Zagorzanka sings beautifully as Roxana,meltingly so in her seductive aria,in fact it is a splendid version with all the singers characterising well on this clear digital recording of a rarely heard opera but one worth investigating."
"This recording of Szymanowski's opera, King Roger, is superior in every way to the recent EMI release with Simon Rattle conducting and Thomas Hampson in the title role."
Best Operas
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I have been a loyal Libera follower for year and while I have their previous Christmas album, I didn't hesitate to buy this one because I know that the constant renewing of choir members--as new boys are moved in to replace those who move on--make each album a unique and delightful experience. Don't hesitate to buy this album today because adding these Angel Voices to your music collection will truly add Merry to your Christmas for many years to come."
"The smoke of incense carries our prayers, and Libera's sound is just as potent and powerful, subtle and delicate....Maestro Prizeman and his choir (oops....'boy band'). pull out all the stops in both the CD and the Video (Which is absolutely gorgeous)."
"It might be my absolute favorite music for Christmas!!"
"When I was younger and not so busy I always listened to all types of music, in the last few years I have fallen out of that habit until I say these young men on a PBS special."
"This is Libera's first live CD release since Angel Voices in Concert in 2007 and it was well worth the wait."
"Beautiful!"
Best Oratorios
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"These songs were first introduced to my ears on my father's old collection of 45 rpm records."
"The song selection and choral and orchestral renderings are beautiful and so fitting for the Christmas season."
"I think the Robert Shaw singers are the quintessential coral singer for Christmas songs, none better."
"I ordered this album to approximate an old 33 LP record by the same-named choir (probably different singers many years later) that my parents had when I was a child in the '50s and '60s."
"Great compilation of Christmas carols, all beautifully done in acapella."
"My feeling after listening to this several times is that most of the songs are simply too short, clocking in at well under two minutes."