The Most Famous Opera Arias Reviews

• excellent sampler CD

  
  By A1TX3VNWII1TOJ on 2003-02-14
  For the money, this is surely of the greatest bargains you'll ever see. Of course, some performers are featured 3-4 times, mezzos in particular, and there are NO baritones or bassos represented here (not even Toreador's song, which has got to be one of the "most famous"). Dimitrova really stands out as a larger-than-life dramatic soprano, but casting her as Butterfly was a glaring mistake. Her Tosca is magnificent, however. Overall the disc has 72 minutes of great singing and the sound is ADD with a couple of early DDD's thrown in. A serious fan will have all of the selections here, but it may be a good start for the beginning opera listeners. I hope that after hearing Placido Domingo's "Celeste Aida" they'll be tempted to purchase a complete recording.
  
  

• An excellent introduction

  
  By A17FVOFZ2ZRYSW on 2003-11-23
  This CD is offered at a very attractive price, and features an excellent selection of opera arias. Most of the great composers are represented (such as Mozart, Verdi, Puccini, and Bizet) as well as some lesser-known but worthwhile names (such as Gluck, Gounod, and Saint-Saens).

  There is only one superstar singer on this album (Placido Domingo singing "Celeste Aida"), but don't let that deter you: the singing is uniformly rich, skillful, and warm. As another reviewer has pointed out, of the total of 16 tracks, 3 are performed by tenors and 13 by sopranos, but I feel nonetheless that the selection of arias found here is both broad and representative.

  The orchestras that are featured are lesser-known ensembles from Western and Central Europe, but they play with conviction and precision, and the CD's sound-recording quality (all the tracks are either "ADD" or "DDD") is first-rate.

  All in all, this is a great product brought to you from the vaults of the prestigious EMI Classical label. This is the perfect CD to add to your Amazon.com order if you need to get your grand total above $25 to qualify for free shipping
  
  

• "ORIGNAL EMI CLASSICS QUALITY RECORDING" - Terrible

  
  By on 2002-05-24
  The items chosen for this CD are great. The quality of the CD is very bad. Be careful to note the bottom of the CD cover "ORIGNAL EMI CLASSICS QUALITY RECORDING" (I thought I had a bum CD)...
  Amazon.com sample playback for these items doesn't contain the static I'm getting so I feel I was tricked.
  I can hardly make out what I am supposed to hear. Very disappointing.
  
  

• Great intro into opera

  
  By AG3ENYWHZSBIX on 2001-01-01
  The main reason in my mind to buy this cd are the 2 tracks from Les Contes d'Hoffmann and Lakme sung by the wonderful Edita Gruberova. The 1st track is playful, funny, the 2nd breathtaking for her high notes and heartbreaking. A lesser reason is for Anna Moffo's Caro Nome from Rigoletto, the cadenza at the end is like nothing you've ever heard! Even if you don't know much about opera, this is an enjoyable cd. Cheap, too!
  
  

• A Great Place To Start

  
  By ABZL888CCRL2A on 2003-11-19
  As some other reviews have mentioned, no, this doesn't cover the full scale of the opera repertory, but it's geared to beginners, and I can't think of a better place to start than this that's out on the market right now. So don't listen to them.

  While this collection is some small, it still has a collection of some famous arias, all sung at levels of very good and up. Anna Moffo's "Caro Nome" as the first track is mind-blowing--the cadence she pulls at the end is absolutely celestial; I've skipped back many a time just to hear her. The following aria from Rigoletto isn't done quite as well (Kraus doesn't even go for the high C), but is sufficient.

  Other notable tracks on this album include Edita Gruberova's cavatina from Romeo and Juliette "Je Veux Vivre," Yelena Obraztsova "Mon Coeur" from Samson and Delilah (absolutely beautiful), Domingo's "Celesta Aida," (definitely one of the best recordings of this aria out there), another Moffo gem with "Una Voce Poco Fa" from Il Barbiere, an excellent "Che Gelida Manina" by an underrated tenor, Nicolai Gedda, who holds the high C in "speranza" for the longest I've ever heard any tenor hold it, and possibly the best aria on the whole CD, Gruberova's rendition of "Der Halle Rocke." For some reason, a previous reviewer said this was a horrible recording of it---I beg to differ, drastically; I'd even venture to turn some people away from listening to this track, since it's possibly the best recording of this aria ever made. I've covered my ears at many sopranos her shriek through the colorature, but she sings it like an angel.

  Overall, this is a great CD to start with. There are a few problems, like another reviewer mentioned, there are few male arias and no baritone/bass arias whatsoever, but the sound and clarity is good. I must say, though, that I did have a problem with scratching on the CD---a friend of mine owns the same CD and also it appeared to scratch fairly easily, so watch out.

  Want to have some real fun? Blast Gruberova's "Der Halle Rocke" while you're driving down the street with the windows open. See how many funny looks you get.

  Enjoy.
  
  

• Good versions of good arias
  By AN94IX8X02FCA on 1999-12-01
  For such a low price, this CD is full of surprisingly good versions of well-known opera arias. Standouts are anything sung by Anna Moffo, Elena Obraztsova, or Ghena Dimitrova, particularly "Una Voce Poco Fa," "Mon coeur s'ouvre a ta voix," and "Ebben? Ne andro lontana," although Dimitrova chops the ending off of that one, which seems to be a common problem with this aria. There is a part after "e fra le nubi d'or." It goes "Ma ferma e il pie. N'andiam, che lunga e la via. N'andiam" and is probably the most dramatic part of the aria after the high B. So why do I have thirteen versions of this song and only four include this part? Sometimes they even put the orchestra part but the singer doesn't sing. What's up with that? Anyway, I digress. The only disappointing aria here is "Der Holle Rache," sung here by the otherwise great coloratura Edita Gruberova, who is a bit out of her league with the high F's. Better versions to include would be Natalie Dessay or Sumi Jo, although I understand that with the politics of labels and such, this probably wouldn't be possible.
  
  
• An excellent introduction
  By A17FVOFZ2ZRYSW on 2004-03-31
  This CD is offered at a very attractive price, and features an excellent selection of opera arias. Most of the great composers are represented (such as Mozart, Verdi, Puccini, and Bizet) as well as some lesser-known but worthwhile names (such as Gluck, Gounod, and Saint-Saens).

  There is only one superstar singer on this album (Placido Domingo singing "Celeste Aida"), but don't let that deter you: the singing is uniformly rich, skillful, and warm. As another reviewer has pointed out, of the total of 16 tracks, 3 are performed by tenors and 13 by sopranos, but I feel nonetheless that the selection of arias found here is both broad and representative.

  The orchestras that are featured are lesser-known ensembles from Western and Central Europe, but they play with conviction and precision, and the CD's sound-recording quality (all the tracks are either "ADD" or "DDD") is first-rate.

  All in all, this is a great product brought to you from the vaults of the prestigious EMI Classical label. This is the perfect CD to add to your Amazon.com order if you need to get your grand total above $25 to qualify for free shipping
  
  

• Be forewarned
  By A3KPWFDETN0EOZ on 2003-05-25
  The music is wonderful, and the price can't be beat, but be forewarned -- only 3 of the 16 selections are sung by men. Evidently the producers of this Highlights CD felt that the overwhelming majority of the great opera arias are sung by women. This is clearly a matter of taste, but disconcerting nevertheless.
  
  
• A great CD for all of those people who say they hate opera
  By on 1999-05-02
  This was my first of many opera CD's. The price is right to get you feet wet in the world of opera. This CD still has some of my favorite opera pieces, including my Most favorite Bizet's "L'amour est un oiseau rebelle "Habañera" from Carmen. You can't ignore those great Italian composers Paccini & Verdi'. Once this CD hooks you in go out & buy "The Most Famous Opera Duets". This is a very fine series to own at a LOW price you can't ignore.
  
  
• Only the Best!
  By AON1CLMNAVHDW on 2000-11-22
  The problem with these collections is that one always thinks of the arias that were left out. I mean, how could you think of opera without thinking of "Il Catalogo e questo", or Die Gotterdammerung? Is it just coincidence that there was not a single Wagner piece?

  But then I calmed down, and realized that they can't put everything on one CD. And the point was that these are the most FAMOUS arias. Famous being a euphemism for most marketable. It's a CD that's cheap and the arias are easy listening...good for beginners to the opera.
  
  

• Opera at its best
  By A2CBPM0P9GZ4JR on 2005-08-07
  This cd may not have performances by extremely well know artists, but it is a wonderful cd none the less. If you are trying to experience opera for the first time, this is the cd for you.
  
  
• A great collection for beginners!
  By AEC90GPFKLAAW on 2004-01-17
  I am brand new to most opera - my main exposure has been Bugs Bunny cartoons! But, I've always loved hearing the Three Tenors sing, and I liked the symphony the few times I have been. So, I thought maybe there was something I was missing. I ordered this CD and from the first minute I was transfixed. I don't understand a word of what they are singing, and I understand from other reviews that these are not the famous folks performing the selections, but this CD is wonderful! I have never been moved to tears by anyone's voice in my life, but Anna Moffo (from Rigoletto, the first selection on the album) did it to me. She also sings a selection from The Barber of Seville, which is beautiful. There's a song by Placido Domingo, and many other gifted and beautiful voices besides. If you are looking for an introduction to opera, buy this one!
  
  
• Okay But.... - a review of "The Most Famous Opera Arias"
  By AQ6AGWKWMTY8H on 2006-08-17
  My daughter (6 y.o.) and I like opera; but sitting for two hours to watch Turandot is just not within the realm of possibilities for my 4 year old son right now... so I was looking for an opera CD for the car. He will sit and listen to short arias.
  
  This was the first we purchased and it is okay but not great.
  
  Problem #1 - where is Wagner. No Wagner?
  Problem#2 - Elena Obraztsova - she sounds like Carmen's grandmother. Rather matronly for a vixen (imho--lol)
  
  Three Stars. [C+] Great Price and good sound quality for the car. The operatic styles of some of the performers are antiquated and frilly sounding, but I would probably buy this CD again.
  
  Note: We purchased and really preferred "The # 1 Opera Album". It has more selections and better artists in our opinion. Also it's a two CD set. Just something to consider.
  
  
• Great Music at a Great Price!
  By A2S5OO4OMFBCVM on 2001-04-21
  I've been very happy with the selection and quality of this CD.
  
  
• Beautiful to listen (and sing) to
  By A3FPOV3RJ6Z05K on 2004-08-05
  I sing myself as a hobby and love the classical voice so much that I bought and do singing lessons on CD by an opera singer, "Voice Lessons To Go" by Vaccarino. AS my confidence has grown, I have now begun singing along with this CD of Arias. I'm not sure I am quite Anna Moffo yet, but I love the whole process! How rare do we sing along with our favorite opera tunes on the radio.
  
  
• How about this...
  By A191U44PTU82NK on 2006-01-31
  ...a wonderful and affordably priced music masterpiece for the novice to sample opera. I am new to the opera having seen my first at the Arena di Verona (Aida). It took the one to get me to want to sample more and this collection is certainly worthy of praise.
  
  
• Very Disappointed
  By AXBS1ZX15Y4SU on 2005-10-25
  To be fair, I usually do not like opera--hurts my ears.
  I bought this cd because it has the only aria I have ever really liked on it: Un Bel Di from Madame Butterfly. I heard this on tv years ago and was completely mesmerized by it and have been searching to buy it ever since. This was my 2nd try, and 2nd enormous let down. The sopranos voice is awful--way to high to capture the rapture of the aria. I wish I knew who the woman was who sang it on tv, I think it was a commercial for cars. That was a beautiful rendition.
  
  
• I was pleased
  By A23OEXX9JTOJZY on 2007-02-18
  I am by no means an opera expert, but found this to be a wonderful CD. Along with the songs I already knew I liked (such as a song from Carmen,) I found many others I enjoyed. In fact, Samson et Dahlila turned out to be my favorite. If you are just getting started or at any point in your adventure of opera, I would recommend this one.
  
  
• Mediocre Sound Quality
  By A3704XFG19BT8 on 2007-03-31
  If you note the album was released in 1994, and includes selections from many years prior, you will understand that the quality of the sound engineering is not going to dazzle your ear.
  
  It's a very nice collection to hum along to, but don't expect shivers down your spine as the sound quality is not sufficient to reproduce the dynamic range of these voices.
  
  
• You People........
  By A2YTN4WSKPI19B on 2002-06-27
  Don't take yourselves so seriously...... stick with the facts and what not.... you girls is dumb and I like pizza and Beethoven.
  
  

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