The #1 Opera Album Reviews

• A superb collection of Opera favourites!

  
  By A2QRMAY4VTKGJI on 2001-10-31
  I was raised in a large family headed by a single parent, my mother, who was widowed while pregnant with my brother. She had few moments of peace and quiet trying to raise the four of us in a small house. But Saturday afternoons, starting at 1:00, she demanded time for herself to listen, on the radio, to the Metropolitan Opera, live from Lincoln Center in New York, hosted by Milton Cross. This album nostalgically brings back to me those quiet Saturday afternoons, with the Opera on the radio, my mother sitting in her favourite chair reading.
  None of us cared for Opera in those days. It wasn't until years later, watching a simulcast of Puccini's "La Boheme" on PBS that was also being broadcast on the radio, that I began to appreciate what my mother loved for all those years. To finally see the action, and to read the subtitles, made me realise how wonderfully romantic Opera really was, and this album is "mother's milk" to my ears. It's literally the best of the best of Opera arias and overtures, and now I regard this music with many fond memories of my childhood.
  Also, if you are, like me, of the generation that was raised on Looney Tunes cartoons, you will recognise how many clever and downright hilarious send-ups they did of Opera, if you were listening to the music while watching the cartoons. Those cartoons were as much for the adult audiences as they were for children, and many of us received our earliest introductions to serious music through those classic cartoons. You will hear many of those arias and overtures that Warner Brothers used in those days in their cartoons. I only wish they would do something like that again so that today's children would not regard Classical Music as some kind of collosal bore.
  If you've never listened to Opera, this is the album to get to introduce yourself to it. This features the very best of many composers and styles of Opera, and should be an essential part of any good music lover's library. I highly recommend this album for anyone who's either intimately familiar with Opera or who has never before listened to it. It's well worth your while to acquire this CD.
  
  

• Good sampler for opera newbies or just a CD of favorites

  
  By A1IU7S4HCK1XK0 on 2001-04-06
  I have plenty of opera, but I wanted this CD for my favorites all in one place. There were three particular arias that made this a very good choice; the tenor duet from the Pearl Fishers (Les Pecheurs De Perles: C'est Toi... Au Fond Du Temple Saint), Montserrat Caballé doing Turandot and Lucia Popp in Mozart's Don Giovanni.

  This is really a very well-thought-out assembly of opera. You can't go far wrong with this cd.
  
  

• Don't Buy This CD

  
  By on 2004-04-18
  I hate to go against the crowd but there are so many better compilations of these pieces. To name just one, Aria: a Passion for Opera is much better. The choice of singers is not great on this cd. How do you pick 'E Lucevan le stelle' without selecting the version by Franco Corelli? Same for 'Di Quella Pira.' I admit there are some fine moments but not enough to make this cd worth the price.
  
  

• Prepare yourself

  
  By AWPO2XSE86BYT on 2002-08-16
  You must prepare yourself for the journey you are about to embark upon with this album. From the moving deliverance that only Pavarotti can give, to the remarkable Orchestration, right to "The Flower Duet" this album will never let you down. Whether you use it as background music as you prepare your favorite Italian recipe, or as a background to a wonderful evening this album has it all. It is flawless in its execution, has all of your current favorites and what soon will become your new favorites.
  Buy it for yourself, buy it as a gift, but just buy it- you will only regret not owning it sooner.
  
  

• A Perfect Start to an Opera Collection

  
  By A2WS0EKOZGXW5A on 2004-12-07
  This CD, released by Decca, is a perfect opera compilation. All the well-known pieces are displayed, as well as some lesser known works. The CD starts off with the Prelude from the opera Carmen. Luciano Pavarotti and Joan Sutherland star in the Brindisi from La Traviata. Pavarotti follows next with an aria from La Boheme (His best role), Che gelida manina. A perfect pair of singers, Joan Sutherland and Jane Berbie, sing in the Flower Duet from Lakme. The great Swedish tenor Jussi Bjorling comes next in Amor ti vieta from Fedora. The Habanera from Carmen follows next, sung brillantly by Tatiana Troyanos. The Cd continues with the Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves from Nabucco. Kiri te Kanawa follows in Dove sono from Le Nozze di Figaro, a song that sounds like it was made just for her. Pavarotti comes again in a superb recording of La donna e mobile from Rigoletto. Wagner's Bridal Chorus from Lohengrin takes the 10th spot. O mio babbino caro from Gianni Schicchi comes next, sung by Renata Tebaldi. The comic aria, Largo al factotum, from Il Barbiere di Siviglia comes next, sung by Leo Nucci. A modern-day singer follows next: Angela Gheorghiu in Ebben? ne andro lontana from La Wally. The Humming Chorus from Madama Butterfly,The Flower Song from Carmen, Barcarolle from Les Contes d'Hoffmann, E lucevan le stelle from Tosca, Un bel di from Madama Butterfly, and the Temple Duet from The Pearlfishers.
  The second Cd is just as good as the first, with arias like: The toreador Song from Carmen, Nessun dorma from Turandot, Di quella pira from Il Trovatore, Voi che sapete from Le Nozze di Figaro, and many others.
  
  
• Another superb compilation
  By AF3HN9UFXMKB2 on 2001-04-21
  It is difficult to differentiate among the several "only opera album you will ever need" offerings now available on the market, but this one is as good as any, showing exquisite good judgment in terms of both selections and performers (any compilation where Pavarotti does the honors on several numbers including the immortal Nessun Dorma has a leg up). Mirella Freni is particularly fine in Un Bel Di as well; Troyianos is a great choice for the Carmen; and perhaps my only quibble would be with the Pearl Fishers Duet. A perfect gift for someone who needs an introduction to the great world of opera.
  
  
• A Fantastic Compilation Of Some Of The Most Beautiful Music
  By on 2003-05-30
  This is a fantastic CD compiling some of the most beautiful music ever produced by the human voice. Stunning and tear invoking. A great introduction for neophyte opera explorers, and perhaps even a great summary statement for those who have climbed all opera vistas.
  
  
• A GREAT CD!
  By on 2001-05-27
  I really like this cd because it has opened me up to the wonderful world of opera! It has my favorite opera songs all summed up in two cds and also my favorite singers. This is a great cd for new listeners to opera.
  
  
• All the biggest hits in opera
  By A2DM22P577K5OT on 2002-07-26
  It's very good for collection, amazingly great. All the best hits in one! You will love it.
  
  
• Stupendous!
  By A12DMH9GFG9RJB on 2003-02-18
  This is the most outstanding compilation of operas' beautiful music I've ever heard! If the La Boheme selections don't raise the hair on your arms, you're not breathing!
  
  
• #1 Opera Albim
  By A24EATYC1CHQCT on 2004-12-18
  The best,the best,the best! What a beautiful choice of arias and opera highlights all on a double cd for a great price. Delibes' Flower Duet and Puccini's Turnadot are among my personal favorites but a bad one in the bunch. Makes me cry every time I listen to it. Rock on.
  
  
• Bought This & Kid's and I Love It - a review of "The # 1 Opera Album"
  By AQ6AGWKWMTY8H on 2006-08-23
  We just purchased this 2 CD set so we'd have something to listen to in the car (other than The Wiggles and Barney - lol) and we couldn't be happier. The offerings are great and include so many of the 'popular' arias that I wanted to introduce to our children: boy and girl; 4 and 6 y.o. respectively.
  
  [You should have heard the silence that descended on the car when Leoncavallo's "Vesti La Giubba" from Pagliacci was playing. Pavarotti rocks in this role.]
  
  Five Stars. Sound quality good. Singers are top notch. If you like tenors you should be content. Pavarotti fans should be happy. Selections are the best I've seen as far as presenting a range of composers. First pieces on both CD's are instrumental.
  
  Even my four year old son is humming bits of Bizet.
  
  
• Great for new opera "fans"
  By A1HWRZ8BGWZJ2D on 2003-05-18
  Highly recommended, especially for "beginners". I can almost guarantee you'll recognize many of these pieces, from film soundtracks or even (ugh) TV commercials. Only now you'll know where they are from! :)

  I just happened to be listening to this beautiful music when I opened a request for an additional donation from the local opera (yes, Virginia, we have an opera in Omaha!). Naturally, I wrote them a nice little check! :)

  The only thing I would like to have seen with this CD is a little more printed information (or a web link) allowing one to find out more information about the operas themselves--plot lines, etc. However, I'm sure that information is widely available elsewhere.
  
  

• Definitely #1
  By on 2003-12-22
  I have been looking for a good opera CD for months, particularly Puccini's work, but couldn't find one where the music was performed by well-known orchestras or singers until now. This CD really fills the void. I was so happy with mine that I bought a copy for my parents as well.
  
  
• Good CD
  By A6AH2OK3INLO8 on 2005-10-07
  The selections I wanted are all on this CD. The sound is good
  
  
• Opera for a casual listener
  By A331WWZ0KEFY3S on 2006-02-24
  I bought this album for one track (Recitar!... Vesti La Giubba from Pagliacci), but was really impressed with the entire double disc. Recording quality is quite good, and the song selection is fantastic. As only a casual opera/classical music listener, I was surprised at how many tracks I both recognized and really liked. For the price, it's certainly a worthwhile purchase to anyone interested in a solid collection of well-known opera performances.
  
  
• Wonderful Opera Appreciation Set
  By A1SOFJKOD2NU62 on 2006-03-09
  Opera seems to be one type of music that is difficult to get a knowledge for and love of. With 4 hour operas ahead of you and countless types and composers the task seems daunting to all but the very astute and determined. That is where this set comes into play. It is simply a collection of only the finest arias and overtures from only the most famous pieces. I would definitely purchase the set to find out just how much you love opera and to realize that The Barber of Seville and The marriage of Figaro are not the same.
  
  
• Great CD- Overload of Pavoratti though
  By on 2003-06-17
  This is an excellent CD. The versions chosen of the songs are in general quite excellent. In fact, I am getting married in about a month and we are using several of the songs from this CD in the ceremony. The ONLY real complaint I have about this CD is that there is ENTIRELY too much Pavoratti (sp?) on it. I would have liked a bit more variety in the male singers department. Although I do enjoy Pavoratti in general, there are some songs and parts of songs where he sounds like a cat being dragged around a room (sorry Pavi fans!). Otherwise- EXCELLENT. Two thumbs up!
  
  
• EXCELLENT compiliation!
  By A2SGJ0O1K9YCAT on 2004-01-23
  This is wonderful! It's a great place to start for opera newbies, or if you're a hardcore fanatic. It has selections from almost all famous operas, and they're sung by some of the greatest singers! Everything from Rusalka to La Traviata is here. I can't think of anything that's missing, except Casta Diva sung by Maria Callas. Other than that, this is a perfect opera compiliation. There are so many out there, so it's hard to choose one. I guarantee this is one of the best. Buy it! You won't regret it.
  
  
• good study buddy
  By AFFNT2IL9SKY6 on 2004-03-21
  hey man, I just needed something to keep me awake during those late night study sessions, and this cd was fantastic. Not only did it get me through college and follow me into grad school, but I took an opera class and was excited to recognize the major pieces that we studied (after *hours* of library listening). Highly recommended!
  
  
• Wonderful Compilation
  By A2IMLPUXYQJTSY on 2006-06-25
  A wonderful compilation of some of the most beautiful music in the world. One reviewer panned the selection of voices, but that sounds like sour grapes. While you might be disappointed if your favorite artist is not included, there's no doubt that this collection will entertain the listener for many hours. You'll enjoy this music over and over again. Buy it and enjoy!
  
  
• Terrific !
  By A2AGJYCVYW3FA5 on 2007-01-09
  A diverse album to give you a sprinkle of the various types of 'opera'. Every note is pure and lovely, I listen to it all the time ! Highly recommended for anyone just getting into opera. :}
  
  
• The Opera #1 Opera Album
  By A2ZH693AP0O1I5 on 2007-06-07
  The music is wonderful. The production is terrible!! The sound fades in and out and is very scratchy in some places.
  
  
• Not Great but a good deal
  By A3TCF714C60CB5 on 2003-11-24
  If you look at this CD's description, you will find many famous names of singers, conductors, and orchestras. It's a good CD, but it was not great like I expected. I believe they could do better work. For example, La Donna Mobile (CD1, #9)is by Pavarotti and London symphony. Pavarotti is fine in this piece, but the orchestra(maybe because of the conducter) is not good enough. Therefore, it sounds very boring. And also Toreador song(CD2 #16) doesn't sound powerful as it supposed to be (boring). If you're looking for FINE opera music, you'll be satisfied with this one and actually it's pretty cheap for 2CDs. But if you're expecting more than that, you should probably buy other CDs.
  
  
• Better than expected.
  By A23F4JCILPUO41 on 2006-03-08
  This disc exceeded my expectations in many ways;
  sound reproduction,quality and selection.
  If you are going to own only one opera recording ,this is the one.
  
  
• The #1 Opera Album
  By A5FTK1HSNRVW6 on 2006-03-20
  I love it! This is a must-have for the opera buff. Well worth the money.
  
  
• #1 Opera Album
  By A1CXXD2TAOB0EN on 2006-07-05
  Great collection of performances by some true legends in the opera world. The entire album is very well done.
  
  
• Great Selections
  By A3VN8J74TNJPGI on 2007-03-30
  This Cd, has the very best of Opera
  covering mainly from the classcal
  to the to the romantic periods, a most
  memorable selection here is Leo Nucci
  in a lagendary performance of Rossini's
  "Largo al Factotum" from "Il Barbiere di Seviglia"
  also Andrea Bocelli in his performance of Leoncavallo's
  memorable "Matinatta" here in an orchestrated version.
  Indeed some of opera's most loved arias are in this recording
  various conductors, orchestras, and soloists. All in their
  very best. Indeed a five-star recording...
  
  
  
• defective cd
  By A3F2R6EDUZ1E6H on 2002-12-13
  Iliked the cd but it was defective when I received it and would like to get it exchanged for another one. Send me a return label.
  
  
• Good Sampling
  By A3I0RM6ID92U8E on 2003-09-29
  Lots of the famous stuff on here, but how can it be the #1 opera album when it only includes 'The Ride Of The Valkyries' from Wagner's Ring? How about something from Siegfried or Gotterdammerung? But this album does have everything you'd 'expect' it to have.
  
  

• The Most Famous Opera Duets
• The Most Famous Opera Arias
• Nessun Dorma ~ 20 Great Tenor Arias / Pavarotti, Carreras, Domingo, Bergonzi, Aragall, Björling, Di Stefano, Kollo, Corelli, Del Monaco...
• The Best of Italian Opera
• The Best Opera Album in the World...Ever!