The Greatest Opera Show on Earth

This really is a remarkable collection, and anyone even remotely interested in opera is bound to be vastly entertained by it. Almost everything and everyone is here, albeit in small doses: Tebaldi, Pavarotti (a lot), Bjoerling, Bartoli, Sutherland, Solti, Karajan, Troyanos, Gheorghiu, Nucci; the composers are Puccini, Verdi, Bizet, and all the other usual suspects. There are plenty of fine compilation sets on the market, and this is one of the best. One can only hope that it whets listeners' appetites for whole operas. --Robert Levine Amazon.com

Always makes me happy

I just bought my second copy of this excellent CD because I literally wore the first one out. No matter how I feel before I play this music, I feel joy whenever I listen to it. Highly recommended to beginners and the more experienced opera listeners as well. April 7, 2007

The Opera Collection To Own

For novices, and beginners who are having their first sample of the fine art of opera, this collection is a must have. In what are the most beloved and well-known operatic pieces, "celebrity" opera stars Placido Domingo, Kiri Te Kenawa, Cecilia Bartoli, Andrea Bocelli, Joan Sutherland and Luciano Pavoratti, provide a rich and colorful collection. Among the beautiful soprano arias you will find "Un Bel Di" from Madama Butterfly, "Voi Che Sapete" from Nozze Di Figaro and "Habenera" from Carmen great tenor arias such as the Flower Song from Carmen, Figaro's Aria from Barber of Seville. You will be enchanted with the fine ensembles from La Traviata (the waltz-like Brindisi) the Flower Duet from Lakme,the Anvil Chorus from Il Trovatore and the very rarely heard O Silver Moon from Dvorak's Rusalka, sung beautifully by Renee Fleming. This cd is a must have for opera and non-opera fans alike. Five star buy. Highlights include the Anvil Chorus from Il Trovatore with its powerful chorus, Va Pensiero from Nabucco with its message of hope and sung beautifully by the John Aldis Choir, and the lovely "Barcarolle" from the Tales of Hoffman. A beautiful tenor aria rarely performed also is "Mattinata" sung gorgeously by Bocelli. A five star buy. Opera has never sounded more attractive than it does in this high-quality cd. January 21, 2002

great stuff!

this is a great CD. I got it as a birthday present from someone who knows how much I love opera. Lots of great selections here, sung by great singers. i want to be an opera singer! i lost it in Mexico and now I am buying another one online! April 18, 2001

A fantastic collection

No question - this is an execellent collection of recordings! Rarely does one see this degree of variety and balance in the selection of composers, operas, conductors, and performers in a 2 CD set. If forced to be overly critical, though, I would make 3 points based on my personal preferences: First, I agree with those who feel Pavarotti is featured too often. Personally, I would rather have more Carreras (he appears only once - Donna non vidi mai from Manon Lescaut). Second, while there are some outstanding duets (like the pavarotti/sutherland brindisi from Traviata) and choruses (e.g., soldier's chorus from faust), there are too few ensembles. The Bella Figlia quartet from Rigoletto or the Mia Madre quintet from Figaro would have been excellent additions. Finally, there just ain't enough Wagner (is there ever?). We get only the bridal chorus from Lohengrin and the Ride of the Valkyries. The Meistersinger prize song or the pilgrim's chorus from Tannhauser would both have helped round out the set.

However, to make these additions without adding another CD, some of what's already there would have to go. And what's there now is so glorious, so representative of the great operatic works and (relatively recent) interpretations, I'd hate to see something else get left out. March 1, 2001

Love this!

I enjoy opera and classical music quite a bit, without being a big opera buff. The selections for this CD are great -- some of my all-time favorites, and some pieces from operasI'd never heard before. I've been enjoying this from the moment I got it. This would make a great gift for someonoe like me. October 21, 2000

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