Opera – Alto CD

Korngold: Cello Concerto; Much ado about Nothing (Suite); Straussiana; Opera aria/Interlude

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:44:05 +0000

“all performances warmly sympathetic…sound with full amplitude and plenty of range to suit the music” “operatic excerpts make up a warmly enjoyable programme” (Penguin Guide 3 stars); “Zuill Bailey proves a superbly stylish soloist in the single-movement Cello Concerto ….and I enjoyed it a lot. What a wonderfully compact and affecting work ! “ “Excellent sound: not to be missed.” (Gramophone)

Suite: Much Ado About Nothing, Op.11 (excerpts)

[1] 1. Ouverture 5:14
[2] 3. Mummenschanz (Hornpipe) – Prelude Act 2 2:26
[3] 4. Festmusik – Act 2 Scene 1 3:30
[4] 6. Gartenmusik (Garden Music) – Prelude Act 3 3:54
[5] 7. Intermezzo – An Open Scene 2:08
[6] 8. Holzapfel und Schlehwein – Prelude Act 3 Scene 2 2:33
[7] 9. Madchen im Brautgemach (Girl in Bridal Chamber) Prelude Act 4 3:34
[8] 12. Trauermusik – Prelude Act 5 4:59
[9] 14. Schlusstanz – Finale Act 5 2:37
[10] Prelude to Act 2 of Die Tote Stadt, Op.12 7:26
(Karen Robertson, soprano; Tibor Pazmanay, organ)
[11] Cello Concerto in C, Op.37 12:45
[12] Interlude from Das Wunder der Heliane, Op.20 8:28

Suite: Straussiana

[13] Polka 1:28
[14] Mazurka 2:19
[15] Waltz

Turandot (complete opera)

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:40:43 +0000

“the stereo version, as sheer sound, is pretty staggering. Indeed from the purely technical view this set can stand beside the Decca Rheingold… The Rome Opera chorus and orchestra certainly acquit themselves well here….Erich Leinsdorf …. knows how to build up an exciting climax; and he paces the riddle scene admirably. Nilsson’s Turandot is superbly sung, and with the greatest of ease. Hers is a natural Turandot voice, but she knows also how to make it sound beautiful. Björling, as was to be expected, is a patrician Calaf, and sings with the elegance and style one expects of him.” (‘Opera’)

Princess Turandot – Birgit Nilsson, soprano
Calaf – Jussi Björling, tenor
Liù – Renata Tebaldi, soprano
Ping – Mario Sereni, baritone
Pang – Piero De Palma, tenor
Pong – Tommaso Frascati, tenor
Timur – Giorgio Tozzi, bass
Emperor Altoum – Alessio De Paolis, tenor
Erich Leinsdorf conductor /Orchestra & Chorus of
Teatro dell’Opera di Roma. Recorded at the Rome Opera.

Act 1

1 Act 1. Popolo di Pekino! / Indietro cani! 5:29
2 Act 1. Gira la cote! / Perchè tarda la luna? 6:27
3 Act 1. O giovinetto! Grazia, grazia! 4:28
4 Act 1. Figlio, che fai? 1:39
5 Act 1. Ferno! Che fai? T’arresta / Non indugiare! 6:00
6 Act 1. Signore, ascolta! 2:32
7 Act 1. Non piangere, Liù! / Ah! Per l’ultima volta! 5:05

Act II

8 Act 2. Scene 1. Olà, Pang! Olà Pong! 3:18
9 Act 2. Scene 1. Ho una casa nell ‘Honan 3:00
10 Act 2. Scene 1. O mondo, o mondo… / O tigre! O tigre! 5:39
11 Act 2. Scene 2. Introduzione 1:09
12 Act 2. Scene 2. Gravi, enormi ed imponenti 3:06
13 Act 2. Scene 2. Un giuramento atroce mi costringe 3:53
14 Act 2. Scene 2. Popolo di Pekino 1:35

CD2 [60:45] Act II (cont)

1 Act 2. Scene 2. In questa Reggia 6:04
2 Act 2. Scene 2. Straniero, ascolta 6:36
3 Act 2. Scene 2. Gloria, gloria, o vincitore! / Figlio del cielo! Padre augusto! 4:16
4 Act 2. Scene 2. Tre enigmi m’hai proposto 3:49

Act III

5 Act 3. Scene 1. Introduzione. Cosi comanda Turandot 3:22
6 Act 3. Scene 1. Nessun dorma! / Tu che guardi le stelle 7:23
7 Act 3. Scene 1. Principessa divina! / Tanto amore segreto 7:17
8 Act 3. Scene 1. Tu che di gel sei cinta 3:13
9 Act 3. Scene 1. Liù! Liù! Sorgi! 4:28
10 Act 3. Scene 1. Principessa di morte 3:32
11 Act 3. Scene 1. Che è mai di me? 2:38
12 Act 3. Scene 1. Del primo pianto 3:34
13 Act 3. Scene 1. So il tuo nome! 2:08
14 Act 3. Scene 2. Diecimila anni al nostro Imperatore! 2:11

Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:40:21 +0000

“For many, Opera is not just about large sopranos and dashing tenors sharing tender moments in duets, or villainous baritones, or even erring daughters; we also relish the thrill of a fine chorus rising to an old favourite such as the Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves, the Aida Grand March and other noble melodies. Such pieces have long been popular; they are also extremely rewarding for the singers …. Since many operas open with a chorus, the responsibility falls upon choristers to set the standard” (James Murray)

1. Gloria del’Egitto (Aidea:Verdi) 5.32
Singverein der Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra / Herbert von Karajan (1959)
2. Va pensiero* (Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves) (Nabucco:Verdi) 4.50
3. Anvil Chorus* (Il Trovatore:Verdi) 2.46
4. Soldiers’ Chorus* (Il Trovatore:Verdi) /Chorus of Maggio Musicale, Fiorentino / 2.20
Orchestra Grand Théatre de Genève /Alberto Erede (1957)
5. Zitti, zitti* (Rigoletto:Verdi) 1.39
6. Noi siamo zingarelle…Di Madride noi siam Mattadori (La Traviata:Verdi) 5.47
Chorus & Orchestra of Rome Opera / Tullio Serafin, Rec.1958
7. Fuoco di Gioia! (Otello:Verdi) Vienna State Opera Chorus / 2.47
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra / Herbert von Karajan, Rec.1960
8. Humming Chorus** (Madama Butterfly:Puccini) / Tullio Serafin (1957) 3.18
Chorus & Orchestra Accademia di Santa Cecilia, Rome /
9. Giro la cote (Turandot:Puccini) / Alberto Erede (1957) 7.26
10. Easter Hymn** (Cavalleria Rusticana:Mascagni) /Giulietta Simionato/Serafin (1960) 4.25
11. Bell Chorus** (I Pagliacci:Leoncavallo) / Francesco Molinari-Pradelli (1958) 2.33
12. Soldiers’ Chorus* (Faust:Gounod) 4.01
13. Les voici, les voici*(Carmen:Bizet) 3.57
14. O fortuna (Carmina Burana:Orff) 2.45
Rutgers University Choir / Philadelphia Orchestra / Eugene Ormandy (1960)
15. Coronation Scene*** (Boris Godunov:Mussorgsky) 4.47
Chorus & Orchestra Bolshoi Theatre / Mark Ermler, Rec.1985
16. Prisoner’s Chorus (Fidelio:Bethoven) /Kurt Wehofschitz & Raymond Wolansky 3.03
Philharmonia Chorus & Orchestra / Otto Klemperer, Rec.1962
17. Huntsmen’s Chorus (Der Freischutz:Weber) 2.35
Chorus & Orchestra of Bavarian Radio / Eugen Jochum, Rec.1960
18. Steurmann, lacht die wacht (Der Fliegende Holländer:Wagner) 3.07
Chorus and Orchestra Royal Opera House, Covent Garden / Antal Dorati (1960)
19. Bridal Chorus* (Lohengrin:Wagner) 4.53
20. Wach auf * (Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg:Wagner) 2.48

Jussi Bjorling In Concert

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:35:49 +0000

Bjorling in Concert

Including: Pearl Fisher’s and other duets

Catalogue Number: ALC 1007

“Bjorling was sadly underused as a concert singer; recordings of renowned recitals such as that here offer glimpses of his musicianship even in unfamiliar territory…included(also) are extracts taken from his two most successful complete opera recordings: Manon Lescaut and II Trovatore, as well as his famous Pearl Fisher’s Duet: after many decades they are still considered benchmark performances.”
– James Murray

1-16: Carnegie Hall Recital, 1955
Adelaide (Beethoven); FrÃ¼hlingsglaube (Schubert); Die Forelle
(The Trout) (Schubert); StÃ¤ndchen (Schubert): Die bÃ¶se Farbe (Schubert):
Traum durch die DÃ¤mmerung (R.Strauss); CÃ¤cilie (R.Strauss);
StÃ¤ndchen (Brahms); Il mio tesoro (Don Giovanni: Mozart):
Amor ti vieta (Fedora:Giordano); Flower Song:(Carmen: Bizet)
Dream Song: Le Reve (Manon:Massenet); Ideale (Tosti);
Ãˆ lucevan le stelle (Tosca:Puccini); Lâ€alba separa della luce ombra (Tosti);
I Dream of Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair (Foster)
Frederic Schauwecker, piano

17-23: Duets, arias and songs with various orchestras
Ah! Manon, mi tradisce (Manon Lescaut) with Licia Albanese
Presto in filaâ€¦No! Pazzo son! (Manon Lescaut) with Franco Calabrese
Deserto sulla terra (Il Trovatore) with Leonard Warren
Di qual tera luce..Ah! si ben mio (Il Trovatore) with Zinka Milanov
Di quella pira (Il Trovatore) with The Robert Shaw Chorale
Au fond du temple saint (Les Pecheurs des Perles) with Robert Merrill
For You Alone (Geehl)
Because (dâ€Hardelot)