- Original Release Date: 28 Nov 2005
- Release Date: 12 Jun 2007
- Number of Discs: 2
- Label: Virgin Classics
- Copyright: c 2004 EMI Records ltd
- Total Length: 1:35:36
- Genres:
- ASIN: B001J7L19M
- Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 20,896 in MP3 Albums (See Top 100 in MP3 Albums)
Sign up to the MP3 Newsletter and not only will you receive weekly updates on the latest new releases and top offers, but we'll also give you 25% off your next MP3 purchase. |
MP3 Songs
Previous
Play all
Next
Play all samples
MP3
Paused
Loading ...
Unavailable
Loading ...
Volume slider
Mute/Unmute
To view this content, download Flash player (version 9.0.0 or higher)
Product details |
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
22 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I am genuinely sorry to have to write harshly of this performance, as I have enjoyed Emanuelle Haim's previous outings on CD very much indeed, and admire the energy, flair and passion which she brings to her music making. Here, sadly, a combination of some poor singing and over-emphatic, seat-of-the-pants, white-knuckle-ride direction reduce Monteverdi's poised masterpiece to an emotional mess.
Poor singing? Not from Ian Bostridge, who sings with taste and discretion without ever suggesting full immersion in the period style - and his "emoting" on seemingly random words and phrases brings diminishing dramatic returns; or from Patricia Ciofi's cleanly delivered Eurydice. Alice Coote and Carolyn Sampson deserve honourable mention too for their contributions.
Most of the rest, however, are much too concerned to flex their admittedly impressive Verdian muscles to worry too much about how to sing *Monte*verdi! The tone is set by Natalie Dessay's screeching, showy and vulgar delivery of La Musica's beautiful opening stanzas. She does it as if she were auditioning for the mad scene from "Lucia di Lammermoor" and the effect is utterly horrid. And did that admirably virile baritone Christopher Maltman, to take one of a multitude of other sinners, not think that the words "soavi accenti" ('sweet strains') might deserve to be delivered sweetly and gently, rather than bellowed as if he were Scarpia in the last throws of bleeding to death?
Too much of the singing is overstated, overcooked and overprojected. The subtle classical emotions are delivered to us as "in your face" emotional outbursts from a gang of adolescent misfits.... Read more ›
Poor singing? Not from Ian Bostridge, who sings with taste and discretion without ever suggesting full immersion in the period style - and his "emoting" on seemingly random words and phrases brings diminishing dramatic returns; or from Patricia Ciofi's cleanly delivered Eurydice. Alice Coote and Carolyn Sampson deserve honourable mention too for their contributions.
Most of the rest, however, are much too concerned to flex their admittedly impressive Verdian muscles to worry too much about how to sing *Monte*verdi! The tone is set by Natalie Dessay's screeching, showy and vulgar delivery of La Musica's beautiful opening stanzas. She does it as if she were auditioning for the mad scene from "Lucia di Lammermoor" and the effect is utterly horrid. And did that admirably virile baritone Christopher Maltman, to take one of a multitude of other sinners, not think that the words "soavi accenti" ('sweet strains') might deserve to be delivered sweetly and gently, rather than bellowed as if he were Scarpia in the last throws of bleeding to death?
Too much of the singing is overstated, overcooked and overprojected. The subtle classical emotions are delivered to us as "in your face" emotional outbursts from a gang of adolescent misfits.... Read more ›
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By R. McClean
Format:Audio CD
I received this set as a gift from my daughter in France. I'm pleased with the performance - inventive, well sprung with the feel that it sounds like the sort of performance Monteverdi would have been able to put on. For me, Ian Bostridge's voice and approach are not best suited to the character of Orfeo, although his singing is very proficient.
HOWEVER...on my CD2 there are sound drop-outs around tracks 34 to the end at each track start and finish (as if inserting the track break has interfered with the recording). I tried to persuade Virgin to change it, but was told to go back to the retailer. Can't say I'm impressed with this - why should I have to bother my daughter and send the set back to her for her to send on? I'll have to live with it, faults and all, but a black mark for Virgin.
HOWEVER...on my CD2 there are sound drop-outs around tracks 34 to the end at each track start and finish (as if inserting the track break has interfered with the recording). I tried to persuade Virgin to change it, but was told to go back to the retailer. Can't say I'm impressed with this - why should I have to bother my daughter and send the set back to her for her to send on? I'll have to live with it, faults and all, but a black mark for Virgin.
19 of 26 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Audio CD
This is a true work of art. The soloists are world class and Le Concert d'Astee play superbly under Emmanuelle Haim. The recording quality is outstanding making this a version of L'Orfeo that is simply beyond words. Highly recommended.
4 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Not for the first time, the thoughtful and diligent Emmanuelle Haim has created a top-rank performance of an important work. L'Orfeo is, of course, more than important, and deserves all the attention it gets from a number of conductors, though Haim's is probably the best of the lot. She cuts straight down to the essence of the work, and assembles a very good and well-matched ensemble to perform it with the right spirit as well as the right techniques. It's a little stark, perhaps, and certainly carries no excess baggage, so is probably the right choice for those who want their early opera in an honest, uncomplicated form. Try it.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:MP3 Download|Amazon Verified Purchase
I am not a Monteverdi or Early Opera specialist but this is a superbly performed account, deftly directed by Emmanuelle Haim. Dessay and Bostridge are radiant.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 7 reviews
4.7 out of 5 stars
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Look for similar items by category
