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Product Description
Shrink wrapped. First class UK postage.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
32 of 32 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This Butterfly cancels out many others...except for Callas and Scotto who could give the full rich drama of this piece on stage and in the studio(Scotto has pirated performances that are spectacular). Although Freni never sang Butterfly in the opera house she makes such a great figure of Butterfly on disc that one can only imagine on stage what could have been..possibly her greatest role, which she declined to do out of fear of the vocal demands. Such fear did not prevent her from going all outm in this set, along with Pavarotti(never better), and Christa Ludwig as Suzsuki(extraordinary), and Jeromoe Hines(superb), with Von Karajan conducting with great feeling and slow pacing that works. This is a known quanitity to be sure...but it needs to be staed that this Madama Butterfly is the very best.
Freni re-recorded it with Sinopoli conducting on DG, and while good, it cannot go head to head with the Decca set. Enjoy.
25 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
You might wonder who Freni manages it. She does not have the build of the typical leading soprano. She is not your typical fat lady yet she brings to the world of opera the most perfect of voices and performances. Having seen her perform a number of times I can say this disc does capture a lot of her excellent qualities. This performance is magnificent. In the firm version with Domingo the demands of the camera does not bring out her best but with this she shines. The orchestra under Herbert von Karajan does a marvellous job and although I sometimes find his command of orchestra over dramatic in some of his recordings, in this I think he has got it just right. Christa Ludwig turns in a great role as Suzsuki. The part does not have the same edge as some of Puccini's other great supporting roles (like Liu in Turnadot or Musetta in La Boheme) but in this Christa give an excellent performance which fit in perfectly.
What I think is special about this production is the combination of Freni and Pavarotti They were born in the same town (Modena) in the same year and here they are, of course, performing in their own language. Recorded in 1974 just as Pavarotti was getting known his voice still has the magical quality before the high life and concert tours took their tool. They have a special harmony in their performances which I do not think comes through when Freni sings with Domingo. To get the full effect buy this version, the highlights are good, but this is better. The quality is of the recoding is very good and so do not put off into buying later recordings just because it a 1970o's recording.
It is hard to say how the test of time will treat this recording. It is certainly the best around to date. The quality shines through. If you like this, also get the Freni and Pavarotti version of La Boheme.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Madam Butterfly, one of the most popular operas ever composed is given full justice with this wonderful recording. Karajan maintains a superb tempi throughout, preferring to allow the music to flow naturally. The singers, Freni and Pavarotti especially are at their best here. The entire First Act just flows and must be deemed to be the best version of this act available. What I also like about this version; the sound is wonderfully balanced. Neither too loud, nor too quiet, I did not have to adjust the level of sound on my system once throughout the entire recording which I sometimes have to do with some recordings of other operas and musical works. All I had to do was to sit back and thoroughly enjoy this sublime work. First Class!
If you already have recordings of this opera, you should really add this to your collection. My only criticism though is that it is rather highly priced bearing in mind that it has been available for a number of years now. Perhaps, discounting should be made more readily available, particularly to regular customers of Amazon.
If you already have recordings of this opera, you should really add this to your collection. My only criticism though is that it is rather highly priced bearing in mind that it has been available for a number of years now. Perhaps, discounting should be made more readily available, particularly to regular customers of Amazon.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Nothing Better
This is a 3 CD cased set with an extensive multilingual booklet containing loads of info. I am no expert in the finer points of recordings (see other reviews) but I know what I... Read more
Published 1 month ago by A. D. Mcclean
very compelling
It's hard to find a more compelling recording of Puccini's "Butterfly" than this one. Karajan's conducting is expansive at times, just what the opera needs. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Hambletta-Maud
One of the great all-round recordings...
In all areas I firmly believe this is one of the finest opera recordings ever made. The other reviews gives you all the details, but there simply are no flaws. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Viva Verdi
the very best
this version of Butterfly exceeded my expectations,the cost of it was worth every penny,the two leads are at the top of their powers. Read more
Published 6 months ago by sueb
'The Best'....
Yeah....though Karajan's Boheme suffers from some extremely self-indulgent tempi, this set hits the spot. The Vienna Philharmonic are truly a force to be reckoned with. Read more
Published on 16 April 2009 by Mr. David L. Gill
Pure and passionate
Wonderful version of Madama Butterfly. I know several performances, but none touches my heart so much as this one, with the delicate pure voice of Mirella Freni end the passionate... Read more
Published on 11 Mar 2009 by C. P. Van Noort
You get wot you pay for..the phrase finally rings true.Six stars.
This has got to be in the top three of all opera's available on CD.And I've heard several hundred. No other cast comes close, no other conductor comes close, Pavvy and Mirelli are... Read more
Published on 22 Dec 2008 by E. Coolican
Heaven in 3Cds!
Freni's voice is golden, Pavarotti never sounds better, VPO is devine and Karajan is the ultimate Puccini conductor. Just sit back a listen to music sent from heaven.
Published on 3 April 2003 by John Gauci
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