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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
'Great Singers' from Naxos at Lower than Usual Price, 1 Oct 2003
This self-recommending 2-CD collection of 'greatest hits' gathered from Naxos's estimable 'Great Singers' series sells for less than one would expect even from a budget label like Naxos. It's a bargain that one shouldn't resist. It contains single selections from singers ranging over the first half of the 20th century from Caruso ('Una furtiva lagrima,' 1902) to Tebaldi ('Mi chiamano Mimì,' 1951). Included are Melba, Björling (a fabulous 'Nessun dorma'), Ponselle, Ferrier, Tauber, Gigli, Flagstad ('Liebestod,' and with Melchior the second act duet from 'Parsifal'), Elisabeth Schumann, Lotte Lehmann, Erna Berger, Tourel, Svanholm ('Prize Song'), Chaliapin and much more. All the transfers are expertly done, sound levels have been matched, and the arrangement of selections makes for more than two hours of always interesting listening. The only non-'hit' here is the intriguing aria from Orefice's 'Chopin' sung by Pia Tassinari. She also sings, with her husband Ferruccio Tagliavini, the second act duet from 'Werther.' On his own Tagliavini sings 'M'Appari' from Flotow's 'Martha.' Another treasurable duet is Licia Albanese and Giuseppe di Stefano singing 'O soave fanciulla' from 'Bohème.' We get Flagstad's predecessor at the Met, Frida Leider, in a striking 'Abscheulicher, wo eilst du hin?' from 'Fidelio.' (I have to add that the three horns in the 'Fidelio' aria recording are stunningly good.) One of the few non-opera selections, and a real high point, is the inimitable Maggie Teyte singing Debussy's 'Chansons de Bilitis,' all three of them. Yes! Most striking of all, for me, was the pre-war Ezio Pinzo singing the 'Confutatis' from Verdi's 'Requiem,' from the famous 1939 recording featuring Caniglia, Stignani, Gigli and Pinza, and conducted by Tullio Serafin. I hadn't heard it in years and was again excited beyond measure by the ring and masculinity of his glorious basso. But I do go on. I would suggest that you might give this sampler a try so that you can see if you want to buy any of the 'Great Singers' CDs devoted to each of these singers alone. CD1=65:54
CD2=76:06
TT=2h 22m Scott Morrison
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See all 11 tracks on this disc
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