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Displaying records 51 through 60 of 1383 |
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Price: $50.98
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Sale: $37.99
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Manufacturer: Decca
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Description: Though Czech opera has often had questionable export value due to linguistic barriers, this first truly international recording of Dvorák's most viable opera--inspired by Wagner's love of mythology and Verdi's melodic drama--suggests that non-Czech artists can be more than just credible. As a water sprite who becomes human for love of a prince, Renée Fleming gives her best recorded performance so far with a dramatic heat and theatrical dimension (plus her customary vocal luster) that her Czech predecessors haven't always mustered. Ben Heppner is a robust-voiced prince, though this one- dimensional role doesn't inspire any special affinity from him. Dolora Zajick is a vivid, vocally commanding witch. The one substantial disappointment is Franz Hawiata as the leathery-voiced water goblin. Conductor Sir Charles Mackerras is less interested in creating surface excitement than in bringing out subtleties that help compensate for the composer's occasional lack of melodic precision, though the big moments are by no means slighted. --David Patrick Stearns
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Price: $33.98
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Sale: $23.21
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Manufacturer: Decca
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Description: It's hard to resist such a starry cast, and Sutherland-Pavarotti fans will want this no matter what. Luciano's legions will find more to crow about, though, for he's in fine voice, creating an Alfredo to remember with his distinctive lyric tenor endowing the arias and even the recitatives with a bright sound and excellent diction that lets you understand every word. But Sutherland was a better Violetta in her first traversal of the role. By 1979, when this set was made, her impressive high notes remained intact, but the rest of the voice was showing wear, her diction was muffled, and dramatic values were underplayed. Manuguerra's a fine Germont and Bonynge's conducting is unsteady, tending to drag in the latter acts. This set will give pleasure to many, but do investigate those of Callas and de los Angeles on EMI and Cotrubas with Kleiber on DG, among others. --Dan Davis
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Price: $33.98
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Sale: $24.73
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Manufacturer: Decca
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Description: This may not be the most dramatically charged of all Cav/Pag combos, but it does star the golden-voiced, sincere, in-his- prime Luciano Pavarotti in both operas, and that's enough for some people. Add to this the lovely Mirella Freni as Nedda in I Pagliacci, and the exciting, underrecorded Julia Var´dy in Cavalleria Rusticana, and quite the dramatic evening unfolds. Giuseppe Patané leads I Pagliacci with vigor and sensitivity to the tenor, who turns in a stunning "Vesti la giubba," and Gianandrea Gavazzeni takes a big approach to the earlier scenes in Cavalleria Rusticana, while keeping the one-on-ones intimately intense. Ingvar Wixell is overparted as Tonio, but Piero Cappuccilli's Alfio is a fine, snarling portrait. A first choice for Cavalleria Rusticana alone might be the recording with Domingo and Baltsa or that with Bjorling and Milanov; for I Pagliacci alone, try Björling and de los Angeles. But if it's The Large One you want, here's the right place. --Robert Levine
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Price: $33.98
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Sale: $28.09
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Manufacturer: Philips
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Price: $26.98
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Sale: $19.83
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Manufacturer: Telarc
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Price: $26.98
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Sale: $20.62
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Manufacturer: Telarc
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Description: Robert Shaw is so dependable a guide to the masterpieces of the choral repertory that it's safe to say you can't go wrong in turning to him for Haydn's greatest work for voices. That's true even in a field crowded with solid alternatives geared to differing tastes. So if you want Haydn's original German text ("Die Schöpfung"), there are excellent performances by von Karajan on DG and Wöldike on Vanguard; for the same, with an extra dash of exuberance, there's Solti on London. If only original instruments will suffice, try Gardiner on Archiv. But for a Creation in English (using Shaw's own superior translation), Shaw rules the roost. It's also the best-recorded version; when the big choruses let loose, this is an audiophile's delight. The soloists are never less than adequate, though no match for von Karajan's starry cast. Shaw's interpretation hews the fine line between drama and lyricism; his middle-of-the road stance lets the music speak eloquently for itself. Even if you have a German-language version, this set will give joy and insights. --Dan Davis
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Price: $16.98
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Sale: $7.99
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Manufacturer: EMI Digital
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Price: $67.98
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Sale: $49.37
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Manufacturer: Decca
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Price: $50.98
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Sale: $35.98
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Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
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Price: $16.98
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Sale: $9.99
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Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
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Displaying records 51 through 60 of 1383
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