- A - Z of Opera (includes 762 page booklet) : the album description, tracks, reviews, ...

A - Z of Opera (includes 762 page booklet)

A - Z of Opera (includes 762 page booklet) Tracks

1. L'Orfeo: Sinf/Ecco Pur Ch'a Voi - Cappella Musicale Di S. Petronio Di Bologna/Sergio Vartolo

2. Dido And Aeneas: When I Am Laid In Earth - Kym Amps

3. Rinaldo: Lascia Ch'io Pianga - Ingrid Kertesi

4. Serse: Ombra Mai Fu (Largo) - Ingrid Kertesi

5. Orfeo Ed Euridice: Dance Of The Blessed Spirits - Slovak State PO/Johannes Wildner

6. Alceste: Ombre Larve - Theresa Ringhoz/Drottningholm Theatre Chor

7. Don Giovanni: Madamina! (Catalogue Aria) - Andrea Martin

8. Cosi Fan Tutte: Soave Sia Il Vento (Terzetto) - Joanna Borowska/Rohangiz Yachmi/Peter Mikulas

9. The Marriage Of Figaro: Non Piu Andrai - Natale De Carolis

10. Die Zauberflote: Der Holle Rache (Aria Of The Queen Of The Night) - Helen Kwon/Hungarian Festival Chor

11. Fidelio: Abscheulicher! - Inga Nielsen/Hungarian Radio Chor

12. Der Freischutz: Huntsmen's Chor - Slovak Phil Chor

13. The Barber Of Seville: Largo Al Factotum - Roberto Servile

14. L'Elisir D'Amore: Una Furtiva Lagrima - Vincenzo La Scola

15. I Puritani: Qui La Voce Sua Soave - Luba Orgonasova

16. La Traviata: Un Di Felice (Love Duet) - Monika Krause/Yordy Ramiro

17. Nabucco: Va Pensiero (Chor Of The Hebrew Slaves) - Slovak Phil Chor (Bratislava)

18. Aida: Grand March - Nat SO Of Ireland/Rico Saccani

19. Falstaff: E Sogno? O Realita - Roberto Servile

20. Rigoletto: La Donna E Mobile - Yordy Ramiro/Slovak Phil Chor

21. Die Walkure: Ride Of The Valkyries - Czecho-Slovak RSO/Uwe Mund

22. Tannhauser: Begluckt Darf Nun Dich (Pilgrims' Chor) - Slovak Phil Chor

23. La Wally: Ebben, Ne Andro Lontana - Miriam Gauci

24. Rusalka: O, Silver Moon (Song To The Moon) - Jana Valaskova

25. Gianni Schicchi: O Mio Babbino Caro - Luba Orgonasova

26. La Boheme: Che Gelida Manina - Jonathan Welch

27. Madama Butterfly: Un Bel Di Vedremo - Miriam Gauci

28. Tosca: E Lucevan Le Stelle - Giorgio Lamberti

29. Turandot: Nessun Dorma - Thomas Harper/Slovak Phil Chor

30. Lakme: Dome Epais (Flower Duet) - Adriana Kohutkova/Denisa Slepkovska

31. Thais: Meditation - Janos Selmeczi

32. Carmen: L'Amour Est Un Oiseau Rebelle (Habanera) - Graciela Alperyn/Slovak Phil Chor/Bratislava Children's Chor

33. The Pearl Fishers: Au Fond Du Temple Saint (Duet) - Janez Lotric/Igor Morozov

34. Pagliacci: Recitar!... Vesti La Giubba - Nicola Matinucci/Slovak Phil Chor

35. Cavalleria Rusticana: Intermezzo - Czecho-Slovak RSO/Alexander Rahbari

36. Andrea Chenier: Come Un Bel Di Di Maggio - Thomas Harper

37. King Roger: Roxana's Aria - Barbara Zagorzanka

38. Die Tote Stadt: Gluck, Das Mir Verblieb (Marietta's Lied) - Katarina Dalayman/Thomas Sunnegardh/Tomtberga School Children's Chor/Royal Swedish Opr Chor

A - Z of Opera (includes 762 page booklet) Review

A-Z of Opera is a 762-page, illustrated book, accompanied by two-and-a-half hours of opera's most glorious and moving moments on two CDs, and reflects the ever-growing Naxos catalog of recordings ranging from Monteverdi to the contemporary. A-Z of Opera provides a wide range of information on operas and their composers, from Handel's Rinaldo to Mozart's Die Zauberflote, and beyond. It features plot synopses, background details and cast lists for hundreds of operas including well-known standards as well as opera rarities. In addition, there is a wealth of information about all the great composers and a glossary of key musical and operatic terms.

Users's Reviews

Feel free to add your comments about A - Z of Opera (includes 762 page booklet)

Wonderful introduction to opera

More than just a promotional sampler, the Naxos (8.555037-38) contains not only 2 CDs crammed with 39 excerpts from that company's seemingly bottomless catalogue, but also a 762 page book. The text offers plot summaries of almost every important opera and many of far lesser renown (Delius' "The Magic Fountain," Mascagni's "Iris," for example), a brief biography of the composers, a glossary, and finally a discography. The recorded examples are in chronological order from Monteverdi to Korngold. The entries in the book, however, are in alphabetical order--so be careful to look for "Zauberflote," not "Magic Flute," and so on.

Of course, Big Names do not appear on many Naxos opera sets; but this set is an introduction to that vast area of culture and is meant to be an educational (and of course a promotional ) device. Nevertheless, many of the selections on the CDs are beautifully sung, a very few lack characterization (the arias from"Don Giovanni" and "Nozze di Figaro" for two). But at this incredibly low budget price, who can complain?

As soon as I saw what this set had to offer, I immediately ordered a copy as a seasonal gift for a friend who wants to "get into" opera. I could think of no better gift.

There is a sister set titled (8.555319-20) that uses the same format. There are 2 CDs with 36 selections from Gregorian Chant to Glass. The 562-page book gives us the major facts about "the Great Composers and Their Greatest Works, " a glossary, and a 45-page list of classical music heard in films. The discography is included in the composers section. Again, the value of this set as an educational tool is enormous and well worth the extremely low price Naxos is asking.

Posted by Anonymous, on 2000-12-15

Superb Modestly Priced Favorite Arias Collection!!!

I received this as my 20th birthday gift from my bestfriend and I was amazed at the quality and the content of this CD. Some of the arias which I am immensely fond of are included, i.e. "Habanera" from Bizet's "Carmen." And who would have guessed that the soprano on track 10 performing Queen of the Night's Aria from Mozart's "Die Zauberflote" was none other than Hellen Kwon? Amazing!

I really love this gift from my bestfriend for it was thoughtful and well, what can I say that this makes an excellant gift for opera neophytes (though I am not an opera neophyte).

The highlight of this CD is track 13, Rossini's "Largo al Factotum" from "The Barber of Seville." When I first heard this, I was contemplating to myself as to where have I heard this before. Then it hit me: Michigan J. Frog's signature tune! (In case people are wondering who on earth is Michigan J. Frog is, he is the Warner Brother's frog; the frog can be seen on WB network channel). I love this track! Buy this for yourself if not this makes a perfect gift for your opera neophyte friend(s)! This track brings joy and smiles on my face everytime I hear this piece!

Posted by Anonymous, on 2001-02-12

AN OPERA OPUS THAT'S A MUST!

Oh, such letter-perfect perfection! This marvel features a two-hour-plus showcase of well-known arias from "Cosi Fan Tuti," "Aida," "Carmen," "Madame Butterfly" and "The Barber of Seville." It also comes with a book --- 762 pages of remarkable facts, figures and illustrations.Encore!

Posted by Anonymous, on 2003-01-19

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