The Ultimate Puccini Collection

Your favorite singers might be Luciano Pavarotti, Renata Tebaldi, or Franco Corelli, and you might have complete operas sung by them, but this CD makes less-popular singers known, such as Pilar Lorengar, and demonstrate how well each singer sings the aria that they sing the best. For example, the song "Un bel dì vedremo" from Madama Butterfly has been sung by just about every famous soprano out there (Maria Callas, Renata Scotto, Renata Tebaldi, etc.) but one soprano whom I've never heard of, Régine Crespin, sings this aria in the most enchanting way i've ever heard. More examples include Pilar Lorengar singing "Ch'il bel sogno di Doretta" from La Rondine, and Gianna D'Angelo singing "Musetta's Waltz" from La Boheme. And don't worry, the big stars sing their best arias, too: Luciano Pavarotti blows you away his "Nessun Dorma" from Turandot and Jussi Björling makes you want to cry with his "Ch'ella mi creda libero e lontano" from La Fanciulla del West.

Finally, I just have to say that this CD is a must. London Records carefully chose each singer with their best arias to perform and this CD, and most importantly, EVERYONE is in their prime here. There isn't anything bad to say about this CD except that I wish there was more on here, but what can you expect from one CD? I also wish that a little bit of Maria Callas was on here, but then again, she is only on EMI CD's and this is a London Recording, oh well, just buy all of her recordings anyway :-)

I hope this helped whoever is reading this. I'd also like to hear your comments, so email me.

I'd have to say that London Records has the best opera recordings overall, and it's no wonder why they were able to form such a magnificent compilation of Puccini's most listened to arias on this CD. I recommend it to any opera fan, whether novice or expert, because what London did is use the best singers for each aria.

Your favorite singers might be Luciano Pavarotti, Renata Tebaldi, or Franco Corelli, and you might have complete operas sung by them, but this CD makes less-popular singers known, such as Pilar Lorengar, and demonstrate how well each singer sings the aria that they sing the best. For example, the song "Un bel dì vedremo" from Madama Butterfly has been sung by just about every famous soprano out there (Maria Callas, Renata Scotto, Renata Tebaldi, etc.) but one soprano whom I've never heard of, Régine Crespin, sings this aria in the most enchanting way i've ever heard. More examples include Pilar Lorengar singing "Ch'il bel sogno di Doretta" from La Rondine, and Gianna D'Angelo singing "Musetta's Waltz" from La Boheme. And don't worry, the big stars sing their best arias, too: Luciano Pavarotti blows you away his "Nessun Dorma" from Turandot and Jussi Björling makes you want to cry with his "Ch'ella mi creda libero e lontano" from La Fanciulla del West.

Finally, I just have to say that this CD is a must. London Records carefully chose each singer with their best arias to perform and this CD, and most importantly, EVERYONE is in their prime here. There isn't anything bad to say about this CD except that I wish there was more on here, but what can you expect from one CD? I also wish that a little bit of Maria Callas was on here, but then again, she is only on EMI CD's and this is a London Recording, oh well, just buy all of her recordings anyway :-)

I hope this helped whoever is reading this. I'd also like to hear your comments, so email me.

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   Written on July 12, 2000
   Summary: Only London Records could do it...
I'd have to say that London Records has the best opera recordings overall, and it's no wonder why they were able to form such a magnificent compilation of Puccini's most listened to arias on this CD. I recommend it to any opera fan, whether novice or expert, because what London did is use the best singers for each aria.

Your favorite singers might be Luciano Pavarotti, Renata Tebaldi, or Franco Corelli, and you might have complete operas sung by them, but this CD makes less-popular singers known, such as Pilar Lorengar, and demonstrate how well each singer sings the aria that they sing the best. For example, the song "Un bel dì vedremo" from Madama Butterfly has been sung by just about every famous soprano out there (Maria Callas, Renata Scotto, Renata Tebaldi, etc.) but one soprano whom I've never heard of sings this aria in the most enchanting way i've ever heard.

More examples include Pilar Lorengar singing "Ch'il bel sogno di Doretta" from La Rondine, and Gianna D'Angelo singing "Musetta's Waltz" from La Boheme. And don't worry, the big stars sing their best arias, too: Luciano Pavarotti blows you away his "Nessun Dorma" from Turandot and Jussi Björling makes you want to cry with his "Ch'ella mi creda libero e lontano" from La Fanciulla del West.

Finally, I just have to say that this CD is a must. London Records carefully chose each singer with their best arias to perform and this CD, and most importantly, EVERYONE is in their prime here. There isn't anything bad to say about this CD except that I wish there was more on here, but what can you expect from one CD? I also wish that a little bit of Maria Callas was on here, but then again, she is only on EMI CD's and this is a London Recording, oh well, just buy all of her recordings anyway :-)

I hope this helped whoever is reading this. I'd also like to hear your comments, so email me.

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   Written on March 20, 2000
   Summary: Lush and beautiful
Yes, the selections are all familiar, but having these beautiful pieces collected on a single CD is wonderful. The performances are stirring and moving. I might have liked a bit more Te Kanawa, but that is nit picking. While some of the recordings are decades old, they have been reproduced quite well on this disc. I would highly recommend this selection to anyone who loves great melodies and voices. I'd love to have this playing in my car next time a deafening rap-mobile pulls up along side! Snob appeal? Well, only marginally. It would just be nice to expose someone to truly grand music for the first time. Ah, dream on....

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   Written on January 25, 2000
   Summary: Fabulous
This cd is magnificent, I adore it. Old favorites and gorgeous voices, a good introduction to opera through Puccini's "sappy" melodies. A must.