GREAT OPERA (10-CD Box set)

The very first operas were performed in Florence in the mid-1590s. Since then, musical styles have blossomed and evolved out of all recognition, yet opera continues to be heavily influenced by the political, social and cultural contexts surrounding its genesis. A collaborative enterprise, an opera brings together the works of composers, librettists, singers and designers alike, generating rich veins of public response and resulting in what is surely the most dramatic of all musical media. In this collection, we have brought together some of the most-loved operas, ranging from the elegance of Mozart’s Don Giovanni to the raw emotion of Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana. The lighthearted japes of Rossini’s Barber of Seville contrast royally with the pomp and spectacle of Verdi’s Aida, whilst the sultry allure of Bizet’s Carmen is the perfect foil to the lachrymose tragedy of Puccini’s La Bohème. This box is sure to entice any listener further into the magical world of opera.


Disc 1

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
Da Ponte, Lorenzo, lyricist(s)
[Hide Details]   Don Giovanni (Highlights), K. 527
Skovhus, Bo, baritone
Monarcha, Janusz, bass
Pieczonka, Adrianne, soprano
Kerl, Torsten, tenor
Schorg, Regina, soprano
Girolami, Renato, bass
Daniel, Boaz, bass
Raimondi, Ildiko, soprano
Hungarian Radio Chorus
Nicolaus Esterhazy Sinfonia
Halasz, Michael, Conductor
 
1.   		Overture 00:05:56
2.   		Act I Scene 1: Introduzione: Notte e giorno faticar (Leporello, Donna Anna, Don Giovanni, Il Commendatore) 00:05:31
3.   		Act I Scene 3: Duetto: Fuggi, crudele, fuggi! (Donna Anna, Don Ottavio) 00:03:58
4.   		Act I Scene 5: Aria: Ah chi mi dice mai (Donna Elvira, Don Giovanni, Leporello) 00:03:38
5.   		Act I Scene 5: Aria: Madamina, il catalogo e questo (Leporello) 00:05:41
6.   		Act I Scene 7: Coro: Giovinette che fate all'amore (Zerlina, Masetto, Chorus) 00:01:26
7.   		Act I Scene 8: Aria: Ho capito, signor si (Masetto) 00:01:41
8.   		Act I Scene 9: Duettino: La ci darem la mano (Zerlina, Don Giovanni) 00:03:15
9.   		Act I Scene 10: Aria: Ah fuggi il traditor (Donna Elvira) 00:01:17
10.   		Act I Scene 12: Quartetto: Non ti fidar, o misera (Donna Anna, Donna Elvira, Don Ottavio, Don Giovanni) 00:04:15
11.   		Act I Scene 13: Recitativo accompagnato ed Aria: Don Ottavio, son morta! - Aria: Or sai chi l'onore (Donna Anna, Don Ottavio) 00:06:08
12.   		Act I Scene 13 Appendix: Aria: Dalla sua pace (Don Ottavio) 00:03:39
13.   		Act I Scene 15: Aria: Fin ch'han dal vino (Don Giovanni) 00:01:28
14.   		Act I Scene 16: Aria: Batti, batti, o bel Masetto (Zerlina) 00:03:33
15.   		Act II Scene 3: Canzonetta: Deh, vieni alla finestra (Don Giovanni) 00:01:58
16.   		Act II Scene 6: Aria: Vedrai, carino (Zerlina) 00:03:40
17.   		Act II Scene 10: Aria: Il mio tesoro intanto (Don Ottavio) 00:04:03
18.   		Act II Scene 10 Appendix 2: Recitativo accompagnato ed Aria: In quali eccessi (Donna Elvira) 00:05:35
19.   		Act II Scene 15: Don Giovanni, a cenar teco (Il Commendatore, Don Giovanni, Leporello, Chorus) 00:06:37
20.   		Act II Scene 16: Questo e il fin (Donna Anna, Donna Elvira, Zerlina, Don Ottavio, Masetto, Leporello) 00:01:53


Disc 2

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
Schikaneder, Emanuel, lyricist(s)
[Hide Details]   Die Zauberflote (The Magic Flute), K. 620 (excerpts)
Leitner, Lotte, soprano
Kwon, Hellen, soprano
Norberg-Schulz, Elisabeth, soprano
Gahmlich, Wilfried, tenor
Lippert, Herbert, tenor
Tichy, Georg, baritone
Rydl, Kurt, bass
Hungarian Festival Chorus
Budapest Failoni Chamber Orchestra
Halasz, Michael, Conductor
 
1.   		Act I: Overture 00:06:40
2.   		Act I: Zu hilfe! Zu hilfe! (Tamino, the Three Ladies) 00:06:27
3.   		Act I: Der Vogelfanger bin ich ja (Papageno) 00:02:58
4.   		Act I: Dies Bildnis ist bezaubernd schon (Tamino) 00:03:36
5.   		Act I: O zitt're nicht, mein lieber Sohn! (Queen of the Night) 00:04:48
6.   		Act I: Hm! Hm! Hm! Hm! (Papageno, Tamino, the Three Ladies) 00:06:11
7.   		Act I: Bei Mannern, welche Liebe fuhlen (Pamina, Papageno) 00:03:02
8.   		Act I: Wie stark ist nicht dein Zauberton! (Tamino) 00:02:46
9.   		Act I: Schnelle Fusse, rascher Mut (Pamina, Papageno, Monostatos, Slaves) 00:03:16
10.   		Act II: March of the Priests 00:02:41
11.   		Act II: O Isis und Osiris (Sarastro, Chorus) 00:03:03
12.   		Act II: Alles fuhlt der liebe Freuden (Monostatos) 00:01:19
13.   		Act II: Der Holle Rache kocht in meinen Herzen (Queen of the Night) 00:02:56
14.   		Act II: In diesen heil'gen Hallen (Sarastro) 00:03:58
15.   		Act II: Ach, ich fuhl's (Pamina) 00:04:18
16.   		Act II: Ein Madchen oder Weibchen (Papageno) 00:04:12
17.   		Act II: Pa - Pa - Pa - Pa - Pa - Pa - Papageno (Papageno, Papagena) 00:02:30
18.   		Act II: Nur stille, stille, stille, stille (Monostatos, Queen of the Night, the Three Ladies) 00:02:10
19.   		Act II: Die Strahlen der Sonne vertreiben die Nacht (Sarastro, Chorus) 00:02:44


Disc 3

Rossini, Gioachino
Sterbini, Cesare, lyricist(s)
[Hide Details]   The Barber of Seville (Highlights)
Grandis, Franco de, bass
Ganassi, Sonia, mezzo-soprano
Kertesi, Ingrid, soprano
Romero, Angelo, bass
Servile, Roberto, baritone
Vargas, Ramon, tenor
Hungarian Radio Chorus
Budapest Failoni Chamber Orchestra
Humburg, Will, Conductor
 
1.   		Overture 00:06:43
2.   		Act I Cavatina: Ecco, ridente in cielo (Conte) 00:04:46
3.   		Act I Cavatina: Largo al factotum della citta (Figaro) 00:04:37
4.   		Act I Duetto: All'idea di quel metallo (Figaro, Conte) 00:08:35
5.   		Act I Cavatina: Una voce poco fa (Rosina) 00:05:56
6.   		Act I Aria: La calunnia e un venticello (Basilio) 00:04:34
7.   		Act I Duetto: Dunque io son... tu non m'inganni (Rosina, Figaro) 00:05:03
8.   		Act I Aria A un dottor della mia sorte (Bartolo) 00:06:13
9.   		Act I Finale: Fredda ed immobile 00:07:54
10.   		Act II Duetto: Pace e gioia sia con voi (Conte, Bartolo) 00:03:01
11.   		Act II Aria: Contro un cor che accende amore (Rosina, Conte) 00:07:16
12.   		Act II Sequito del Quintetto: Buona sera, mio signore 00:02:11
13.   		Act II Aria: Il vecchiotto cerca moglie (Berta) 00:03:10
14.   		Act II Terzetto: Ah! qual colpo inaspettato! (Rosina, Figaro, Conte) 00:06:39
15.   		Act II Finaletto: Di si felice innesto serbiam memoria eterna 00:02:06


Disc 4

Verdi, Giuseppe
Piave, Francesco Maria, lyricist(s)
[Hide Details]   La traviata (Highlights)
Krause, Monika, soprano
Braga, Rannveig, mezzo-soprano
Neshybova, Ivica, soprano
Ramiro, Yordy, tenor
Tichy, Georg, baritone
Spacek, Jozef, baritone
Slovak Philharmonic Chorus
Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
Rahbari, Alexander, Conductor
 
1.   		Act I: Prelude 00:03:51
2.   		Act I: Brindisi: Libiamo ne'lieti calici, "Drinking Song" (Alfredo, Chorus, Violetta) 00:02:55
3.   		Act I: Un di, felice, eterea (Alfredo, Violetta) 00:03:02
4.   		Act I: E' strano! e strano! (Violetta) 00:03:27
5.   		Act I: Follie! … Sempre libera degg'io (Violetta) 00:04:39
6.   		Act II Scene 1: Lunge da lei per me (Alfredo) 00:03:41
7.   		Act II Scene 1: O mio rimorso! (Alfredo) 00:01:33
8.   		Act II Scene 1: Pura si come un angelo - Dite alla giovine (Germont, Violetta) 00:10:02
9.   		Act II Scene 1: Dammi tu forza, o cielo! (Violetta, Annina, Alfredo) 00:03:49
10.   		Act II Scene 1: Di Provenza il mar, il suol (Germont) 00:03:58
11.   		Act II Scene 2: Noi siamo zingarelle (Chorus, Flora, Marchese) 00:02:44
12.   		Act III: Prelude 00:04:00
13.   		Act III: Teneste la promessa (Violetta) 00:04:03
14.   		Act III: Signora! … Che t'accade - Parigi, o cara (Annina, Violetta, Alfredo) 00:04:56
15.   		Act III: Ah, Violetta! … Voi, Signor! - E strano! … Che! (Germont, Violetta, Alfredo, Dottore, Annina, chorus) 00:05:33


Disc 5

Verdi, Giuseppe
Ghislanzoni, Antonio, lyricist(s)
[Hide Details]   Aida (Highlights)
Dragoni, Maria, soprano
Johannsson, Kristjan, tenor
Dever, Barbara, mezzo-soprano
Rucker, Mark, baritone
Artegna, Francesco Ellero d', bass
Ferrari, Riccardo, bass
RTE Philharmonic Choir
RTE Chamber Choir
Ireland National Symphony Orchestra
Saccani, Ricco, Conductor
 
1.   		Prelude 00:04:13
2.   		Act I: Se quel guerrier io fossi! ... Celeste Aida 00:04:29
3.   		Act I: Ritorna vincitor! ... I sacri nomi di padre, d'amante 00:06:30
4.   		Act I: Dance of the Priestesses 00:02:38
5.   		Act II: Dance of the Moorish Slaves 00:01:47
6.   		Act II: Sul del Nilo al sacro lido ... Numi, pieta del mio martir 00:02:54
7.   		Act II: Gloria all' Egitto 00:03:20
8.   		Act II. Grand March 00:01:35
9.   		Act II: Ballet Music 00:04:44
10.   		Act II: Vieni, o guerrero vindice 00:02:29
11.   		Act III: Qui Radames verra! ... O patria mia 00:06:23
12.   		Act III: Ciel mio padre! ... Su dunque! 00:05:09
13.   		Act IV: L'Aborrita rivale a me sfuggia ... Gia i Sacerdoti 00:03:55
14.   		Act IV: Die mie discolpe 00:00:59
15.   		Act IV: Morire! Ah, tu dei vivere 00:02:39
16.   		Act IV: Chi ti salva, sciagurato 00:00:37
17.   		Act IV: E la morte un ben supremo 00:01:25
18.   		Act IV: La fatal pietra ... Morir! si pura e bella 00:06:08
19.   		Act IV: O terra, addio; addio di vale di pianto 00:05:19


Disc 6

Bizet, Georges
Meilhac, Henri / Halevy, Ludovic, lyricist(s)
[Hide Details]   Carmen (Highlights)
Lamberti, Giorgio, tenor
Titus, Alan, baritone
Alperyn, Graciela, mezzo-soprano
Palade, Doina, soprano
Liebeck, Ann, soprano
Slovak Philharmonic Chorus
Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
Rahbari, Alexander, Conductor
 
1.   		Prelude 00:03:34
2.   		Act I: La cloche a sonnee (Cigarette Factory Girls) 00:04:01
3.   		Act I: L'amour est un oiseau rebelle, 'Habanera' (Carmen) 00:04:54
4.   		Act I: Seguidilla and Duet: Pres des remparts de Seville (Carmen, Don Jose) 00:04:26
5.   		Entr'acte 00:01:40
6.   		Act II: Couplets: Votre toast, je peux vous le rendre (Escamillo, Chorus, Carmen) 00:05:00
7.   		Act II: La fleur que tu m'avais jetee (Don Jose, Carmen) 00:08:09
8.   		Entr'acte 00:03:10
9.   		Act III: Sextet and Chorus: Ecoute, ecoute, compagnon (Carmen, Don Jose, le Dancaire, Le Remendado, Frasquita, Mercedes, Smugglers) 00:04:19
10.   		Act III: Ensemble and Chorus: Quant au douanier, c'est notre affaire! (Carmen, Mercedes, Frasquita, Tous, Toutes Les Femmes, Micaela) 00:03:11
11.   		Act III: Je dis que rien m'epouvante (Micaela) 00:05:06
12.   		Act III: Entr'acte 00:02:26
13.   		Act IV: March and Chorus: Les voici! les voici! (Children, Sellers) 00:15:53


Disc 7

Mascagni, Pietro
Targioni-Tozzetti, Giovanni / Menasci, Guido, lyricist(s)
[Hide Details]   Cavalleria rusticana (Highlights)
Evstatieva, Stefka, soprano
Michalkova, Alzbeta, contralto
Tumagian, Eduard, baritone
Aragall, Giacomo, tenor
Mauro, Anna di, mezzo-soprano
Slovak Philharmonic Chorus
Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
Rahbari, Alexander, Conductor
 
1.   		Prelude: O Lola ch'ai di latti fior di spino, "Siciliana" (Turiddu) 00:07:59
2.   		Chorus: Gli aranci olezzano (Villagers) 00:07:40
3.   		Regina Coeli: Scene and Prayer - Beato voi, compar Alfio (Lucia, Alfio, Santuzza and Villagers) 00:07:22
4.   		Intermezzo 00:03:38
5.   		Brindisi: Viva il vino spumeggiante (Turiddu, Lola and Villagers) 00:02:37
6.   		Mamma, quel vino e generoso (Turiddu, Lucia and Santuzza) 00:05:10

Leoncavallo, Ruggero
Leoncavallo, Ruggero, lyricist(s)
[Hide Details]   Pagliacci (Highlights)
Gauci, Miriam, soprano
Martinucci, Nicola, tenor
Tumagian, Eduard, baritone
Dvorsky, Miroslav, tenor
Skovhus, Bo, baritone
Slovak Philharmonic Chorus
Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
Rahbari, Alexander, Conductor
 
7.   		Prologue 00:02:35
8.   		Prologue: Si puo Si puo (Tonio) 00:04:19
9.   		Act I Scene 1: Via di li! (Canio) 00:03:35
10.   		Act I Scene 1: Scene and Chorus of the Bells: I zampognari! (Villagers) 00:03:50
11.   		Act I Scene 2: Ballatella: Hui! Hui!… Stridono lassu (Nedda) 00:02:24
12.   		Act I Scene 3: Vesti la giubba (Canio) 00:03:12
13.   		Act II Scene 1: Ohe! Ohe! (Villagers) 00:03:46
14.   		Act II Scene 2: No! Pagglioccio non son (Canio) 00:03:50
15.   		Act II Scene 2: Ah! No, per mia madre! (Nedda, Silvio, Beppe, Tonio, Canio and Villagers) 00:01:33


Disc 8

Puccini, Giacomo
Giacosa, Giuseppe / Illica, Luigi, lyricist(s)
[Hide Details]   Tosca (Highlights)
Miricioiu, Nelly, soprano
Lamberti, Giorgio, tenor
Carroli, Silvano, baritone
Piccinni, Andrea, bass
Dvorsky, Miroslav, tenor
Durco, Jan, baritone
Benacka, Stanislav, bass
Spacek, Jozef, baritone
Slovak Philharmonic Chorus
Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
Rahbari, Alexander, Conductor
 
1.   		Act I: Sante ampolle! - Recondita armonia (Il Sagrestano, Cavaradossi) 00:05:25
2.   		Act I: Mario! Mario! Mario! (Tosca, Cavaradossi, Angelotti) 00:03:10
3.   		Act I: Non la sospiri la nostra casetta (Tosca, Cavaradossi) 00:02:34
4.   		Act I: Ah, quegli occhi! … (Tosca, Cavaradossi) 00:05:27
5.   		Act I: Tre sbirri, una carrozza (Scarpia, Spoletta, Chorus) 00:04:33
6.   		Act II: Tosca e un buon falco! (Scarpia, Sciarrone) 00:04:38
7.   		Act II: Orsu, Tosca, parlate - Nel pozzo … nel giardino … (Scarpia, Tosca, Cavaradossi, Spoletta, Sciarrone) 00:04:11
8.   		Act II: Floria! … Amore … - Vittoria! Vittoria! (Cavaradossi, Tosca, Scarpia, Sciarrone) 00:04:20
9.   		Act II: Quanto … Quanto Il prezzo! … - Odi E' il tamburo (Tosca, Scarpia) 00:04:36
10.   		Act II: Vissi d'arte, vissi d'amore (Tosca, Scarpia) 00:03:56
11.   		Act II: Io tenni la promessa … - E qual via scegliete - Tosca, finalmente mia! (Scarpia, Tosca) 00:07:27
12.   		Act III: Introduction 00:01:30
13.   		Act III: Io de'sospiri (Un Pastore) 00:03:48
14.   		Act III: Mario Cavaradossi A voi (Un Carceriere, Cavaradossi) 00:04:27
15.   		Act III: E lucevan le stelle … (Cavaradossi) 00:03:00
16.   		Act III: Ah! Franchigia a Floria Tosca … - Il tuo sangue o il mio amore volea … (Cavaradossi, Tosca) 00:02:43
17.   		Act III: O dolci mani - Senti … l'ora e vicina - maro sol per te m'era morire (Cavaradossi, Tosca, Un Carceriere) 00:08:00
18.   		Act III: Come e lunga l'attesa! (Tosca) 00:02:29
19.   		Act III: Presto, su! Mario! Mario! (Tosca, Male Chorus, Sciarrone, Spoletta) 00:01:23


Disc 9

Puccini, Giacomo
Giacosa, Giuseppe / Illica, Luigi, lyricist(s)
[Hide Details]   Madama Butterfly
Gauci, Miriam, soprano
Boschkowa, Nelly, mezzo-soprano
Ramiro, Yordy, tenor
Tichy, Georg, baritone
Abel, Jozef, tenor
Slovak Philharmonic Chorus
Czecho-Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, Bratislava
Rahbari, Alexander, Conductor
Appenheimer, Gunter, Producer
Place of Recording: Concert Hall of Slovak Radio, Bratislava
Date of Recording: 2-10 May 1991
 
1.   		Act I - Dovunque al mondo 00:03:06
2.   		Act I - Ed e bella la sposa 00:01:03
3.   		Act I - Amore o grillo 00:02:56
4.   		Act I - Ecco! Son giunte al sommo del pendio 00:03:32
5.   		Act I - Bimba, bimba, non piangere 00:02:17
6.   		Act I - Viene la sers 00:03:51
7.   		Act I - Bimba dagli occhi pieni di malia 00:11:03
8.   		Act II - Un bel di, vedremo 00:04:41
9.   		Act II - Vedrai, piccolo amor 00:04:06
10.   		Act II - Tutto, tutto, sia pien di fior 00:10:21
11.   		Act II - Humming Chorus 00:02:52
12.   		Act III - Introduction... Oh eh! Oh eh! 00:08:20
13.   		Act III - Con onor muore 00:05:13


Disc 10

Puccini, Giacomo
Giacosa, Giuseppe / Illica, Luigi, lyricist(s)
[Hide Details]   La boheme
Welch, Jonathan, tenor
Orgonasova, Luba, soprano
Previati, Fabio, baritone
Gonzales, Carmen, soprano
Urbas, Ivan, bass
Senator, Boaz, baritone
Sulzenko, Jiri, bass
Slovak Philharmonic Choir
Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
Humburg, Will, Conductor
Kopernicky, Karol, Producer
Place of Recording: Concert Hall of Slovak Radio, Bratislava
Date of Recording: 23 April - 4 May 1990
 
1.   		ACT I: Questo Mar Rosso - mi ammollisce e assidera 00:04:15
2.   		Oh! sventata, sventata! 00:01:30
3.   		Che gelida manina 00:04:22
4.   		Si, mi chiamo Mimi 00:04:37
5.   		O soave fanciulla 00:03:46
6.   		ACT II: Viva Parpignol 00:02:09
7.   		Oh! - Essa! - Musetta! 00:03:21
8.   		Quando me'n vo' 00:04:41
9.   		Caro! Fuori il danaro! 00:02:18
10.   		ACT III: Ohe, la, le guardie! Aprite! 00:03:37
11.   		Mimi! - Speravo di trovarvi qui 00:04:35
12.   		Marcello, finalmente! 00:04:58
13.   		Donde lieta usci 00:02:42
14.   		Dunque e proprio finita! 00:05:09
15.   		ACT IV: In un coupe... O Mimi, tu piu non torni 00:04:14
16.   		Vecchia zimarra, senti 00:02:18
17.   		Sono andati 00:05:11
18.   		Che ha detto il medico 00:02:23
		
Total Playing Time: 11:29:20