Cilea: Io son l'umile ancella (from Adriana Lecouvreur)

Mirella Freni was one of Herbert von Karajan’s favourite singers; indeed, he is known to have commented that if he could have any voice in the world, it would be hers. Combining a stunning voice with heartfelt acting, Freni is equally at home in the lighter roles, such as Mozart’s Susanna and Zerlina, as in the weightier roles of Puccini’s Manon Lescaut and Tosca. This collection brings together arias from throughout Freni’s illustrious career.

The Art of Renée Fleming brings together 18 defining tracks spanning Renée’s finest Decca recordings, including favorite arias by Puccini, Handel and Gershwin and duets with Bryn Terfel and Plácido Domingo. Four special bonus tracks reflect Renée’s prominence beyond classical repertoire with two Broadway classics, Amazing Grace - which she memorably sang at the site of the World Trade Centre and a brand new version of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah.

Huberte Vecray was born in 1923 and her exceptional voice was noticed when she was very young. She entered the Conservatoire at Verviers just before World War II. She made her debut at La Monnaie in 1946. She became a great exponent of contemporary repertoire due to her great musicianship and memory. Here she performs arias by Grétry, Beethoven, Verdi, Cilea, Puccini, Jongen and de Boek.

With her Mimì, she conquered the world. Mirella Freni’s extraordinary career lasted for over 30 years, and she never lost the enchanting youthfulness of her voice. She said farewell to the operatic stage in 2005 as a celebrated soprano in full possession of her vocal skills. Recordings from three Sunday concerts by the Münchner Rundfunkorchester document Mme. Freni in arias that reveal the many different facets of her artistry. The program ranges from her key role, Mimì, all the way to Tatyana in Tchaikovsky’s Evgeny Onegin.

Previously unreleased recordings by Mirella Freni.

Documents from the popular Sunday concerts by the Münchner Rundfunkorchester from the 1970s and 80s.

Recorded in Munich in 1971

Hillevi Martinpelto sings ten arias by a variety of composers from Verdi to Wagner. All of the arias have been performed by the soprano on various opera stages in Sweden, and here she showcases her favourites in a new disc for Swedish Society.