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Renée Fleming continues her reign as ‘Queen of the MET’, starring in a bel canto rarity specially staged for her – a showcase for her extraordinary vocal virtuosity. This bel canto extravaganza is presented here on 2 DVDs. In addition to the great prima donna title role, Armida uniquely features no fewer than six tenor roles, here led by the acclaimed young American tenor Lawrence Brownlee. In Mary Zimmerman’s magical new production, supported by striking sets and colourful costumes and a fully-staged ballet, the ‘real world’ of the Crusaders and the fantastical realm of Armida’s enchanted island are clearly contrasted Of Renée Fleming’s performance, the The Opera Critic said: “The beautiful singing and appearance of Fleming make this an event worth seeing… She was especially brilliant in her long final scene which calls for rich legato singing as well as flashy ornamentation”. “musically, there is a great deal to commend. In terms of a live performance, Renée Fleming’s Armida is amazing: consistently beautiful sound, all the notes at top and bottom, spot-on agility in even the trickiest fioriture, all made to sound almost too easy...And all those tenors? Lawrence Brownlee also fields beautifully liquid tone as Rinaldo, and has a technical proficiency to match Flórez...Banks, in his double assignment, gives him a good run for his money” Opera | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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After its successful premiere, Rossini’s opera “Armida” was quickly forgotten, only to be triumphantly revived by Maria Callas in 1952, and ever since it is considered a masterpiece. This performance with primarily Italian forces, has all the wit, charm, beauty and sparkle that any Rossini opera can wish for. Some big names here: Cecilia Gasdia, Chris Merritt,William Matteuzzi and Ferruccio Furlanetto. Great addition to the Brilliant Classics Opera Collection. Armida is today considered one of Rossini’s greatest operas, but following its premier in Naples in 1817 it quickly faded from the standard operatic repertoire. Its plot of knightly duties, love and supernatural worlds (foreshadowing Weber in places) inspired the composer to write some of his most original and inimitable music, with unusual combinations of instruments and some beautiful extended solos for cello and violin.The love music is undeniably heartfelt and sincere; Rossini’s inspiration may have been assisted by his romantic involvement with the soprano Isabella Colbran, a major star of the time and the first to perform the title role. Armida was revived in 1952 with Maria Callas in the lead role, and this began a trajectory that saw the work rise back to its rightful place in the repertoire. It is now considered one of Rossini’s masterpieces. “Gasdia as Armida does not have the most alluring of voices, but she has amazing presence and style...it is [a] pleasure to hear what is a strong voice moving with such facility...She is well served by her three cavaliers, Merritt, Ford and Matteuzzi. Each has quite a distinctive voice and you can distinguish between them, which is necessary in such a tenor-laden piece.” MusicWeb International, August 2012 | | | Usually despatched in 4 - 5 working days. |
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Maria Callas leads the cast, including Albanese, Filipeschi and Raimondi in the legendary
performance from Firenze recorded live on 26th April 1952 | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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| | | Usually despatched in 4 - 5 working days. |
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Renée Fleming (Armida), Gregory Kunde (Rinaldo), Bruce Fowler (Carlo), Donald Kaasch (Goffredo), Carlo Bosi (Eustazio), Jeffrey Francis (Gernando), Iorio Zennaro (Ubaldo), Ildebrando d' Arcangelo (Idradote), Sergey Zadvorny (Astarotte) Bologna Teatro Comunale Orchestra & Chorus, Daniele Gatti Each release includes a booklet with a three-language synopsis (English/French/German), full cast list and detailed track list. Recorded in 1993 “I doubt if [Fleming's] fiercest detractors would fault her stylish grace at the 1993 Pesaro Rossini Festival. All three duets with Gregory Kunde's Rinaldo shimmer...Daniele Gatti conducts with flair.” BBC Music Magazine, July 2010 **** | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | Maria Callas: Legendary Performances Vol. 2
Cherubini: | Medea recorded live on 14th December 1961 Maria Callas (Medea), Nicolai Ghiaurov (Creonte), Giulietta Simionato (Neris), Ivana Tosini (Glauce), Jon Vickers (Giasone), Alfredo Giacomotti (Capitano), Edith Martelli (Prima Ancella), Maddalena Bonifaccio (Seconda Ancella) Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro alla Scala, Thomas Schippers | Donizetti: | Anna Bolena recorded live on 14th April 1957 Maria Callas (Anna Bolena), Nicola Rossi-Lemeni (Enrico), Giulietta Simionato (Giovanna Seymour), Gianni Raimondi (Percy), Plinio Clabassi (Rochefort), Gabriella Carturan (Smeton), Luigi Rumbo (Hervey) Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro alla Scala, Gianandrea Gavazzeni | Rossini: | Armida recorded live on 26th April 1952 Maria Callas (Armida), Francesco Albanese (Rinaldo), Alessandro Zilliani (Goffredo), Gianni Raimondi (Eustazio), Mario Filippeschi (Gernando), Antonio Salvarezza (Ubaldo), Mario Frosini (Idradote), Marco Stefanoni (Astarotte) Orchestra and Chorus of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Tullio Serafin Il barbiere di Siviglia recorded live on 16th February 1956 Maria Callas (Rosina), Tito Gobbi (Figaro), Luigi Alva (Il Conte Almaviva), Melchiorre Luise (Dr Bartolo), Nicola Rossi-Lemeni (Don Basilio), Anna Maria Canali (Berta), Pier Luigi Latinucci (Fiorello), Giuseppe Nessi (Un Ufficiale) Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro alla Scala, Carlo Maria Giulini | Verdi: | Aida recorded live on 3rd July 1951 Maria Callas (Aida), Mario Del Monaco (Radamès), Oralia Domínguez (Amneris), Giuseppe Taddei (Amonasro), Roberto Silva (Ramphis), Ignacio Ruffino (Il Re di Egitto), Rosa Rodríguez (Una Sacerdotessa), Carlos Sagarminaga (Un Messaggero) Orchestra and Chorus of the Palacio de las Bellas Artes, Oliviero De Fabritiis Il Trovatore recorded live on 20th June 1950 Maria Callas (Leonora), Kurt Baum (Manrico), Giulietta Simionato (Azucena), Leonard Warren (Il Conte di Luna), Nicola Moscona (Ferrando), Ana María Feuss (Ines), Carlos Sagarminaga (Ruiz) Orchestra and Chorus of the Palacio de las Bellas Artes, Guido Picco La Traviata recorded live on 3rd June 1952 Maria Callas (Violetta), Giuseppe di Stefano (Alfredo), Piero Campolonghi (Germont), Cristina Trevi (Flora), Edna Patoni (Annina), Francisco Tortolero (Gastone), Ignacio Ruffino (Dottore Grenvil), Gilberto Cerda (Baron Douphol), Alberto Herrera (Marchese d'Obigny) Orchestra and Chorus of the Palacio de las Bellas Artes, Umberto Mugnai |
This stunning 14 CD box set features Callas in her greatest roles, including Aida, Armida in one of Rossini’s rarest operas and the 1956 recording of the Barber of Seville, one of the most remarkable recorded live performances. | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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