Ultimate Opera: The Essential Masterpieces

~ Release by Various Artists (see all versions of this release, 1 available)

Tracklist

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#TitleArtistRatingLength
1Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Un bel di (One fine day)
recording engineer:
Jack Law (engineer) (on 1974-01-31), James Lock (James Locke, engineer) (on 1974-01-31) and Gordon Parry (engineer) (on 1974-01-31)
assistant producer:
Michael Woolcock (producer)
producer:
Christopher Raeburn (producer)
soprano vocals [Butterfly]:
Mirella Freni (soprano) (on 1974-01-31)
orchestra:
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (Vienna Philharmonic) (on 1974-01-31)
conductor:
Herbert von Karajan (conductor) (on 1974-01-31)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
The Decca Record Company Limited, London (The Decca Record Company Limited, not a release label; for copyrights use only) (in 1974)
recorded at:
Sofiensaal in Landstraße, Wien (Vienna), Austria (on 1974-01-31)
recording of:
Madama Butterfly: Atto II. “Un bel dì, vedremo” (Butterfly) (on 1974-01-31)
composer:
Giacomo Puccini (Italian composer)
librettist:
Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica
part of:
Madama Butterfly: Atto II (Madame Butterfly: Act II, also: Atto II, parte 1)
Giacomo Puccini4:41
2Aida, opera: Se quel guerrier io fossi!... Celeste Aida
tenor vocals [Radamès]:
Luciano Pavarotti (tenor)
orchestra:
Vienna Volksoper Orchestra
conductor:
Leone Magiera (conductor, pianist)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
The Decca Record Company Limited (not a release label; for copyrights use only) (in 1974)
recording of:
Aida: Atto I, scena 1. Recitativo “Se quel guerriero io fossi!” … Romanza “Celeste Aida” (Radamès)
composer:
Giuseppe Verdi (Italian opera composer) (in 1871)
librettist:
Antonio Ghislanzoni (in 1870)
part of:
Aida: Atto I
Giuseppe Verdi4:37
3La Traviata, opera: Act 1. Prelude
orchestra:
Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino
conductor:
Sir John Pritchard (conductor)
recording of:
La traviata: Preludio
composer:
Giuseppe Verdi (Italian opera composer)
librettist:
Antonio Ghislanzoni
part of:
La traviata
part of:
La traviata (english lyrics)
part of:
La traviata (french lyrics)
part of:
La Traviata (aka Violetta, german lyrics)
part of:
Violetta (La traviata) (german lyrics)
Giuseppe Verdi4:03
4La Traviata, opera: Brindisi: Libiamo ne' liete calci
choir vocals:
Coro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino (on 1962-11-16)
soprano vocals [Violetta]:
Joan Sutherland (soprano) (on 1962-11-16)
tenor vocals [Alfredo]:
Carlo Bergonzi (tenor) (on 1962-11-16)
orchestra:
Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino (on 1962-11-16)
conductor:
Sir John Pritchard (conductor) (on 1962-11-16)
recorded at:
Teatro Della Pergola in Firenze (Florence), Firenze, Toscana (Tuscany), Italy (on 1962-11-16)
recording of:
La traviata: Atto I. Brindisi “Libiamo, ne’ lieti calici” (Alfredo, Coro, Violetta) (on 1962-11-16)
composer:
Giuseppe Verdi (Italian opera composer)
librettist:
Francesco Maria Piave
part of:
La traviata: Atto I (La traviata: Act I)
Giuseppe Verdi3:09
5Rigoletto, opera: Questa o quella
tenor vocals [Duca]:
Luciano Pavarotti (tenor)
orchestra:
London Symphony Orchestra
conductor:
Richard Bonynge (conductor and pianist)
recording of:
Rigoletto: Atto I, scena 1. N°2 Ballata “Questa o quella” (Duca)
composer:
Giuseppe Verdi (Italian opera composer) (from 1850 until 1851-03-11)
librettist:
Francesco Maria Piave (from 1850 until 1851-03-11)
part of:
Rigoletto: Atto I
Giuseppe Verdi1:51
6La Rondine (The Swallow), opera: Sogno di Doretta
soprano vocals [Magda]:
Renata Tebaldi (soprano)
orchestra:
New Philharmonia Orchestra (Philharmonia Orchestra, London orchestra, known as New Philharmonia Orchestra from 1964–1976)
conductor:
Oliviero de Fabritiis (conductor and composer)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
The Decca Record Company Limited (not a release label; for copyrights use only)
recording of:
La rondine: Atto I. “Ch’il bel sogno di Doretta” (Prunier, Magda, Lisette, Suzy, Yvette, Bianca)
composer:
Giacomo Puccini (Italian composer)
librettist:
Giuseppe Adami
part of:
La rondine: Atto I
Giacomo Puccini2:46
7La favorita, opera: O mio Fernando
mezzo-soprano vocals:
Fiorenza Cossotto (mezzo-soprano)
orchestra:
Orchestra del Teatro Comunale di Bologna
conductor:
Richard Bonynge (conductor and pianist)
recording of:
La favorita: Atto III, Scena 4. “O mio Fernando” (Leonora)
composer:
Gaetano Donizetti (Italian opera composer) (in 1840)
translated version of:
La Favorite : Acte III, scène 4. « L’ai-je bien entendu ? » … « Ô mon Fernand ! » … « Mon châtiment descend du ciel » (Léonor)
part of:
La favorita: Atto III
Gaetano Donizetti3:50
8La fanciulla del West (The Girl of the Golden West), opera: Ch'ella mi creda
tenor vocals [Johnson]:
Jussi Björling (tenor) (in 1959)
orchestra:
Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino (in 1959)
conductor:
Alberto Erede (conductor) (in 1959)
recording of:
La fanciulla del West: Atto III. “Ch’ella mi creda libero e lontano” (Johnson, Rance) (in 1959)
composer:
Giacomo Puccini (Italian composer) (in 1910)
librettist:
Guelfo Civinini (Italian librettist) and Carlo Zangarini
part of:
La fanciulla del West: Atto III
Giacomo Puccini2:36
9Turandot, opera: Tu che di gel sei cinta
soprano vocals and soprano vocals [Liù]:
Felicia Weathers (soprano)
orchestra:
Wiener Opernorchester (Vienna State Opera Orchestra) and Wiener Opernorchester (see annotation before use)
conductor:
Argeo Quadri (conductor)
recording of:
Turandot: Atto III, scena 1. “Tu, che di gel sei cinta” (Liù, La folla)
composer:
Giacomo Puccini (Italian composer)
librettist:
Giuseppe Adami and Renato Simoni
part of:
Turandot: Atto III (Turandot: Act III)
Giacomo Puccini2:58
10Il Trovatore, opera: Soldiers' Chorus: Squilli, echeggi
recording engineer:
James Lock (James Locke, engineer) (in 1976-09) and Kenneth Wilkinson (engineer) (in 1976-09)
producer:
Richard Beswick and Ray Minshull (record producer)
bass vocals [Ferrando]:
Nicolaï Ghiaurov (operatic bass) (in 1976-09)
choir vocals:
London Opera Chorus (in 1976-09)
orchestra:
National Philharmonic Orchestra (fka the London Promenade Orchestra until 1971, mostly film music and opera) (in 1976-09)
conductor:
Richard Bonynge (conductor and pianist) (in 1976-09)
recorded at:
Kingsway Hall in London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom (in 1976-09)
recording of:
Il trovatore: Atto III, scena 1. “Squilli, echeggi la tromba guerriera” (Ferrando, soldiers) (in 1976-09)
composer:
Giuseppe Verdi (Italian opera composer)
librettist:
Salvadore Cammarano (Italian librettist)
part of:
Il trovatore: Atto III. Il figlio della zingara
Giuseppe Verdi2:06
11Manon Lescaut, opera: Donna non vidi mai
tenor vocals [Des Grieux]:
Carlo Bergonzi (tenor) (in 1957)
orchestra:
Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia (Orchestra of the National Academy of Santa Cecilia) (in 1957)
conductor:
Gianandrea Gavazzeni (conductor) (in 1957)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
The Decca Record Company Limited (not a release label; for copyrights use only) (in 1958)
recording of:
Manon Lescaut: Atto I. “Donna non vidi mai simile a questa!” (Des Grieux) (in 1957)
composer:
Giacomo Puccini (Italian composer) (in 1893)
librettist:
Giuseppe Giacosa, Luigi Illica, Domenico Oliva, Marco Praga and Giulio Ricordi
part of:
Manon Lescaut: Atto I
Giacomo Puccini2:45
12I Vespri siciliani, opera (Les vêpres siciliennes): Bolero: Mercè, dilette amiche
producer:
Ray Minshull (record producer)
soprano vocals:
Maria Chiara (soprano) (in 1972-10)
orchestra:
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden (in 1972-10)
conductor:
Nello Santi (conductor) (in 1972-10)
recorded at:
Kingsway Hall in London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom (in 1972-10)
recording of:
I vespri siciliani: Atto V. Bolero “Mercè, dilette amiche” (Elena) (Siciliana) (in 1972-10)
composer:
Giuseppe Verdi (Italian opera composer)
librettist:
Charles Duveyrier and Eugène Scribe
translator:
Arnaldo Fusinato
part of:
I vespri siciliani: Atto V
Giuseppe Verdi3:44
13Faust, opera: Le Veau d'or (Song of the Golden Calf)
bass vocals:
Nicolaï Ghiaurov (operatic bass)
choir vocals:
London Symphony Chorus
orchestra:
London Symphony Orchestra
conductor:
Sir Edward Downes (conductor)
recording of:
Faust : Acte II. No. 7 « Le veau d’or est toujours debout » (Méphistophélès, Chœur)
composer:
Charles Gounod (French composer)
part of:
Faust : Acte II
Charles‐François Gounod2:13
14Andrea Chénier, opera: Colpito qui m'avete... Un di all'azzurro spazio
tenor vocals:
Mario Del Monaco (tenor)
orchestra:
Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia (Orchestra of the National Academy of Santa Cecilia)
conductor:
Gianandrea Gavazzeni (conductor)
recording of:
Andrea Chénier: Atto I. “Colpito qui m’avete” … “Un dì all’azzurro spazio” (Improvviso) (Chénier)
composer:
Umberto Giordano (Italian opera composer) (until 1896)
librettist:
Luigi Illica
publisher:
Casa Musicale Sonzogno di Piero Ostali, Milano
part of:
Andrea Chénier: Atto I
Umberto Giordano5:07
15Otello, opera: Fire Chorus: Fuoco di giola
choir vocals:
Coro dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia (Chorus of the National Academy of Santa Cecilia)
orchestra:
Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia (Orchestra of the National Academy of Santa Cecilia)
conductor:
Carlo Franci (Conductor, composer)
recording of:
Otello: Atto I, scena 1. Coro “Fuoco di gioia …” (Ciprioti)
composer:
Giuseppe Verdi (Italian opera composer) (from 1884 until 1886-11-01)
librettist:
Arrigo Boito (librettist, composer)
part of:
Otello: Atto I
Giuseppe Verdi2:48
16L' Arlesiana, opera: Lamento di Federico
tenor vocals:
Jussi Björling (tenor)
orchestra:
Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino
conductor:
Alberto Erede (conductor)
recording of:
L’Arlesiana: Atto II. “È la solita storia del pastore” (Lamento di Federico)
composer:
Francesco Cilea (composer) (in 1897)
librettist:
Leopoldo Marenco (librettist)
publisher:
Casa Musicale Sonzogno di Piero Ostali, Milano
part of:
L’Arlesiana: Atto II
Francesco Cilea5:02
17Aida, opera: O patria mia
soprano vocals:
Anita Cerquetti (soprano)
orchestra:
Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino
conductor:
Gianandrea Gavazzeni (conductor)
recording of:
Aida: Atto III: Romanza: “Qui Radamès verrá!” … “O patria mia” (Aida)
composer:
Giuseppe Verdi (Italian opera composer)
librettist:
Antonio Ghislanzoni
part of:
Aida: Atto III
Giuseppe Verdi6:37
18La Traviata, opera: Di Provenza il mar
baritone vocals [Germont]:
Dietrich Fischer‐Dieskau (baritone) (in 1968)
orchestra:
Orchester der Deutschen Oper Berlin (Orchestra of the German Opera Berlin) (in 1968)
conductor:
Lorin Maazel (conductor) (in 1968)
recording of:
La traviata: Atto II, scena 1. “Di Provenza il mar, il suol” (Germont) (in 1968)
composer:
Giuseppe Verdi (Italian opera composer)
librettist:
Francesco Maria Piave
part of:
La traviata: Atto II (La traviata: Act II)
Giuseppe Verdi4:46
19Cavalleria rusticana, opera (melodramma) in 1 act: Voi lo sapete
soprano vocals [Santuzza]:
Renata Tebaldi (soprano)
orchestra:
New Philharmonia Orchestra (Philharmonia Orchestra, London orchestra, known as New Philharmonia Orchestra from 1964–1976)
conductor:
Oliviero de Fabritiis (conductor and composer)
performer:
Renata Tebaldi (soprano)
recording of:
Cavalleria rusticana: “Voi lo sapete, o mamma” (Santuzza, Lucia)
composer:
Pietro Mascagni (composer & conductor)
librettist:
Guido Menasci (Italian librettist, 19th-20th c.) and Giovanni Targioni-Tozzetti (Italian librettist, 19th-20th c.)
part of:
Cavalleria rusticana
Pietro Mascagni3:55
20Il Trovatore, opera: Di quella pira
choir vocals:
Coro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino (in 1956-07)
soprano vocals [Leonora]:
Renata Tebaldi (soprano) (in 1956-07)
tenor vocals [Manrico]:
Mario Del Monaco (tenor) (in 1956-07)
tenor vocals [Ruiz]:
Athos Cesarini (tenor) (in 1956-07)
orchestra:
L'Orchestre du Grand Theatre de Geneve (OSR) (in 1956-07)
conductor:
Alberto Erede (conductor) (in 1956-07)
recorded at:
Victoria Hall (Geneva) in Genève (Geneva), Genève (Canton of Geneva), Switzerland (in 1956-07)
recording of:
Il trovatore: Atto III, scena 2. “Di quella pira l’orrendo foco” (Manrico, Leonora, Ruiz, armed men) (in 1956-07)
composer:
Giuseppe Verdi (Italian opera composer) (in 1853)
librettist:
Salvadore Cammarano (Italian librettist) (in 1853)
part of:
Il trovatore: Atto III. Il figlio della zingara
Giuseppe Verdi3:41

Credits

Release

part of:Ultimate (Decca Classics) (order: 11)
ASIN:US: B000PDZAUW [info]
Allmusic:https://www.allmusic.com/album/release/mr0002078254 [info]