Track Listing

1. La Gioconda, opera in 4 acts: Suicidio
2. Otello, opera: The Willow Song (Piangea cantando)
3. Otello, opera: Ave Maria
4. Aida, opera: Qui Radames verà!... O Patria mia
5. Aida, opera: Pur ti riveggo
6. Ernani, opera: Surta è la notte... Ernani, involami
7. La Vestale, opera: Tu che invoco
8. La Vestale, opera: O Nume tutelar
9. La forza del destino, opera: Alzatevi...La Vergine degli Angeli
10. Norma, opera: Sediziose voci... Casta Diva
11. Norma, opera: Mira, O Norma
12. Carmè, carmè
13. Ah! Maria, Marí, song for voice & piano (or orchestra)
14. On Wings of Dreams, for voice, violin & piano
15. Eastern Song: The nightingale enslaved by the rose (Vostochnïy romans), song for voice and piano, Op. 2/2
16. A Perfect Day, for voice & piano (or orchestra)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #124753 in Music
• Released on: 1992-12-02
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .25 pounds

Customer Reviews

The most ravishing soprano voice. Ever.
Many would argue that this was the most beautiful soprano voice ever - or at least ever recorded. And it's a strong argument. Such richness, such depth, such warmth, such glorious freedom, such security - who else, before or since, can match them. Destinn? A bit blousy. Boninsegna? The voice changes through the passagio. Rethberg? Close, but no cigar. Tebaldi? A bit shrill by comparison. Callas? Dramatic, yes, but beautiful, I don't think so. Gheorgiu? Good by today's standards, but no contest.

No, this thick double-cream stream of tone is something to relish, to sit back and just enjoy. Try her 'Casta Diva' or 'Un bel di' to see how it feels when you approach every high note with joyous anticipation and not with the prospect of a wince (cf. Callas). The Nile aria from Aida is as near perfection as we have any right to expect this side of Opera Heaven - a wondrous piano high C. And on these discs you will also find one of my all-time favourite records - La Vergine degli Angeli from La Forza del Destino where you get, not only Ponselle's wondrous soprano at the top, but also her bass equivalent, Ezio Pinza, below. Two wonderful voices for the price of one.

The Nimbus sound, achieved by recording what actually emerges from the record into a room rather than directly off the shellac, is not to everyone's taste. But it is to mine. It allows the singer's voice to develop and bloom and sound, to my ears, very natural.

Most beautiful human voice ever
Having listened to the voice of Rosa Ponselle in these arias and songs, I must confess hers to be the most beautiful human voice I have ever heard. The sound quality is unbelievable!

Callas was correct...
When I read that Maria Callas credited Rosa Ponselle as her vocal idol and only inspiration, the first thought I had was that if a soprano as great as Callas said this, is because it should be true. When I bought this CD I proved the affirmation was correct: you only have to hear Rosa Ponselle's voice and verify that she is one the best sopranos of the century, and why her voice was the inspiration of many Callas's roles, including Norma, La Gioconda and La vestale. The sound quality of this CD is incredible if we consider that the recordings dates from the 1920's