Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. La bohème, opera: Che gelida manina
2. La bohème, opera: O soave fanciulla
3. La bohème, opera: Mimì è tanto malata
4. La bohème, opera: Dunque è proprio finita!
5. La bohème, opera: In un coupé? ... O Mimì, tu più non torni
6. Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Dovunque al mondo
7. Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Vogliatemi bene
8. Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Io so che alle sue pene
9. Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Addio, fiorito asil
10. Cavalleria rusticana, opera (melodramma) in 1 act: Ah! Io vedi, che hai tu detto?
11. Pagliacci, opera: Recitar! ... Vesti la giubba
12. Don Carlo, opera: Dio, che nell'alma infondere
13. Rigoletto, opera: Questa o quella
14. Rigoletto, opera: Ella mi fu rapita!
15. Rigoletto, opera: Parmi beder le lagrime
16. Rigoletto, opera: Possente amor mi chiama
17. Rigoletto, opera: La donna è mobile
18. Rigoletto, opera: Bella figlia dell'amore (Quartet)
19. Otello, opera: Dio! mi potevi scagliar

Disc 2:

1. Un ballo in maschera, opera: La rivedrà nell'estasi
2. Un ballo in maschera, opera: Di' tu se fedele
3. Un ballo in maschera, opera: E' scherzo od è follia
4. Un ballo in maschera, opera: Teco io sto (love duet)
5. Un ballo in maschera, opera: Forse la soglia attinse
6. Un ballo in maschera, opera: Ma se m'è forza perderti
7. Tosca, opera: E lucevan le stelle
8. Manon Lescaut, opera: Donna non vidi mai
9. Aida, opera: Se quel guerrier io fossi! ... Celeste Aida
10. Aida, opera: Pur ti riveggo, mia dolce Aida
11. La Gioconda, opera in 4 acts: Cielo e mar!
12. La Traviata, opera: Un dì felice, eterea
13. La Traviata, opera: Lunge da lei
14. La Traviata, opera: De' miei bollenti spiriti
15. La Traviata, opera: O mio rimorso!
16. La Traviata, opera: Parigi, o cara, noi lasceremo
17. Il Trovatore, opera: Deserto sulla terra
18. Il Trovatore, opera: Ah! sì, ben mio
19. Il Trovatore, opera: Di quella pira
20. Adriana Lecouvreur, opera: La dolcissima effigie
21. Adriana Lecouvreur, opera: L'anima ho stanca

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #103282 in Music
• Released on: 2001-06-12
• Number of discs: 2
• Dimensions: .25 pounds

Customer Reviews

Absolutely flooring
I have always admired Bergonzi's work in Puccini operas opposite the great Renata Tebaldi and their recording of Aida is very powerful. However, this CD amazed me by showcasing Bergonzi's vast assortment of roles in which he performed. From La Boheme and Tosca to Il Trovatore and Adriana Lecouvreur, his voice seems gorgeously suited to each role and is even in both timbre and stylistic interpretation. Track 10 from Cavalleria Rusticana stunned me with Fiorenza Cossotto and Bergonzi singing the most overwhelmingly involving duet I've ever heard. I am truly amazed by the enormous talent contained in this man. He is easily my favorite singer, the one which I aspire to sound like (lofty goal), and, in my opinion, the best tenor of the century. This CD set is truly a great buy: 40 digitally remastered tracks of the greatest scenes from the greatest operas sung by the greatest singers of our time for about [item price].

The sublime vocal artist
I have seen most of the great tenors of the past 50 years at the Met: Corelli, Tucker, Vickers, Gedda, Pavarotti, Domingo, etc.. For me, Bergonzi over all, was the superior Italian Opera tenor. His legato, agility, breath control, tasteful musicianship, diction, was superior to most of the great tenors. He was outstanding as Nemorino and Rhadames; Edgardo and Alvaro etc.. This CD shows him at his very best, which is a joy to hear. This CD is a must vocal lesson for any aspiring young tenor, as Carlo Bergonzi is a master singer.

One of the Legendary Greats at his Greatest
My life-long (and it's long!) love of opera began in the late 1950's with a Met broadcast of Verdi's Macbeth. The tenor in that performance was Carlo Bergonzi. Among opera fans he is recognized as one of the top tenors of the 20th century, and this album shows why. Bergonzi had a sweetness of voice and an interpretive skill that was nearly peerless. The voice is even from top to bottom, and there is never the slightest indication of forcing or strain. Particularly with the music of Verdi, his handling of the vocal line produces meltingly lyric interpretations, to the extent that the music sounds (deceptively) easy to sing. A few years ago, his farewell tour brought him to Michigan, where I had the chance to thank him personally for all the pleasure his singing brought to me. Try this album, and you'll be hooked too. It simply doesn't get any better than this!