Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Otello, opera: Act 1. Esultate!
2. Otello, opera: Act 1. Gi� nella notte densa
3. Otello, opera: Act 2. Ed ora!... Ora e per sempre addio
4. Otello, opera: Act 2. Talor vedeste... S�, pel ciel
5. Otello, opera: Act 3. Dio ti giocondi
6. Otello, opera: Act 3. Dio! mi potevi scagliar
7. Otello, opera: Act 4. Niun mi tema
8. Requiem Mass, for soloists, chorus & orchestra (Manzoni Requiem): Ingemisco
9. Samson et Dalila, opera in 3 acts, Op. 47: Act 1. Arr�tez, � mes fr�res!
10. Samson et Dalila, opera in 3 acts, Op. 47: Act 1. C'est toi que sa bouche invective
11. Samson et Dalila, opera in 3 acts, Op. 47: Act 2. En ces lieux, malgr� moi
12. Samson et Dalila, opera in 3 acts, Op. 47: Act 3. Vois ma mis�re, h�las!
13. Samson et Dalila, opera in 3 acts, Op. 47: Act 3. Seigneur, inspire-moi

Disc 2:

1. Fidelio, opera, Op. 72: Act 2. Gott! Welch Dunkel hier!
2. Fidelio, opera, Op. 72: Act 2. O namenlose Freude!
3. Tristan und Isolde, opera, WWV 90: Act 2. O sink hernieder, Nacht der Liebe
4. Tristan und Isolde, opera, WWV 90: Act 2. O K�nig
5. Tristan und Isolde, opera, WWV 90: Act 3. Ha! Das Schiff!... O diese Sonne!
6. Winterreise, song cycle for voice & piano, D. 911 (Op. 89): Gute Nacht
7. Winterreise, song cycle for voice & piano, D. 911 (Op. 89): Fr�hlingstraum
8. Winterreise, song cycle for voice & piano, D. 911 (Op. 89): Die Post
9. Winterreise, song cycle for voice & piano, D. 911 (Op. 89): Der Leiermann
10. Carmen, opera: Act 1. Parle-moi de ma m�re!
11. Carmen, opera: Act 2. La fleur que tu m'avais jet�e
12. Carmen, opera: Act 4. C'est toi! C'est moi!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #86822 in Music
• Released on: 2005-04-26
• Number of discs: 2

Album Description
Details TBA. EMI. 2005.

Customer Reviews

A sampling of a great dramatic tenor
Jon Vickers was indomitable, a tenor cut from larger-than-life materials with a huge, unique voice and rock-solid character. That could make him both demanding and difficult, but EMI caught him in a fantastic period when he matched forces with Karajan. The two drew the best from each other, and for once Vickers totally gave himself over to a great condcutor's guidance. As a result we have overwhelming accounts of Tristan and Otello, his two greatest roles. This double CD offers a generous sampling, but I can't imagine that listeners who don't know these recordings won't rush to buy the complete operas.

The Carmen sample is from an exciting recording with Grace Bumbry under Fruhbeck de Burgos. Here and in Samson and Delilah, Vickers' monumental approach sometimes crushes the delicacy of the music, but his fervent emotions more than carry the day (don't expect perfect French). The only work I am not enthusiastic about is the Winterreise. Vickers was committed to performing it, and the drak emotional range of Schubert's cycle suits his temperament, but his singing is too big-boned and operatic. Give it credit for good intentions. As for the rest, all of it is indispensable.