Product Details

• Published on: 2005-08-09
• Released on: 2005-08-09
• Running time: 0 seconds

Customer Reviews

A beautiful final recital from leontyne price...glorious high notes and sublime pianissimos!
This last recital studio recording from leontyne price is nothing short of a masterpiece.Her high notes are radiant,her legato excellent,and finally her pianissimi perfection.I am amazed when listening to her here,that this album was made just five years from her final stage performance at the met,price's singing is that good.I would also like to say that the presentation of this album is first class,the cd is housed in a cardboard sleeve(reminscent of a beautiful Lp cover)with a glossy sensational cover picture of leontyne.The sound quality is also excellent.P.S. she ends ave maria from otello with the second most beautiful pianissimi I've ever heard(after Caballe's version).this album of verdi arias is surely a fine example of a legendary recording.It is also available at a great price.

The Best of Leontyne Price!
This is a very special collection. For one, it was to be her last recording of Arias, and I do believe she went out in style. Never was her "O patria mia" better sung than this; supreme legato, diction, ease of production---flawless. She seemed to be making a strong statement to those who would captiously point out her mannerisms saying: "I am still Leonessa"!!!! She shows on this albumb that an intelligent artist can take out the swooping, bad diction, breathiness whenever she chooses. Furthermore, was she ever more beautiful than on the cover?

This is a superb account of amazing vocalism and my favorite collection of Leontyne Price.

A Verdian soprano at her finest
Throughout her career, Price had an almost intimate relationship with much of Verdi's work. Frequently, in her later concert performances (some of which are available on CD and DVD), she demonstrated a certain hurried sloppiness, with swooping notes and an unbalanced middle range. This CD, however, is Price at her mature best. She displays extraordinary care in her overall technique, and demonstrates overwhelming legato as opposed to careless sweeping through notes. Overall, this is a must own CD for Price and Verdi lovers, as well as being a wonderful example of a perfect Verdian at her prime for an operatic neophyte. The only reservation is with the tempi of Zubin Metha: although the Israel Philharmonic provides a magnificent, well toned and orderly handling of Verdi's scores, Metha is a bit erratic in his conducting. Nonetheless, this recording proves Price to be the ultimate combination of extraordinary technique with artistic expression. One cannot ask for or even imagine better.