Verdi la Traviata

Verdi's 1855 Paris opera which followed Rigoletto, Il trovatore and La Traviata is treated to a performance of blazing energy and intimate refinement with a superb cast which includes Cheryl Studer and Chris Merritt. The rarely-seen third act ballet is included complete, with the internationally-acclaimed dancers Carla Fracci and Wayne Eagling.

To celebrate the 200th anniversary of Opera master, Giuseppe Verdi, and the 80th birthday of opera’s last great diva, Montserrat Caballé, Sony Classical are pleased to release this special x2 CD collection. Caballé was born in Barcelona in 1933; she made her professional debut in 1956 and has performed in Basel, at the Liceu, Carnegie Hall, Glyndebourne, San Francisco Opera, Metropolitan Opera and the Royal Opera House throughout her career. She has performed with great Opera performers including Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, José Carreras, Richard Tucker, Piero Cappuccilli, Franco Corelli, Birgit Nilsson among many others, and Queen’s frontman, Freddie Mercury. Caballé’s extensive discography includes a host of notable complete opera recordings and recital albums, many of which have appeared on the RCA Red Seal label. This 2 CD collection showcases Caballé performing famous arias & duets by the celebrated Opera composer, Giuseppe Verdi. The collection features famous Opera favourites including ‘Va Pensiero’ from Nabucco, ‘Sempre libera’ from La Traviata, ‘Ave Maria’ from Otello, music from Il Trovatore, Rigoletto, Aida, Macbeth, and much more.

Verdi: Rigoletto - Highlights - Callas, Di Stefano, Gobbi, Lazzarini - Serafin - 1956
Classical | CD | FLAC+LOG+ CUE | NO BOOKS NO COVER | 139 MB
EMI (7243 5 6667 2 6) | Release Date: 1997/1998

It is the most human and vulnerable Rigoletto on record. The most formidable in his wrath and the most tragic when he realises the truth. He is terrified when he walks home after Monterone’s curse. He is fatherly caring when he meets Gilda. He is in despair when he meets the courtiers in act II. [Gobbi] whispers, whines, roars, caresses - his supply of vocal colours seems inexhaustible. This is a reading in a million - but it isn’t spotless vocally. Under pressure the tone tends to become pinched. But just as with Callas’s deficiencies this also becomes part of the reading, part of the personality… The final verdict: If you haven’t got the Serafin set: grab the opportunity at once. You will never regret it!

2013 limited edition 100 CD box set on the premiere classical label Deutsch Grammophon. Subtitled from Gregorian Chant to Gorecki.
• It starts with Gregorian Chant and Machaut chansons and ends with Gorecki and the Minimalists.
• The greatest composers have as many as five CDs devoted to them (Bach, Mozart, Beethoven);
• 20th-century music is well represented with no fewer than 20 CDs.
• Operas and major choral works are represented by highlights, but otherwise the edition presents, as far as possible, only complete works throughout.
• Altogether, there are more than 80 composers in the set, with over 400 works for a total of around 120 hours of music.