Luciano

This is a great one folks. If you are a Pavarotti fan this is a must have. You will get some songs you have not had on other albums.

Listening to Pavarotti every day, particularly his "The Best" CD, is a MUST. Disc #2 was glorious, his interpretation of folk songs is so seamless that your swept along with his joy in performing these gorgeous pieces. Do you want to be uplifted? Buy Pavarotti's The Best.

I don't know of too many that would give fewer than five stars to Luciano Pavarotti. What an amazing voice...we are fortunate to have been part of one man's unbelievable talent!

He is indeed missed!!! What a blessing to have this CD to hear and remember one of the world's greatest tenors. Highly recommend!

The CD wasn't originally for me but my dad loves it. He plays it all the time and claims its a very complete collection of the artist.

This is a lovely CD and Pavarotti is wonderful on it. The duet with Lionel Richie is worth the price of the CD alone, not to mention the ones with Celine, Mariah, Sting and Elton, etc. "Miserere" is one of the most beautiful songs ever written and the rendition with the Maestro and Zucchero is spectacular. So powerful.

Don't listen to the negative reviews. They're probably some other tenor's fans trying to sabotage it. It was #1 on Billboard and is still #2 on the charts, so evidently, it's good. In fact, it's excellent.

Just listened to this CD for the first time. Gawd, what over-inflated nonsense. Over-inflated, overstuffed, overblown, overproduced, over-emoted -- the list goes on and on. One more crashing crescendo, and I'm out the window.

not as good as anticipated, too many duets...da, I know they're duets but seemed too much less desirable ones.

This is a wonderful CD, one that everyone, regardless of age, will enjoy. A lasting memory of Pavoratti and his versatility as well as that of those he sings with. Would highly recommend this to anyone!

Most great artist have recorded a "stinker" album and for the Three Tenors, this is the one. The album suffers from the lack of a good producer - someone to say "Ah...guys, lets try that one again," and "Do you really want to sing Winter Wonderland?" There are sloppy entrances, one or two flat notes, and some really bad song choices. With all the great Christmas music available, why did anyone think that it was a good idea for these particular singers to sing "Sleigh Ride?" However, as another reviewer noted, their rendition is good for a giggle or two. Unless you are a completist, don't waste your money. Pavarotti and Domingo have both recorded wonderful Christmas albums. Buy those!

The cd would not play all the songs. It would skip on serval of the selections.

I am a huge fan of ALL of these guys ie; The Three Tenors. I am not a snob when it comes to music, I sit back and relax and enjoy. But man oh man, this was woeful ! Singing out of synch with the orchestra, exceptionally poor english, the wrong words even to one of the songs. No, sorry boys but this was a boo boo CD !!!!

This is a truly beautiful addition to my Christmas music collection. Can't wait to listen to it every day with the holidays approaching.

Album is great. For any other holiday music, just listen to your local radio station that plays it during December.

Amongst the plethora of hokum that the recording companies pass on to us in the name of sacred/Xmas music using big name artists who barely seem to know why they are recording this music, Pavarotti's album shines out as a good example of the genre. Using various recordings throughout his career, the album features big Lucy working with various orchestras and conductors and the arrangements are well done.

I believe that Luciano far exceeded Caruso. His voice reached out to everyone, except for that unfortunate foray into the "Georgio" film.
He presented his music with a marvelous flair for detail. We shall miss him, so much.

I have many Christmas albums, but I have to say, this is the cream of the crop. How could you expect anything less from the greatest tenor of a lifetime? The entire CD is absolutely breathtaking. "Pieta, Signore" (Have mercy on me, Lord) - is one of the most hauntingly beautiful songs ever written, and there is NO ONE that can deliver it like the Great Man. There is a passion, sincerity, reverence, urgency and depth to his singing here that is just unsurpassed. You will come away KNOWING that he believed every word that passed his lips. This album does exactly what all holiday albums should do, which is make us feel, realize and honor the true meaning of Christmas.

If you're looking for a Christmas album to convey the spirit and meaning of the season, this is the one. I was completely blown away, yet humbled by this supreme compilation. Bravo, Maestro, bravo! And thank you...

Pavarotti is in his prime for this one and the selections are both touching and grand. Mille Cherubini, a tender lullaby, is my favorite but his Agnus Dei is rich and grand. The choral backgrounds are also very good. I bought the cassette when it came out in the 70's and I am thrilled that they reissued it as CD to grace my 2007 Christmas .

Since Pavarotti's death, there will be no more wonderful Christmas music from such a perfect voice. The "O Holy Night" CD was glorious to listen to during the holidays. His "Ave Maria's" were outstanding!

I sit here at my computer and try to think of superlatives adequate to accurately describe this album....and there just aren't any. It is worthy to be the best selling classical album of all time....but it's more than that. It's just a must have, a collection to soothe the savage breast. For those times when I have lost hope, when I am past care.....I will sit with closed eyes and listen to this. And revive my soul.....

This is a most enjoyable cd. The music selection is varied, creative and powerful. I think this concert was so special. I'm not particularly classical music oriented, but I did enjoy this music and have listened to the cd many times over. It is the depth of voices, clearness of notes and the fun the 3 tenors were having that really enchanted me. These three tenors have such a gift to give and do give it most generously. Most of the songs are classic Italian so that even people like myself who aren't necessarily opera buffs will enjoy hearing these voices even if they cannot understand a word. Most likely I will order more of this type of music.

I respectfully agree yet disagree with Ms Barbara Eisner who wrote the review of the 3 Tenors 1990 concert. She is right that Carreras was not on par with the other 2 but that is only because at this late stage in his (Carreras) career he was not in the very fine voice he once was due to overuse of his voice and his battle with leukemia, which he valiantly won!. If you could appreciate, as I do,Carreras' 1970's richly-gorgeous and velvety voice in recordings of operas such as Lucia, La Boheme, Donizetti and liter Verdi operas you would have seen his mid 70's peak voice would have been every been as excellent as Domingo and Pavarotti were in the 3 Tenors 1990 concert. In fact, I dare to say he would have blown both men out of the water..with the possible exception of Pavarotti singing Nessun Dorma. Just listen to Carreras singing with Caballe on youtube in Adriana Lecrouveur and Tosca and you'll see what I mean!!!

Saw this concert on TV and was so moved by their voices and the opera experience, had to order and was not disappointed. I listen to it and feel relaxed, excited and amazed. I listen to alot of different music (mostly rock) so people who know me were curious and listened too and were surprised how much they liked it.

Arrived in fine time. Knew what I was getting, based on several viewings and listenings on PBS. Met my expectations. Good quality of used CD.

I had presented this as a gift, to my daughter, who is also a great fan of Pavarotti. We listened to it, together, and I listened to it while traveling home, from Florida. The music, and his voice, filled my car with great joy. The world has lost a marvelous talent. His voice was even greater than Caruso's.

I checked this cd many times at my local Library that I decided to buy it, it is great! I like that the lyrics are included. beautiful songs.
Love it.

What can I say? BRAVO! This cd will captivate any fan or someone who just wants to get started.Its hard not to have a dry eye while listening to this great collection of hits.I love classical music!Most people don't like opera because 1 they don't understand Italian.What a story.

I am a new listener to opera and I can't think of any CD that could be more relevatory for people like me that have no idea where to start. I find myself listening with tears in my eyes at the sheer power and emotion in Pavarotti's beautiful voice. I especially liked the booklet that came with the CDs. The performances and individual operas were discussed with the song from the opera given context within the story. Additionally, the lyrics are given with English translations, which I found really helpful.

For someone who is already a student of opera, this dual set will probably be somewhat redundant. However, if you are curious about opera in general or are unfamiliar with Pavarotti's recordings, this is an excellent anthology. I bought it as two cassettes some 20 years ago and wore it out, beginning a life-long love affair with opera. Use it to familiarize yourself with the songs and arias represented here, then explore the complete operas and/or song albums that these came from.

I would especially recommend:

RIGOLETTO (Verdi), Milnes, Pavarotti, Sutherland, Bonynge
La BOHEME (Puccini), Freni, Pavarotti, Karajan
TURANDOT (Puccini), Sutherland, Pavarotti, Mehta
O SOLE MIO/Neapolitan Songs (Various)

And to the two trolls who gave this set a review of ONE STAR (FP Wright LF Barker), because a CD skipped or a CD was missing, good grief. The review is supposed to be of the recording in question! Use your head! Is the fact that you received damaged goods--which very occasionally happens to everyone, and I'm sure Amazon cheerfully fixed the problem--a reason for someone to not buy the recording? If a recording is lousy because the performer had an off day, or the recording process was sub-par (and therefore ALL discs are effected), or whatever, then by all means, give it a "1" or "2" and STATE YOUR REASONS LOGICALLY. Your "reviews" are of NO help to anyone.

Wonderful Soundtrack from a terrific movie. Only one song that I loved was omitted (In the Jungle--Wimoweh).

If you've seen this movie, you know the music is great! I had my elementary students listen to the opera and they really enjoyed it. (So did my own kids.) If you're not an avid opera person, but enjoy melodic passion now and then, this is a nice choice.

The restaurant in the movie is a French restaurant, not Italian. One of the characters is trained in Italian cuisine. Not necessarily important to the music, but maybe the reviewer of a movie soundtrack should watch the movie first?

I liked the movie "No Reservations" but I especially liked the music. I ordered this CD, and now I am going to order it again for my car CD player and one for my sister for part of her Christmas present! I just LOVE the music! Especially the two songs sung by Luciano Pavarotti! His signature piece, no less! I just love this and play it over and over! The two "jazzy" tunes make me feel like just grabbing someone and dancing! I highly recomend this CD to anyone who loves classical, jazz and "some" opera like I do! GREAT CD! GET IT NOW!

it has all the movie music...almost to much really as it includes the little video music and interlude/intro music...but really a great listen peppy and uplifting

I ordered this last minute for my father for Christmas. It got here when it was promised and I was suprised. Thank you so much for making his Christmas!

The subject says it all... I need to save up to purchase more of their work.

This is the first album I have acquired of the Three Tenors, and it was wonderful. The selections were easy to listen to and familiar to me. None of the heavy operatic selections. It is the best. I will buy more albums of them.

This is a good recording. If you don't like the 3 tenors, then look else where. It's that simple. These are recordings from concerts where they WERE supposed to show off. This ain't opera. If you want opera, go out and attend one.

The first thing we must establish here is that this is not meant to be opera. This is three exceptionally talented tenors enjoying themselves and giving tremendous joy to those listening by singing mostly popular "evergreens" and also some operatic arias. The beauty in music lies in the diversity, in my opinion. One can better appreciate one type of music when one knows about the others. And why should we limit ourselves to listen to just one genre in music. It would be the same as having steak for dinner every day for the rest of your life, wouldn't it? So why should we limit three wonderful tenors to only sing operatic arias for the rest of their lives? If so we wouldn't have "Maria", "You'll never walk alone", "Singing in the rain" or any of the evergreens on this recording and that would be a shame.

There are no solos on the cd. I think I've read somewhere that they felt there had been enough "three tenors cd's" and if they were to release yet another one it would be one containing what the audience demands, the three of them joining forces and performing together in the songs.
The result, in my opinion is highly recommendable. The three voices blend perfectly together. I have to admit that I have a personal favourite among the tenors and that I would never buy an entire recording featuring only one of the two others, but I recognize their talents and -as stupid as it may sound- since they are performing together I can also appreciate the other two. (I like them too, but in smaller doses....)Some people have commented on their problems with mastering the english language. If anything, I think it just adds to their charm. By the way, who is perfect??

The songs on this cd is a mixture of beautiful songs, heartwrenching songs, toe-tapping songs and powerful songs. It's wonderful to just listen to the beauty in the three voices. It's fun hearing Pavarotti pushing his "high-note-button" in "O sole mio" and Carreras and Domingo copying his stunt. I have no idea what they're singing about in "Manha de Carnaval", but boy does it sound romantic...... And "Dicitencello vuie" brings tears to my eyes (even if I'm still left in the dark when it comes to understanding the meaning of the words...) In "Because" Carreras takes my breath away when singing "because God made thee mine, I'll cherish thee...through light and darkness, through all time to be, and pray his love may make our love divine...." (What woman wouldn't like to hear those words..??!?) Their rendition of "You'll never walk alone" should satisfy some of the soccer-fans since it's the anthem of a European football-club and "Nessun Dorma" will probably satisfy the rest of the soccer-fans, being the antheme of the 1998 world soccer championship. In short, there should be something for every taste on this cd.

It's a very "versatile" cd. You can play it almost everywhere. You can sing along to it in the car, you can dance around the house to it while doing your chores, you can put your feet up and unwind after a hectic week. Or you can write an Amazon review while listening to it.... (Feel free to add suggestions of your own here.....)

To make a long story short - a very enjoyable cd!

Although some of the most ardent opera buffs will still prefer Beecham, this is really the version to turn to for most people. This is quite simply Pavarotti's best role, full of vigour and poetry. If one really wished to find something to pick on, it would perhaps be that he only rarely seems willing to sing quietly, but the feeling (in particular the desperation) and warmth he brings to the role is, as far as I know, unmatched. Freni also, in my view, outperforms e.g. Callas, at least in terms of sheer beauty of sound, although a case could be made that Callas is the superior interpreter. Panerai and Harwood are excellent as well.

But if there is anything sweeping all competition aside, it is Karajan. He has simply got it all, focus on orchestral beauty as well as a taut grip on the drama and momentum. Put that together with splendid sound, and you've got a winning set. A must.

When you compare Freni with the light roles that she used to sing in the 60s and this Freni, you will think they are two different singers. But what is truly amazed is the fact that not only her voice changed, but she became bar none to one the hardest heavy lyric soprano roles ever: Mimi. And when she has Pavarotti next to her, it is like heaven. But, wait... Who is conducting is Karajan, unarguably one of the best puccinian ever. This is a record to listen, re-listen, re-listen, re-listen until I don't know when...

In a recent BBC3 "CD Review" broadcast, Alexandra Wilson made a gallant attempt to achieve the impossible task of choosing amongst forty or so recordings of "La Boheme" - and while I agreed with her ultimate choice of the Beecham recording with Bjorling, Merrill and De Los Angeles, I have rather more regard for this discarded Karajan recording simply because Pavarotti's voice, in its prime, as she herself put it, "runs through the recording like a golden seam". The rest of the cast is wonderful, too, although Karajan's love for the score is manifested in a rather deliberately "beautiful" approach and thereby slightly undercuts the drama. I cannot be without either recording of this eternally youthful and moving opera, and although Freni was captured in slightly fresher, more limpid voice in the earlier Schippers set, for me Gedda is absolutely no substitute for Pavarotti at his best. Both Merrill and Panerai are infinitely touching in the great duet "O Mimi, tu piu non torni" and although Beecham's recording is a little rough around the edges, he conveys greater energy and fun in the slapstick scenes while, Karajan extracts slightly more pathos from the last act, in better sound. Acquire both sets for the complete experience.

Puccini's iconic La Bohème (1896) is among the most popular operas in history (second only to Puccini's Madama Butterfly), and "Che gelida manina" is one of the most familiar arias in opera. Based on Scènes de la vie de Bohème by Henri Murger, La Bohème is a romantic opera in four acts. Set in Paris (around 1830), Puccini's opera is about four bohemians living in the Quartier Latin. One of them (Rodolfo) falls in love with a seamstress (Mimì), who contracts a cough which slowly consumes her (it is presumably tuberculosis). Rodolfo confesses to Marcello that he has left Mimi because of her deadly illness. When Mimi later dies, Rodolfo cries out Mimì's name and then weeps uncontrollably. La Bohème was first performed in Turin in 1896.

I experienced a live HD simulcast performance of Puccini's opera from The NYC Metropolitan Opera yesterday, with tenor Ramón Vargas performing as Rodolfo, Angela Gheorghiu in the role of Mimì, and Nicola Luisotti conducting. (Franco Zeffirelli produced the opera and designed the sets.) Before the Met performance, I listened to this CD performance to familiarize myself with the opera, and it is truly superb. This production, conducted by maestro Herbert von Karajan, is a definitive recording of La Bohème, with perfect performances (rich in bohemian heart and soul) by Luciano Pavarotti and Mirella Freni in the leading roles. Many opera buffs more knowledgeable than me have called this the greatest recording of La Bohème. The sound quality is impeccable. Highly recommended.

G. Merritt

I'm sorry this is not a review. I was wondering if someone can tell me if libretto is included in this product. Thanks in advance.

I heard this CD on a PBS pledge drive (it was a premium) and found myself loving every cut on it! I was in my car and just wanted to keep on driving and listening. This is by far my most-played CD - I've had to make it a weekend only listen to prevent getting burned out on it. HIGHLY recommend it. Even if you are unfamiliar with some of the pieces, you will quickly learn to love them. . . . I must end this review - I'm off to listen to the "flower duet" for the 100th time. . .

I'm new to opera, but this CD has really beautiful music. I use it in my CD clock radio (Timex, that I purchased here also) to go to sleep to.

21 Dec, 2007
The movements in this collection move Me as much as My very bowel. Hence, it might work for your too. Try it, you'll like it if you want to be moved to your very "soul".

Am just discoving the glory of opera. Not all opera, but the arias that make your heart soar. My husband turned away from opera because he was "overdosed" at an early age and it really spoiled his pleasure for life. He's gone now, and I'm discovering what I've missed. This is a wonderful CD and well worth having.

If one was wanting to introduce a friend to the wonderful world of opera, this would be a great cd to buy them. Also at this time when many of us are worrying about Luciano and his health , it is great to hear him featured on many of the selections. A great buy and wonderful collection.