Mirella Freni

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.

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.

you don't have to be an opera lover to love this album. Pavarotti 's golden voice is at its best in this recording of Puccini's wonderful opera.
I listen to this CD constantly and never tire of it. If you are hoping to convert someone to an opera fan, this is the recording to do it.

I not only purchased this as a gift, but picked up one for myself. It's one of the best operas around.

I am writing this review a few days after the death of Luciano Pavarotti. Even if I do not know music, I like opera, and I love Puccini. This recording is one of the most beautiful I ever heard, and will make it clear, if ever there was any doubt, that we just lost one of the most outstanding artists of the 20th century.

Forget about his incursions in pop music, forget about his late years marriage with a younger woman and forget about his frequent cancellations and all that. Just listen to "Che gelida manina" in this recording and weep... Mirella Freni is an amazing co-star, and her Mimi' is as superb as Pavarotti's Rodolfo. Everyone in this recording is superb. Here you will truly hear Pavarotti at his peak. Nothing less than magical. Indeed the full production is well worth its price, and if you can my recommendation is to purchase that rather than this (still beautiful) abridgment.

For another outstanding recording of the best Pavarotti, try the Turandot from the same label, directed by Mehta, and with an amazing Caballe' in the role of Liu'. Then, you will hear the most memorable "Nessun dorma" you will ever hear.

Thanks Mr Pavarotti for having made this world a better place.

I ordered this after I heard Paul Potts perform a song from this opera on "Britain's Got Talent". He won, by the way, performing it beautifully.

Karajan's 1973 stereo version is the best all-around Boheme available. It stars his favorite soprano, Mirella Freni, and a young Luciano Pavarotti at his peak (unlike his post-climatic self these last decades). There is no faulting this version and an ideal way to explore Puccini and Italian opera generally.

When I was in Lucca, It., the birthplace of Puccini, we attended a concert in a local church that was so beautiful. This CD brought me right back there. A lovely way to spend time listening to Puccini.

"Quando m'en vo" is not omitted from this CD; it is just called "Musetta's waltz song." It is the same aria.

This is one of the first opera CDs I ever got. It's wonderful for just about any body;from the newbies like me or the opera fanatics. I especially like 'In Questa Reggia'. Buy it now!!

The Ultimate Puccini Collection features some of Puccini's most arias and will appeal to even the most ardent operaphobes.

A great listening experience featuring some of the greatest opera performers of all time.

The music is without question, among the most beautiful ever written. But the quality of the fidelity tells me that many of the selections were recorded live in concert in outdoor venues. I wish that was clear to me before I bought the disc. So, is the music the ultimate? YES! Is the recording the ultimate? NO!

I have more experience with other genres of music, but am interested in basically all kinds. I have been collecting CDs for nearly 2 decades but had no Opera in my collection. I did a little research and arrived at a conclusion. If I wanted the most and best Opera music for my money, I had to get this title, which is a double album, and "The Most Famous Opera Duets". Well, the latter was a steal with a list price under four dollars, and the former was a truly good compilation of many uplifting, diverse, impactful, and pleasant pieces. I am satisfied with my purchases and have filled the gap in my music collection. I can't see Opera getting better than this and the other title I mentioned. Enjoy!

This is a wonderful background for any tension realeasing activity, like reading a book. So glad I purchased it.

This music cd has really essential pieces of great operas. If you don't have many classical cds, why don't you buy this one and enjoy~? :)

I am not an opera fan normally. But sometimes the music is so lovely that it's a pleasure to just sit and listen. That is what this disc is. Most of the music is gorgeous and although I don't understand a word of it I just love listening to it and enjoy it. I think anyone who loves beautiful music be it an opera fan or not will enjoy this cd.

Rapture: Opera's Most Heavenly Moments

Absolutely fantastic! Stare into space and enjoy this music.

This Cd is the best compliment to a set than choice part of the opera. Also debit say than the seller Cayman is swell to. Thank you.

I'm not opera literate, so I was looking for some kind of introduction that had some familiar arias and that would connect me to others that I had not heard. I liked that the notes with the cd indicated where a new listener may have heard some of the music (in a commercial, during an important scene in a movie, etc). This was the source of a lot of 'Ah ha!' moments. It even inspired me to rent a dvd of a live version of Turandot and to put others on my Netflix queue. I owe my newly aroused curiosity about opera, believe it or not, to Il Divo. I had to know what these guys sing when they're not reinterpreting pop songs. I'm glad I started this journey and this cd was a good start.

This is a great product if the individual enjoys and appreciates classical music and especially the opera.

As a long time armchair Opera listener I'm shocked that I hadn't come across this album until recently. I'm not really an Opera connoisseur so my review is based on just the fact that I love Opera, but mostly by listening to arias or occasionally going to the Opera.

This CD is quite comprehensive and offers a broad spectrum of aria's and some chorus's from several composers as well as the more famous of singers. In 2 CD's, 19 tracts each, many of the most famous arias are represented. If you are a Wagner fan you might be disappointed, however, Puccini, Mozart, Bizet, and Verdi are well represented. If you want a taste of Opera without sitting down and listening to a full Opera, this is perfect. My only complaint is that there is not enough Jose Carreras!

There will always be arguments for this or that singer, but this title is absurd. I didn't see a single Jussi Bjoerling, George London, Leonard Warren, or Zinka Milanov, and only one mention of Del Monaco. These were singers. Bjoerling and London were in a class by themselves. I saw all of these folks live on stage. London and Del Monaco had stage presence you don't get now. Di Stefano, Kirsten, de los Angeles should be on any best list. Play any tenor aria by any tenor; then play Bjoerling's. Play any bass/baritone aria by any singer; then play London's. Jussi and George will knock your socks off. They sang everything in every language. Tebaldi and Pavarotti sang only Italian, much easier.

While this is not my favorite Butterfly (Leinsdorf/Moffo), it is certainly one of the best ever recorded. Personally, I'm not a huge fan of Pavarotti, but Freni is the best tragic lyric soprano I've ever had the pleasure of experiencing. She always moves me to tears, without fail. She is not my favorite Butterfly, though, because I prefer Moffo's young and innocent take, whereas Freni's voice is a bit heavier and more mature sounding.

Madama Butterfly has, for whatever reason, the most varied and rich recording catalogue. There are easily half a dozen recordings that are all "perfect" in their own right. You just can't go wrong with buying any of them, and you might even feel compelled to buy all of them, because they're all so good! This recording is certainly among those must-listens because of Freni's raw emotional power (and some people might like that Pavarotti guy too). I would also recommend Leinsdorf/Moffo, Karajan/Callas, Barbirolli/Scotto, and Serafin/Tebaldi. Serafin's recording also boasts the elegant singing of Bergonzi, the only Pinkerton I just can't bring myself to hate, even though he really is a callous jerk.

At any rate, any of these recordings would be a good introduction (possibly not the Callas recording, as the sound quality isn't as good), so if you're looking for your first recording, you might choose based on which soprano you like or what price suits your pocketbook. This set is certainly very pricey, so you may want to experience Butterfly in a less expensive manner first before you invest 50 bucks on it. It's definitely worth the investment if you know you love Freni and you know you love Butterfly.

Since its release in 1974, critics have bowed down before an incomparable Madame Butterfly that matched up Karajan, Freni, and Pavarotti at their veyr best. Both lead singers justify their enormous fame. At this early date, about a decade after his recording debut, Pavarotti remained a sensitive Pinkerton who could shade his voice and deliver nuance along with power. Freni was a bit light for Cio-Cio San, but her portrayal runs second only to Callas (and Scotto, perhaps) for pathos and intensity. Karajan had also been Callas's conductor in this opera; his reading here is broader and more sumptuous--his approach to Puccini was ultra-lush, and it pays off. This isn't Bach,a fter all.

Two quibbles amidst the rejoicing. Decca's shrill, over-bright sonics badly need remastering. The company botched the Solti Ring cycle and all his Strauss operas with nasty late-Eighties digitizing. Those sets were brought back to life later, but this one sitll awaits the doctor. Also, at under 160 min. total timing, there's no reason to spread Butterfly out over three CDs--hopefully the future reissues will fit on two, as they properly should.

This late 60's recording is conducted by Herbert Von Karajan and performed by the Vienna Phil, starring Mirella Freni in her first Butterfly on record, Luciano Pavarotti and Christa Ludwig. The reviews for this recording are both favorable and critical. Mirella Freni is not everyone's favorite Butterfly, Luciano Pavarotti is not everyone's favorite tenor, least of all everyone's first choice for Pinkerton Karajan has been criticized for his supremely slow conducting and lack of Puccini spirit. All these points detractors make are valid. However, I found that this is an engaging Butterfly thanks to Mirella Freni's technique and the talents of mezzo soprano Christa Ludwig as Suzuki. This is worth purchasing only for Mirella Freni. She was born to sing Ciao-Ciao San, and her portrayal is moving and tragic. Her voice is dulcet and lyrical, perfectly evoking Butterfly's naivete and innocence. Her mastership of the Italian language, being Italian herself, is superb. Nevertheless, her singing is in a different class. Hers is restrained, lyrically satisfying and only ocassionally dramatic and full-blooded. Her Butterfly lacks the electrifying power of Maria Callas, Leontyne Price, Renata Tebaldi and Renata Scotto. Hers is a more subtle Butterfly, full of pianissimi and whispers that hint at her depressive state. Butterfly is a SAD figure and Freni sings it in melancholy manner. However, because the pacing of the score is so slow, she can be boring. She is even more impressive (at least to me) in the Deutsche Grammophone studio recording under Sinopoli's baton and singing opposite Jose Carreras and Teresa Berganza. Nevertheless, she does a fine job and few sopranos can really emote as believably as Freni, particularly in the final act. Luciano Pavarotti is not my favorite tenor. His Pinkerton, however, is right on target as far as characterization. While Pavarotti was not an exemplary operatic actor and never lived the role out of laziness and lack of intellectual spirit, he did sing with a voice that people enjoy because it is both light and loud. In this recording, he is too loud but his in-your-face brash Broadway-like style is perfect for Pinkerton. Unconsciously, he sings a dramatically satisfying Pinkerton who is a big fat American jerk. He is thoughtless, lusty, vulgar and cruelly deceptive. Pavarotti and Freni were both brought up by the same wet nurse in Italy and were childhood/teenage friends. Their careers were illustrious and it's a shame they sang very few times together. On recording, we can find them singing in Don Carlos (again under Karajan)La Boheme under Karajan and Puccini's Tosca under Zubin Mehta. There is no denying the sheer beauty of the combined voices of Pavoratti and Freni, who have genuine chemistry. Christa Ludwig is an exceptional Susuki, though too noble and grand and even sounds like a diva in her own right. I prefer "lighter" Susuki's like Teresa Berganza. This is a fine recording all in all. But you have to be a loyal devotee of Mirella Freni or Luciano Pavarotti to get this recording.

Although Renata Scotto is definitive in this role, this would apply to the stage only. On disc Scotto never came across as well as she should have. Scotto recorded Butterfly twice and they are excellent registrations, esp. the Barbirolli for EMI. But somehow it doesn't fill the soul. Mirella Freni recorded this in 1974 and never sang it on stage, but did record it twice, the second time with Sinopoli, a waste of her time.
This set gets her at her most dramatic and most vocally developed shape.Hear for the first time for her nuances in her recitatives, her limpid codas, her ravishing high notes(the entrace final note..noone does it like this, noone in the entire hiostroy of Butterflys) are all graced with that training she had coupled here with a sublime artistry. There is no comparison on disc to anyone else. Others are excellent, yes, but not like this. I think this is her zenith as a singer, and there are other recordings she did, but nothing on this cale, except Don Carlo and Boheme. But note especially here her entrance ,and later, her Che tua madre, later again, her bianca, bianca and then her flower duet, and her finale..not to mention, going back, the ending of Un bel di..finally a soprano who can hold that note with ease, style, and power. This Butterfly of Freni makes you wonder if this could be the greatest singer of that day..she was not, but this is definitive.

Christa Ludwig is superb--all the expressions are there, note especially the Act II opening prayers, and the languorous sighs at the predicament of poverty and desertion. Also, note the beginning of Un bel di....the piangendo of Ludwig, and Freni's blend into it..Von Karajan has never done so much with a score so worked over and rushed to death.

Pavarotti is excellent, and vulagr as he should be..he has an indiffrence to things Pinkerton should have, and his voice rings out, like a brash America, note the opening arias for this, and then, suddenly, at the end of the opera, you get such imapssioned singing, that somehow makes him utterly pathetic.

The conducting is slow, and that is Von Karajan, but you have not heard a slower Butterfly than the second one with Sinopoli and Freni again, with a much worn out Jose Carreras. It takes time to build to the climaxes of Butterfly, and Von Karajan does with brillance, as in his Turandot with the lovely Ricciarelli. Listen to Butterfly's entrance, the strings, also the Morta, and the piuttosto la mia vita vo' troncar at the close of Che tua madre..Freni is ON, and Von Karajan knows it..she's reached the top and he lets her enjoy all of it, and for us, enjoy and weep.

Buy this quickly. The boxed version w/ libretto is going soon..already the reduced in size version is out, same price, and no libretto, no jewel case..ugly.

I always had in my mind that this Freni/Pavarotti/Karajan Butterfly was something really good but I was dissapointed. First, I really love Freni's voice and I think she can make a nice butterfly and she does it in this set but his companion Pavarotti sounds bad, I mean, you can't feel in his singing that he is compromised to the role of Pinkerton. I dare to say that he doesnt sing as good as he could, so his Pinkerton undraws the nice and excellent Butterfly of Freni. Yes, Pavarotti has all the top notes but singing opera is more than sing high notes to make the house come down!! Second, if you heard the whole opera you will have the sensation to be listening to something ocurring in other world, not Japan. Perhaps it is due to Karajan conducting. He is accurate and is very worried for the sonorities of his orchestra but if you pay enough attention to this you will be unfocused from the opera. In other words, and tragically this Butterfly makes me feel like sleeping. I have other Butterflies but I do recommend the Callas set which was surprisingly good (I never thought Callas was capable to color her voice in the way she did for her recording of Cio Cio San) and the Bjoerling/De los Angeles but in this last I really dont like the way Santini conducts and you would prefer a more present orchestra...

Who doesn't love Pavarotti? The short pieces on this disc are perfect for listening to in the car, and the sound quality is astonishingly good for the price. I would have edited out the lengthy applause that follows the live segments, but for $6.99, I'm not complaining.

ADDENDUM:
I see that since I bought this CD and wrote this review, the Amazon price has gone up by $1 (which while it seems insignificant is nonetheless some 14 percent) to $7.99. However, it is still a bargain for this wonderful collection of music by one of the greatest voices of all time.

ADDENDUM 2:
I've noticed that the price tends to fluctuate between $6.99 and $7.99 and back again rapidly and without rhyme nor reason. If you are planning to buy this and it is $7.99, put it in your shopping cart to "buy later" and wait a few days.

What can one say about Luciano Pavarotti------------next to Caruso he is and was one of the best tenors of our time. This DVD is wonderful to hear and he sings some of his best arias on it. Bravo!!!

I started listening to Opera music and Pavarotti is my first purchased CD and I love it. I purchased the CD for "Nessun Dorma" but the entire CD is fun and relaxing. I'm looking forward to other "Classical Opera" music choices.

Pavarotti Luciano Pavarotti - Nessun dorma (Arias & Duets) at his finest. Wonderful recording to listen to when you can't hear the entire opera.

We have lost Pavarotti now, but, thank God, we have his wonderful voice still to listen to. I, for one, will never forget him. Thank you, God, for allowing us to share him.

This CD-Box is outstanding. Here you will find Pavarotti at his best, surrounded by other great artists. The few minutes of "Ridi pagliaccio", by itself, is worth more than the full price. When I listen to this CD, or to "La Boheme", or "Turandot", by the same label (Decca), all sung by Pavarotti during his peak years, I cannot avoid finding myself, at some point, with tears in my eyes. If you love opera, you should own all Puccini sung by Pavarotti in his best years. I think that whatever Pavarotti did or sung in his latest years cannot stain a life of wonderful achievements. And it's beautiful that his achievements will be available for everybody to listen for ages to come.
But beware... After listening to these wonderful Decca-Pavarotti recordings, most live performances of Puccini operas will end up being very disappointing...

I bought this CD because I was in the choir of a production of "I Pagliacci" in the city Stjørdal, Norway in 2002. (The opera is called "Bajazzo" in Germany and Scandinavia)
I had not heard very much of the music before I got the recording, but I have listened to it several times now!
The music by leoncavallo is beautiful - it thrills with the light, soft songs but it also amazes with the powerful and dramatical songs!
My favorite songs are the choir of the bells, Silvio and Nedda's love duet, Vesti la giubba (as you might have heard) and the whole second act.

I have started to listen to "Cavalleria Rusticana" too, though I haven't heard all of it. But it seems like a great opera too - the music touches me. Actually, I'm working on a translation of Cavalleria Rusticana. I don't think it has been translated to Norwegian before, and it's a hard job!

The singers are masters! Pavarotti is well-known, and he is BIG!! But I think he maybe is emphasized too much, but he is the star...
Alas you can nearly hear the choir! Especially the male voices. That is a pity!! (only on Pagliacci)