CD-Charts Position 1
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Nellie Melba Complete Gramophone Recordings, Vol 1

Search: Rigoletto: Caro nome - Verdi
by: Orchestra

Release Date July 29, 2002
Naxos have now issued all four CDs of the Gramophone Company (British and French) recordings, and the three CDs of Victor (American) recordings. The transfers are by Ward Marston : they are of superb quality, smooth, clear and sweet on the ear.

Melba was not in the first flush of youth when she made her first discs - she was in her forties (and in her mid sixties when she made her last) - and this group from 1904 therefore gives us the best chance to hear what it was in her singing that made her a superstar of the late Victorian age. The recordings are forward and immediate in a way that her later recordings, particularly the Victors, were not, and the singer comes across vividly.

The notes are clear and interesting ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 2
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Erna Berger - A Vocal Portrait

Search: Rigoletto: Caro nome - Verdi
by: Erna Berger

Release Date February 03, 2003
Admirers of this German soprano, whose life spanned almost the entire C20, are well served in the CD market. Naxos has added this selection of her recordings to their “Great Singers” series, providing much that is best known of her operatic work as well as several rarities. Although you will not find the best ever version of any of the operatic arias heard here, you will hear accomplished vocalizing from a singer renowned for her accuracy of pitch and control of tone. Track 1 is a justly famous recording, the first, I believe, to present the aria Martern aller Arten in its entirety. Erna Berger presents a Constanze who contrives to repel the threat of torture by showing that she can participate for nine minutes in elaborate coloratura ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 3
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The Best of Romantic Callas

Search: Rigoletto: Caro nome - Verdi
from: EMI Classics

Release Date February 05, 2001
A delightful set of recordings, brought together in a well balanced CD which would be a very welcome gift, particularly for one whose collection is in the early stages. Though not holding many surprises for those with wide collections, it represents an excellent cross-section of the world's most famous soprano, singing some of the world's most beautiful music.
The compilation opens with the tragically hopeful first track - "Un bel di vedremo", from Puccini's 'Madam Butterfly' - where the eponymous protagonist sings that 'one fine day' her love will return, though we know her fragile hopes will be dashed in the cruellest way. This sets the scene for a further fifteen tracks of magical composition. Switch on the music, sit back and immerse ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 4
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Romantic Callas

Search: Rigoletto: Caro nome - Verdi
by: Maria Callas

Release Date October 15, 2001
I have to first start by saying my knowledge of Opera is very limited, and so a collection of this kind is a real saviour for someone just getting used to the bewildering number of artists, composers, and interpretations opera and classical music throws up.

Throughout this amazing collection, Callas gracefully and beautifully leaves the listener in no doubt that they are in the midst of one of the great sopranos. This collection is a great starting point for would be opera buffs as it includes pieces from all of the great opera / composers, and so for me at least serves a dual purpose, giving an accessible insight into the wonderful career of this gifted woman, and also to some of the most gratifying interpretations of the great operas.

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CD-Charts Position 5
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The Art of the Prima Donna

Search: Rigoletto: Caro nome - Verdi
by: Covent Garden Francesco Molinari-Pradelli, Joan Sutherland Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

Release Date October 16, 2000
There is no comparison in the whole catalogue. It is almost incomprehensible that one voice can encompass the demands of such an enormous range of styles and types of operatic singing - and do so with an unerring perfection that must be heard to be believed. This was called the Voice of the Century in its day but that is an understatement. Nearly 50 years later we can say with some confidence that it is the Voice of all Centuries. There was nothing like it before in tonal beauty and staggering technique; and there has certainly been no comparison since. This is singing of an altogether different order from any of La Stupenda's imitators or 'rivals'. The Callas/Sutherland debate becomes meaningless when one listens to this disc: no-one else has approached this ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 6
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Vocal Artistry of Marion Talley

Search: Rigoletto: Caro nome - Verdi
by: Marion Talley

Release Date November 18, 1997
There is no comparison in the whole catalogue. It is almost incomprehensible that one voice can encompass the demands of such an enormous range of styles and types of operatic singing - and do so with an unerring perfection that must be heard to be believed. This was called the Voice of the Century in its day but that is an understatement. Nearly 50 years later we can say with some confidence that it is the Voice of all Centuries. There was nothing like it before in tonal beauty and staggering technique; and there has certainly been no comparison since. This is singing of an altogether different order from any of La Stupenda's imitators or 'rivals'. The Callas/Sutherland debate becomes meaningless when one listens to this disc: no-one else has approached this ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 7
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Vocal Artistry of Marion Talley

Search: Rigoletto: Caro nome - Verdi
by: Marion Talley

Release Date November 18, 1997
There is no comparison in the whole catalogue. It is almost incomprehensible that one voice can encompass the demands of such an enormous range of styles and types of operatic singing - and do so with an unerring perfection that must be heard to be believed. This was called the Voice of the Century in its day but that is an understatement. Nearly 50 years later we can say with some confidence that it is the Voice of all Centuries. There was nothing like it before in tonal beauty and staggering technique; and there has certainly been no comparison since. This is singing of an altogether different order from any of La Stupenda's imitators or 'rivals'. The Callas/Sutherland debate becomes meaningless when one listens to this disc: no-one else has approached this ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 8
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O mio babbino caro: Famous Soprano Arias from Italian Opera

Search: Rigoletto: Caro nome - Verdi
by: Various Composers

Release Date October 22, 2001
There is no comparison in the whole catalogue. It is almost incomprehensible that one voice can encompass the demands of such an enormous range of styles and types of operatic singing - and do so with an unerring perfection that must be heard to be believed. This was called the Voice of the Century in its day but that is an understatement. Nearly 50 years later we can say with some confidence that it is the Voice of all Centuries. There was nothing like it before in tonal beauty and staggering technique; and there has certainly been no comparison since. This is singing of an altogether different order from any of La Stupenda's imitators or 'rivals'. The Callas/Sutherland debate becomes meaningless when one listens to this disc: no-one else has approached this ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 9
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Verdi: Rigoletto

Search: Rigoletto: Caro nome - Verdi
from: RCA

Release Date May 25, 1990
There is no comparison in the whole catalogue. It is almost incomprehensible that one voice can encompass the demands of such an enormous range of styles and types of operatic singing - and do so with an unerring perfection that must be heard to be believed. This was called the Voice of the Century in its day but that is an understatement. Nearly 50 years later we can say with some confidence that it is the Voice of all Centuries. There was nothing like it before in tonal beauty and staggering technique; and there has certainly been no comparison since. This is singing of an altogether different order from any of La Stupenda's imitators or 'rivals'. The Callas/Sutherland debate becomes meaningless when one listens to this disc: no-one else has approached this ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

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The Verdi Anniversary Box

Search: Rigoletto: Caro nome - Verdi
from: EMI

Release Date September 04, 2000
There is no comparison in the whole catalogue. It is almost incomprehensible that one voice can encompass the demands of such an enormous range of styles and types of operatic singing - and do so with an unerring perfection that must be heard to be believed. This was called the Voice of the Century in its day but that is an understatement. Nearly 50 years later we can say with some confidence that it is the Voice of all Centuries. There was nothing like it before in tonal beauty and staggering technique; and there has certainly been no comparison since. This is singing of an altogether different order from any of La Stupenda's imitators or 'rivals'. The Callas/Sutherland debate becomes meaningless when one listens to this disc: no-one else has approached this ... Read More: