Various Composers - 'Diva' Soprano Opera Arias [Gheorghiu/ Various Conductors & Orchestras]I only mentioned Angela Gheorghiu a week ago in some Verdi arias [27th March 2010], here she is again in a compilation album of arias, this is not a cheap 'best of', but rather a well chosen collection, with a booklet having full texts and translations, and a short synopsis of each aria, plus the colour scheme on the booklet is pleasing.
Most of the recordings are studio, but there are 3 live tracks, and only the last [and probably most famous] has clapping at the end, which rounds off a nice collection, bravo!.
A few of these arias i was not familiar with, track/aria 12 for example 'Vissi D'Arte' [I Lived For Art], i've heard it before, but i've never really listened to it, taken from Puccini's Opera Tosca, Gheorghiu plays the leading lady Tosca, who is forced to choose by the Chief of Police, Scarpia, between allowing her lover Cavaradossi to die, or satisfying Scarpia's own desire for her, in a prayer to God, she's asks why?, after a holy life she has led, why does she have to make such a choice.
Puccini has a real knack for stirring up emotions, for placing his characters in noble situations, where the human chooses the divine, the aria rises and falls, it tugs at the heartstrings, not to mention there's a couple of great tunes in there, she sings of some of the things she has done in her life [1:22-1:41],
Sempre con fe sincera [Ever in pure faith]
diedi fiori agli altar [i brought flowers to the altar]
The penultimate forte she cries in anguish, why? [2:32-2:46]
Perche, perche, Signore? [Why, why, oh Lord?]
It's thrillingly powerful and heart-wrenching, Gheorghiu cuts to your soul, you get sucked in to the plot and the character, you feel you're a part of her crying out, what a wonderful aria, and Gheorghiu has all the emotion and passion you could wish for.
Here's Angela Gheorghiu singing 'Vissi D'Arte' on YouTube.
