Various Composers - 'Casta Diva' Italian Soprano Opera Arias [Gheorghiu/Pido-London Symphony Orchestra] 

Opera aria recitals have a tendency to either work fantastically, or fall flat on their face, this is definitely in the former category, a recital that is based on Italian Composers, and a nice mix of the big three, not only does Gheorghiu give us the famous aria, but also the 'number' before or after it, to give it a greater coherence / storyline, all coupled with great singing, and and a great visual presentation, it make for a great musical evening of an hour of music, i played this wonderful disc last year also [27th February 2012].

Angela Gheorghiu is Romanian, she's now 47, and she made this disc in 2000 & 2001, the front cover is truly inspired [photo by Uli Weber], a stunning shot of Gheorghiu, in a blue ball gown with sequins of what look like petals, a dark blue background against the milky white skin, hair blowing by some fan, and the lettering is so well done, nicely placed symmetrical across the front, and the red logo sticks out like a sore thumb, but i like that very much, and even the back cover is well done, showing a full length shot of Gheorghiu, notice that i've added 'rub on transfer' letters to the numbers, as this helps me to clearly differentiate each work, this is one of the best visual discs i own.

All of these arias where so inspired, even Rossini's 'Una Voce Poco Fa', which can sometimes grate me with it's continuous repetitions at the end, well it was the title track that i found so compelling, Bellini is the master of creating a truly memorable aria, it's his especial way with using a wind instrument to 'double' as the vocal line that makes his music perform wonders, here's it's the flute that 'sings' the aria as a sort of introduction at first [0:20-1:38], so that when Gheorghiu comes in [1:46+], we're already primed with the melody, and we know what to expect, but only the Singer takes it further, culminating in the most exquisite launch into the treble stratosphere [2:57-3:32], now that's what truly makes an aria, but there's more!, and we're given a second dosage in another verse [4:42+], with Gheorghiu launching off again [5:53-6:28], and i find myself also catapulted into the stratosphere also!, Gheorghiu rounds off the aria with a short cabaletta with the female chorus [the Druid Priestesses], the whole thing is a tremendous of example of everything what an aria should be, i loved it!.

Here's Gheorghiu singing Bellini's 'Casta Diva' on YouTube.

Bellini - Soprano Opera Arias [Anderson/ Rescigno-Orchestre Philharmonique De Monte Carlo] 

Most Opera Singers make recital discs of a selection of Composers, except where such a Composer is prolific [Mozart / Rossini / Verdi / Wagner/ Puccini], but with Bellini you haven't got much to choose from, which is why discs like this are rare, however they're also very welcome, the only gripe i have about this disc is the length, at only 54 minutes long, at least the famous 'Casta Diva' from Norma could have been added?, Bellini had a tendency to write long arias which are spun out really well, and that's one reason that this only contains 5 tracks / arias, you wouldn't get this from Mozart, Bellini's arias are long drawn out, and extremely lyrical, plus he had a penchant to use solo woodwind instruments as almost soloists in a lot of his introductions, and he is a master at creating mood that way, i love the deft way he can at times push aside the Opera stars, and indulge in a nice bit of being an orchestral Composer, elevating an instrumentalist as a star for a short while [consider the Oboist in the middle movement of the Brahms Violin Concerto, almost stealing the show], i played this a couple of years ago, you can read my thoughts in my Blog here [28th September 2010]. 

June Anderson is an American Soprano, she is now 59, she made this disc in 1987, i like the front cover photograph [by Steve Bicknell], a soft focus portrait, there's a certain glow to the face, and the lettering is in red and black, nice swirly writing.

Of all the pieces on this disc, it was the music from La Sonnambula that i loved the most, the closing scene and final aria of Amina is fantastic, it seems to have the lot in its three sections, . 

Here's June Anderson singing the three sections of the finale of La Sonnambula on YouTube, [Oh! Se Una Volta Sola / Ah! Non Credea Mirarti / Ah! Non Giunge].

Various Composers - 'Casta Diva' Italian Soprano Opera Arias [Gheorghiu/Pido-London Symphony Orchestra]

A lovely recital of Opera arias, not a compilation from other recordings cobbled together, but a proper recital with one Conductor, and a well chosen programme also, not just including the arias, but the extra bits either side, creating a greater dialogue with the storyline, and instead of '20 greatest hits', we have only 8 pieces of music, though with over an hour of music, each piece ends up lasting roughly 8 minutes, it's of course filled with the most famous pieces, but that's a good thing for me.

Angela Gheorghiu was born in Romania in 1965, she's now 46, and it's amazing how she continues to look as if she's in her 30's, she made this recording in 2000 and 2001, the photography is fantastic [by Uli Weber], the whole thing is couched in blue, nice background that matches the dress, and those sequins!, very well done, i like the way the lettering goes through the centre of the picture.

I have to admit that i have a real soft spot for Bellini, the tracks that especially touched me were 1, 5, 7 & 13, Bellini is extremely lyrical, a wonderful sense of spinning a great tune, notice how he often uses a solo woodwind instrument to weave a breathtaking vocal line, i guess i have an extra soft spot for the famous number from Bellini's I Puritani, the Qui la voce..., the intro is dominated by flutes singing the main tune to great effect [0:00-0:48], Gheorghiu has a sweet and high voice, a certain innocent tremble to it, it only lasts three and a half minutes, and it doesn't deviate from the simple rapturous tune, it's soothing and sweet, even though for the character Elvira, she sings of the distress of the abandonment of her by her Fiance, it's still touching and enchanting. 

Here's Angela Gheorghiu singing Bellini's 'Qui la voce sua soave'... from I Puritani on YouTube.

Bellini - Soprano Opera Arias [Anderson/ Rescigno-Orchestre Philharmonique De Monte Carlo]

Here's a really nice Opera Arias recital, a disc dedicated to Bellini only, a great idea, there are too few dedicated to just this Composer, my only gripe with this disc is its somewhat short measure [54 minutes], an Aria or two could have been added from Norma, especially the famous one.

June Anderson is American, now 57 years old, she is mainly associated with the Bel Canto repertoire, i really like the booklet cover, a soft focus shot [by Steve Bicknell], vague background, and some well chosen lettering.

Here's Antonella Bandelli singing the Beatrice di Tenda aria on YouTube.