Editorial Reviews

As an introduction to opera that really covers the basics, Warner's 40 Most Beautiful Arias is a terrific package to give to beginners, though aficionados of the vocal arts may find some sparkling gems here, too. The selections are drawn from the most popular works in the repertoire, such as "Le nozze di Figaro," "Carmen," "La bohème," and "La Traviata," and examples from the operas of Mozart, Bizet, Puccini, Verdi, and other masters of the genre combine to make this a well-rounded and satisfying program. The performers are representative of the best in the field, and such world-renowned stars as Plácido Domingo, Kiri Te Kanawa, José Carreras, Barbara Hendricks, Roberto Alagna, Angela Gheorghiu, and Jennifer Larmore, among many other great singers, lend this double-disc compilation an attractive luster. About the only complaint that can be made about this collection is the occasional variability of sound quality, which is usually clear and present, but sometimes a bit distant or out of balance; this can be expected in any survey of performances recorded on various dates between 1950 and 2001, with analog or digital reproduction, and at numerous venues from around the globe. But this really takes nothing away from the many musical riches this twofer offers, and most listeners will find the best-sounding arias outweigh the problems of the few hazy historical tracks. Blair Sanderson, All Music Guide

Customer Reviews

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