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Lorengar sings "Il Sogno di Doretta" like it's no one's business. This is the best recording of this song that I personally think is available. She hits these high notes like they're just "another note." Bjorling's voice and versatility we will never see again. Gheorghiu never ceases to amaze me with her freshness, beauty of voice, and her use of her high soprano like in "Donde lieta usci." I LOVE NILSSON'S HIGH NOTES!!! If she and Sutherland could have ever paired up, "OH GOD hold me back!!" I guess for someone who can really appreciate Joan in "In questa reggia" this is powerful, but I don't think that this selection represents her well at all. I'm not really familiar with Sutherland's Puccini repertoire, but this certainly doesn't show off her POWER and perfectly high intonation or her masterfully controlled vibrato. Perhaps Puccini isn't one of Joan's strong composers for her specific instrument. Price is one of my favorite Tosca's and I'm so delighted that she was included. I love her dramatism and wide range.

This CD is gold! Don't let this one slip through your fingers. Puccini would be so tickled to know of this collection that does his work justice!

29 of 31 found the following review helpful:

"Ultimate" only if you like your opera "al fresco"!Jun 13, 2002
By J. J. Conti "jackson"
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!

24 of 25 found the following review helpful:

Only London Records could do it...Jul 11, 2000
By Valentin Lorien
I'd have to say that London Records has the best opera recordings overall, and it's no wonder why they were able to form such a magnificent compilation of Puccini's most listened to arias on this CD. I recommend it to any opera fan, whether novice or expert, because what London did is use the best singers for each aria.

Your favorite singers might be Luciano Pavarotti, Renata Tebaldi, or Franco Corelli, and you might have complete operas sung by them, but this CD makes less-popular singers known, such as Pilar Lorengar, and demonstrate how well each singer sings the aria that they sing the best. For example, the song "Un bel dì vedremo" from Madama Butterfly has been sung by just about every famous soprano out there (Maria Callas, Renata Scotto, Renata Tebaldi, etc.) but one soprano whom I've never heard of sings this aria in the most enchanting way i've ever heard.

More examples include Pilar Lorengar singing "Ch'il bel sogno di Doretta" from La Rondine, and Gianna D'Angelo singing "Musetta's Waltz" from La Boheme. And don't worry, the big stars sing their best arias, too: Luciano Pavarotti blows you away his "Nessun Dorma" from Turandot and Jussi Björling makes you want to cry with his "Ch'ella mi creda libero e lontano" from La Fanciulla del West.

Finally, I just have to say that this CD is a must. London Records carefully chose each singer with their best arias to perform and this CD, and most importantly, EVERYONE is in their prime here. There isn't anything bad to say about this CD except that I wish there was more on here, but what can you expect from one CD? I also wish that a little bit of Maria Callas was on here, but then again, she is only on EMI CD's and this is a London Recording, oh well, just buy all of her recordings anyway :-)

I hope this helped whoever is reading this. I'd also like to hear your comments, so email me.

15 of 15 found the following review helpful:

Giacomo Puccini: Ode to loveDec 24, 2000
By Armindo
Puccini is one of the greatest composers of all time and when it comes to emotions and feelings he's the TOP! One finds his operas in every collection! This compilation is just an introduction to his world but not just any introduction!!

Here are heard some of the worlds' greatest voices, most of them ideal Puccini singers. Firstly Madame Puccini, Renata Tebaldi. But beyond her, the ravishing "Signore Ascolta" of Montserrat Caballe, Carlo Bergonzi's to-cry-for "Che gelida Manina", Luciano Pavarotti's spectacular "Nessun Dorma", Kiri Te Kanawa's lyrical "o mio babbino caro". Let me not forget the sweet Mirella Freni, the powerful Brigit Nilsson or the divine Leontine Price, the legendary Jussi Bjorling or the heroic Franco Corelli. The other supreme two of the "3 tenors", Jose Carreras and Placido Domingo also have their moments here. There are also less popular singers on this cd whose performance is also wonderful. Perhaps only Victoria de Los Angeles and Mario del Monaco are missing but let us not be extremely demanding! Many thanks to Decca/London records for releasing this compilation.

I really can't choose between any Puccini aria since each one is unforgettable in her own way! Most of these moments have taught many opera fans how opera is supposed to sound. So let Puccini speak and let us enjoy his words!

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