This bargain box set is a tribute to Angela Gheorghiu in her fiftieth year to mark the twenty-five year anniversary of her debut.
In his admiring review of this bargain box set, my MusicWeb International colleague Michael Cookson hails Angela Gheorghiu as “the greatest soprano of her generation”. I have no quarrel with the legitimacy of that assertion except to observe that she might be accorded that accolade jointly with Renée Fleming. Both sopranos have a claim to being the leading prime donne of the last quarter century: both are singers of considerable personal allure and the ability to act convincingly; both have lovely and instantly recognisable voices; both have repertoires of admirable breadth to display their versatility. Each of them can fill any international opera house with an adoring public which knows a good thing when it hears it. I say this especially in these days of increasing dearth of what I would call the old-fashioned style of diva who can flood a hall with sound as opposed to the slimmed-down soprano voices of the period school.
I have heard both singers live a good few times and can attest to the magnetism of their stage presence and the carrying power of their voices. I have no desire to pit one against the other in terms of artistry but am merely grateful that we have had two such singers able to do justice to the greatest and most demanding operatic roles.
Apart from its intrinsic beauty, Gheorghiu’s voice has a peculiarly affecting and plangent timbre coupled with a special ability shared with Callas, which is to apply and control portamento to heart-rending effect. She has frequently been compared with Callas and has unwisely encouraged that comparison with her “
Homage to Callas” album issued in 2011. The link is apposite only insofar as her voice evinces many of the qualities we associate with great singing but she does not especially call her predecessor to mind. She does, however, have so many of her own gifts: chief amongst these are the ability to maintain vibrancy in the tone without it spreading, a control over colour and dynamics enabling her to reduce both the sound and the pulse of the voice to a mere whisper while nonetheless remaining steady and a special talent for inflecting text vividly. The latter is indeed a virtue particularly associated with Callas. Gheorghiu herself says in the interview on CD 8 that she views singing as an extension of acting; her pre-eminence as an interpreter of Puccini, Verdi, Massenet and verismo composers such as Cilea is surely due to her ability to recreate and embody their leading ladies with such empathy and pathos while effortlessly negotiating the technical challenges of singing those roles.
Gheorghiu has a particular gift for portraying Puccini’s women — the first Tosca was a Romanian soprano, Hariclea Darclée. As the interview confirms, Romania has its own, distinct and very rich vocal traditions and Gheorghiu is another in the line of great opera singers including Cotrubas, Zeani, Miricioiu, Cortez, Agache, Herlea and Munteanu. The excerpts from “Tosca” serve to emphasise the excellence of Gheorghiu’s assumption of the role in comparison to the unsuitability of Raimondi’s cavernous tone to Scarpia and the rather lachrymose quality of Alagna’s Cavaradossi. However, it is Mimí which is perhaps her finest Puccini role; the little seamstress’s artless outpourings ideally suit the contours of Gheorghiu’s voice.
The compilation here is drawn from complete recordings, mostly made in the company of tenor Roberto Alagna, her ex-husband and under the direction of Pappano or Plasson, her recital albums, and live recitals such as that at La Scala in March 2006. The selections are themed by disc; hence the first is entitles “Femmes fatales”. I think it a pity, however, that the set begins with excerpts from her “Carmen”, a role for which, however well she sings it, I do not feel she is ideally suited in comparison with her best assumptions. In truth, I prefer her as Micaëla and her Carmen is just a little too refined and regal; the earthiness isn’t there in the lower register even though much of the singing
per se is beautiful and the requisite smokiness of timbre is present. Although her lower register is not the most effulgent, her relatively deep speaking voice evinces healthy registration. This is no tweety-bird and you may hear her exploit its lower reaches tellingly at key points in the heftier operatic roles such as Puccini’s “Manon Lescaut” but also even in songs such as “Se tu m’ami”. She is thus able to impersonate convincingly the transformation of Butterfly from the teenage ingénue of Act I to the tragic heroine of the last Act.
Yet she is also superb in the higher-lying roles requiring more agility, such as in Massenet’s “Manon”. Hers is a truly sparkling, enchanting, mercurial portrayal and it helps there has not been a more sheerly beautiful voice of this type since Kiri Te Kanawa in her prime.
It must be admitted, however, that her portrayals do not always by any means banish the memory of those by previous artists. For example, for all its beauty, I do not think her rendering of “Il sogno di Doretta” rivals Te Kanawa’s in its floated, ethereal quality; similarly, lovely as her “Depuis le jour” is, her compatriot Ileana Cotrubas’s Louise is more seductive. Nor is her account of Adriana Lecouvreur’s arias as heart-wrenching as those by Callas, Olivero or Scotto, who have more vehemence in their delivery. The same applies to her Medea aria which lacks the visceral intensity which Callas, Sass or Gencer brought to it. My personal preference is to hear Gheorghiu in higher, lighter, more brilliant roles such as Gounod’s Juliette or the classic
bel canto operas where crystalline tone and purity of line prevail. Hence Handel’s Cleopatra and Mozart’s Countess are both superb and you could scarcely wish to hear a better sung “Casta diva” than her version here. When she puts pressure on her highest, loudest notes, as in “Sempre libera”, some edge and even wildness creep into her tone which can be dramatically apt but wearing on the ear.
I do not mean to say that she is unsuccessful in heavier roles but some, such as Carmen and Werther, lack the mezzo-ish tint which gives them extra depth. Her most celebrated stage receive good exposure here. Her Tosca is especially vivid, as is the superb Violetta which brought her international recognition. I was always disappointed that neither her tenor nor her baritone reach her exalted standard in the Solti recording. The excerpts from “La traviata” on the Verdi disc are very welcome, although two of the three arias are in fact not taken from that recording but from live performances in 2011 where some of her ease in the stratosphere has gone, as I remark above.
The Verdi and verismo discs both contain real gems. For me the best tracks are an unexpectedly poised and limpid Aida and the excerpts from “La bohème”.
In addition to triumphing in opera, she has also been a great ambassador for a wide range of genres of song, including baroque, traditional, devotional and art songs. Thus the final CD features French arias and mélodies and Romanian songs and carols, the latter probably being as new to most listeners as they were to me. Unfamiliar as they are and obviously being Romanian, that merely accentuates the pity of the absence of texts or even explanatory notes, which stop after “a glance at the opera roles”. Most of us will be in the dark regarding their content, beautifully and expressively though they are sung.
I think it a pity, too, that just as in his commentary and interview on the companion “
José van Dam: Autograph” box set, Jon Tolansky does not take more care over his pronunciation of French and Italian; he mangles “Ah, fors’è lui”, “de Brétigny” and “ de Bouillon”, for example. Otherwise, he provides helpful guidance to the listener on the operatic arias and appreciative, if rather unchallenging, prompts to his interviewee, who rambles somewhat in her fluent and charmingly error-strewn English but provides some interesting insights along the way regarding her approach to her art.
The DVD is rather superfluous and something of a rag-bag, comprising clips of various performances, a conversation with Franco Zeffirelli and another interview illustrated with film clips with Gheorghiu in 2001 discussing the role of Norma and serving as a taster for her first solo album “
Casta Diva”. The first clip is of a Dresden concert performance conducted by Sinopoli and with Alagna singing the “Madama Butterfly” duet which duplicates some of what we hear on CD 2 with Kaufmann but there are additional arias and it’s nice to see her acting. The video montage accompanying “Un bel dì” is plain weird.
The sheer breadth of Gheorghiu’s repertoire is certainly impressive and it is well covered in this comprehensive selection. It is unfortunate that so little documentation and certainly no texts are provided but the sound quality is excellent. Devotees of Gheorghiu’s art will not hesitate to acquire this tribute to her, especially given its bargain price.
Ralph Moore
Previous review:
Michael Cookson
Full Details
CD1. Femmes Fatales - Scenes and Arias from Bizet, Saint-Saëns, Massenet, Puccini
Georges BIZET (1838-1870)
As Carmen - scenes and arias from Carmen - opera (1875)
1. Mais nous ne voyons pas la Carmencita! ... [1.12]
2. Quand je vous aimerai? … L'amour est un oiseau rebelle (Habanera) [4.34]
3. Mon officier c'était une querelle Tra la, la, la, coupe-moi [2.40]
4. Où me conduirez-vous? [1.20]
5. Près des ramparts de Seville [4.14]
6. Les tringles des sistres tintaient avec un éclat métallique [4.36]
7. La-la-la-la / Attends un peu, [1.58]
8. Au quartier! pour l'appel [2.34]
9. Voyons que j'essaie à mon tour [1.08]
10. En vain pour éviter [2.25]
11. La mort / Parelez encore, parlez mes belles [0.55]
12. Tu m'aimes donc plus [5.58]
Carmen - Angela Gheorghiu (soprano); Don José - Roberto Alagna (tenor); Michaela - Inva Mula (soprano); Escamillo - Thomas Hampson (baritone); Frasquita - Elizabeth Vidal (sop); Mercédès - Isabelle Cals (sop); Morales - Ludovic Tézier (bar); Zuniga, Nicholas Cavallier (bass)
Choeur ‘Les Eléments’
Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse/Michel Plasson.
rec. February, March 2002, Halle aux Grains, Toulouse, France
Camille SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921)
As Dalila - aria from Samson et Dalila - opera (1877)
13. Mon cœur s'ouvre à ta voix [5:39]
Angela Gheorghiu (soprano)
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Marco Armiliato
rec. August 2010, March 2011, Studio No.1, Abbey Road, London, UK
Jules MASSENET (1842-1912)
As Manon - scenes and arias from Manon - opera (1884)
Angela Gheorghiu (soprano) - Manon; Roberto Alagna (tenor) - Des Grieux; Nicolas Rivenq (baritone) - De Brétigny;
Orchestre Symphonique et Choeurs de la Monnaie, Bruxelles/Antonio Pappano
rec. 23 April - 9 May 1999, Cirque Royal, Brussels, Belgium
14. Je suis encor tout étourdie [3.26]
15. Restons ici, puis-qu'il le faut! [1.40]
16. Voyons, Manon, plus de chimères [2.07]
17. Adieu, notre petite table [2.18]
18. Je marche sur tous les chemins [2.06]
19. Obeissons, quand leur voix appelle [3.17]
20. N'est-ce plus ma main [3.44]
21. Ah! Des Grieux! O Manon! Tu pleures! [3.08]
22. Qu'ai-je à te pardonner [2.01]
23. Nous reparlerons du passé [2.16]
24. N'est-ce plus ma main que cette main presse? [2.15]
Giacomo PUCCINI (1858-1924)
As Manon - arias from Manon Lescaut - opera (1892)
25. In quelle trine morbid [2.40]
26. Sola, perduta, abbandonata [6.08]
Angela Gheorghiu - Manon
Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano Giuseppe Verdi/Anton Coppola
rec. July 2004, Auditorium di Milano, Italy
CD 2. Puccini Heroines - Scenes and Arias from Tosca, Madame Butterfly, Turandot
Giacomo PUCCINI (1858-1924)
As Tosca - scenes and arias from Tosca - opera (1900)
1. Mario! Mario! Mario! Son qui! [1.57]
2. Ora stammi a sentir [0.59]
3. Non la sospiri la nostra casetta [2.28]
4. Ora lasciami al lavoro [1.51]
5. Ah, quegli occhi! / Qual occhio al mondo [1.39]
6. Mia gelosa! [4.06]
7. Orsù, Tosca, parlate [3.39]
8. Vissi d'arte [3.33]
9. Senti, l'ora è vicina [1.37]
10. Amaro sol per te m'era il moiré [2.17]
Angela Gheorghiu - Tosca
Roberto Alagna - Cavaradossi
Ruggero Raimondi - Baron Scarpia
Tiffin Boys’ Choir,
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden/Antonio Pappano
rec. August 2000 Studio No. 1, Abbey Road, London, UK
As Cio-Cio San (Madama Butterfly) scenes and arias from Madama Butterfly - opera (1904)
11. Gran Ventura [3.41]
12. Leri son salita tutta sola [2.09]
13. Vogliatemi bene, un bene piccolino [7.17]
14. Un bel di vedremo [4.28]
15. Ora a noi [3.10]
16. Due cose potrei far [2.07]
17. Ah! m'ha scordata? [2.00]
18. Sai cos'ebbe cuore di pensare [3.18]
19. Io scendo al piano [1.48]
20. Glielo dirai? [4.36]
21. Vespa! Voglio che tu risponda [3.46]
22. Come una mosca progionera [3.29]
23. Tu? tu piccolo Iddio! [1.59]
24. Va, gioca, gioca! [2.34]
Madama Butterfly - Angela Gheorghiu (soprano); Pinkerton - Jonas Kaufmann (tenor); Suzuki - Enkeledja Shkosa (mezzo); Sharpless - Fabio Capitanucci (baritone); Goro - Gregory Bonfatti (tenor); Il Bonze - Raymond Aceto (bass); Kate Pinkerton - Cristina Reale (soprano)
Chorus and Orchestra of the Accademia Nationale di Santa Cecilia, Rome/Antonio Pappano
rec. 2008, Sala Santa Cecilia, Auditorium Parco della Musica, Rome, Italy
As Liú - arias from Turandot – opera (1926)
25. Signore, ascolta! [2.45]
26. Tu che di gel sei cinta [3.20]
Angela Gheorghiu (Liú)
Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano Giuseppe Verdi/Anton Coppola
rec. July 2004, Auditorium di Milano, Italy
CD 3. Daughters - Verdi, Gounod, Massenet, Gustave Charpentier, Puccini, Bernstein
Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901)
As Amelia - Arias from Simon Boccanegra - opera (1857 rev. 1881)
1. Cielo di stelle orbato [2.32]
2. Vieni a mirar la cerula [2.48]
Angela Gheorghiu - Amelia; Roberto Alagna - Gabriele
Berliner Philharmoniker/Claudio Abbado
rec. February 1998, Jesus-Christus-Kirche, Dahlem, Berlin, Germany
As Gilda - Aria from Rigoletto - opera (1851)
3. Gualtier Maldè! ... Caro nome [6.24]
Angela Gheorghiu, Gilda
Orchestra Sinfonica Di Milano Giuseppe Verdi/Riccardo Chailly
rec. July 1999, Sala Verdi Milan, Italy
Charles GOUNOD (1818-1893)
As Julietta - Scenes and Arias from Roméo et Juliette - opera (1867)
4. Non! non! je ne veux pas t'écouter plus longtemps … Ah! Je veux vivre dans le rêve [3.54]
5. O nuit divine! [3.41]
6. Ah! ne fuis pas encore! [4.33]
7. Adieu mille fois! ... Va! repose en paix! [2.38]
8. Va! je t'ai pardonné ... Tybolt voulait at mort [4.13]
9. Romeo! qu'as-tu donc? [6.59]
10. Dieu! quel frisson court dans mes veines? [1.03]
11. Amour ranime mon courage [4.25]
12. A toi, ma Juliette! [4.36]
13. Console-toi, pauvre âme [5.19]
Juliette - Angela Gheorghiu; Roméo - Roberto Alagna, Gertrude - Claire Larchner
Choeur et Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse/Michel Plasson
rec. October 1995, Halle aux grains, Toulouse, France
Jules MASSENET (1842-191)
As Charlotte - Arias from Werther - opera (1892)
14. Werther: Werther! Werther! Qui m'aurait dit la place [3.12]
15. Des cris joyeux d'enfants montent sous ma fenêtre [3.16]
16. A cette heure suprême, je suis heureux! [4.24]
Charlotte - Angela Gheorghiu; Werther - Roberto Alagna
London Symphony Orchesta/Antonio Pappano.
rec. August 1988 Studio No. 1, Abbey Road, London, UK
Jules MASSENET (1842-1912)
As Chimène - Aria from Le Cid - opera (1885)
17. Pleurez, mes yeux [5.37]
Angela Gheorghiu - Charlotte;
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Marco Armiliato
rec. May 2010, Henry Wood Hall, London, UK
Gustave CHARPENTIER (1860-1956)
As Louise - Aria from Louise - opera (1900)
18. Depuis le jour [5.09]
Angela Gheorghiu - Louise;
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden/Ion Marin
rec. live, June 2001, in association with the BBC, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London, UK
Giacomo PUCCINI (1858-1924)
As Lauretta - Aria from Gianni Schicchi - opera (1918)
19. O mio babbino caro [2.47]
Angela Gheorghiu - Lauretta
Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano Giuseppe Verdi/Anton Coppola
rec. July 2004, Auditorium di Milano, Italy
Leonard BERNSTEIN (1918-1990)
As Maria - Song from West Side Story - musical (1957)
20. Only you ... Tonight, tonight [3.46]
Angela Gheorghiu - Maria; Roberto Alagna - Tony
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden/Sir Richard Armstrong
rec. September 1995, Lyndhurst Hall, Air Studios, London, UK
CD 4. From Baroque to Bel Canto
Arias from Alessandro Scarlatti, Handel, Gluck, Mozart, Cherubini, Rossini, Bellini, Donizetti, Parisotti, Martini
Alessandro SCARLATTI (1660-1725)
As Sesto - Aria from Il Pompeo - opera
1. O cessate di piagarmi [2.54]
George Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759)
As Almirena aria - from Rinaldo - opera (1711)
2. Lascia ch'io pianga [4.43]
Christoph Willibald GLUCK (1714-1787)
As Paride from Paride ed Elena - opera (1770)
3. O del mio dolce ardor bramato oggeto [3.49]
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
As Countess- aria from Le Nozze Di Figaro - opera (1786)
4. Porgi amor [4.04]
Jeff Cohen (piano, tracks 1, 3)
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden/Ion Marin (tracks 2, 4)
rec. live, March 2006, Teatro alla Scalla, Milan (tracks 1, 3)
rec. live, June 2001, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London (tracks 2, 4)
Luigi CHERUBINI (1760-1842)
As Medea - aria from Medea - opera (1797)
5. Dei tuoi figli la madre tu vedi [4.45]
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Marco Armiliato
rec. August 2010, February 2011, Henry Wood Hall, London
Gioachino ROSSINI (1792-1868).
As Rosina - arias from Il Barbiere di Siviglia - opera (1816)
6. Una voce poco fa [2.34]
7. Io sono docile [4.02]
Vincenzo BELLINI (1801-1835)
As Norma - arias from Norma - opera (1831)
8. Casta diva [7.20]
9. Ah bello a me ritorna [2.20]
As Amina - aria from La Sonnambula - opera (1831)
10. Ah! non credea mirarti [5.22]
As Elvira - arias from I Puritani - opera (1835)
11. Qui la voce sua soave - O rendetemi la speme [3.35]
12. Vien diletto, è in ciel la luna [2.29]
Gaetano DONIZETTI (1797-1848)
As Anna - arias from Anna Bolena - opera (1830)
13. Piangete voi [5.00]
14. Al dolce guidami [4.46]
As Lucia - arias from Lucia di Lammermoor - opera (1835)
15. Regnava nel silenzio [4.35]
16. Quando rapito in estasi [4.30]
Royal Opera Chorus (tracks 8, 9, 13, 14)
London Symphony Orchestra/Evelino Pidò
rec. April 2000, No. 1 Studio, Abbey Road, London; March 2001, Lyndhurst Hall, Air Studio, Hampstead, London
Alessandro PARISOTTI (1815-1913)
17. Se tu m’ami [3:32]
Jean-Paul MARTINI (1741-1816)
18. Plaisir d’amour [4:03]
Vincenzo BELLINI (1801-1835)
19. Malinconia, ninfa gentile (1829) [1:28]
Gaetano DONIZETTI (1797-1848)
20. Amor marinaro: Me voglio fa’na casa [2:35]
Jeff Cohen (piano)
rec. live, April 2006, La Scala, Milan,
CD 5. Verdi: Opera, Oratorio and Song
Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901)
As Violetta from La traviata - opera (1853)
1. È strano! È strano!...Ah, fors` è lui [6.26]
2. Follie! Follie!...Sempre libera [4.35]
James Valenti, (tenor) - Alfredo
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Marco Armiliato
rec. April 2010, February 2011, No. 1 Studio, Abbey Road, London
3. Teseste la promessa… Addio del Passato [7.15]
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden/Sir Georg Solti
rec. live, December 1994, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London
As Leonora from Il trovatore - opera (1853)
4. Ascolta! Tacea la notte placida [3.39]
5. Quanto narrasti di turbamento [0.50]
6. Di tale amor, che dirsi [2.43]
7. D'amor sull'ali rosee [3.43]
8. Miserere ... Quel suon, quelle preci [5.03]
9. Di te! scordarmi di te! [0.22]
10. Tu vedrai che amore in terra [4.03]
Federica Proietti (mezzo) - Ines
Roberto Alagna (tenor) - Manrico
London Voices
London Symphony Orchestra/Antonio Pappano
rec. April 2000, No. 1 Studio, Abbey Road, London
Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901)
As Elisabetta from Don Carlo - opera (1884)
11. E dessa! ... Un detto, un sol ... [5.54]
12. Ma lassù ci vedremo [4.27]
Roberto Alagna (tenor) - Carlo
Swedish Radio Choir
Berliner Philharmoniker/Claudio Abbado
rec. February 1998, Jesus-Christus-Kirche, Dahlem, Berlin, Germany
As Aida from Aida - opera (1871)
13. Qui Radames verrà! ... O Patria mia [6.35]
Orchestra Sinfonica Di Milano Giuseppe Verdi/Riccardo Chailly
Andrea Tenaglia (oboe)
rec. July 1999, Sala Verdi, Milan
VII. Libera me from Messa de Requiem for soprano, mezzo-soprano, tenor, bass, chorus and orchestra (1874)
14. Libera me, Domine [2.27]
15. Libera me [2.23]
16. Requiem aeternam [3.10]
17. Libera me, Domine [6.05]
Swedish Radio Chorus, Eric Ericson Chamber Choir, Orfeón Donostiarra,
Berliner Philharmoniker/Claudio Abbado
rec. live, January 2001, Philharmonie, Berlin
Songs
18. In solitaria stanza [4.29]
19. Brindisi [2.21]
20. Stornello [1.51]
Jeff Cohen (piano)
rec. live, March 2006, La Scala, Milan
CD 6. Verismo
Ruggero LEONCAVALLO (1857-1919)
As Nedda from Pagliacci - opera (1892)
1. Qual fiamma avea nel guardo! ... Stridono lassu [4.55]
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Marco Armiliato
rec. April 2010, No. 1 Studio Abbey Road, London
Pietro MASCAGNI (1863-1945)
As Suzel from L'amico Fritz - opera (1891)
2. Suzel, buon dì ... [4.22]
3. Tutto tace, eppur tutto al cor mi parla (Cherry Duet) [4.36]
Roberto Alagna (tenor) - Fritz
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden/Richard Armstrong
rec. July and September 1995, Lyndhurst Hall, Air Studios, London
Giacomo PUCCINI (1858-1924)
As Mimi from La bohème - opera (1896)
4. Si, mi chiamano Mimi [5.08]
Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano Giuseppe Verdi/Anton Coppola
rec. July 2004, Auditorium di Milano, Italy
5. O soave fanciulla, o dolce viso [3.50]
Roberto Alagna (tenor) - Rodolfo
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden/Richard Armstrong
rec. July and September 1995, Lyndhurst Hall, Air Studios, London
6. Donde lieta uscì (Mimì's Farewell) [3.14]
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Marco Armiliato
rec. April 2010, No. 1 Studio Abbey Road, London
Umberto GIORDANO (1867-1948)
As Maddalena from Andrea Chenier - opera(1896)
7. La mamma morta [5.16]
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Marco Armiliato
rec. August 2010, February 2011, Henry Wood Hall, London
Francesco CILEA (1866-1950)
As Adriana from Adriana Lecouvreur - opera (1902)
8. Ecco: respiro appena ... Io son l'umile ancella [3.53]
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden/Ion Marin
rec. June 2001, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London
9. Poveri fiori (Flower aria) [3.35]
Alfredo CATALANI (1854-1893)
As Wally from La Wally - opera (1892)
10. Ebben? ... Ne andrò lontana [3.44]
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Marco Armiliato
rec. May 2010, Henry Wood Hall, London
11. Ebben? ... Ne andrò lontana [3.38]
BBC Symphony Orchestra/Leonard Slatkin
rec. live, September 2003, Royal Opera House, London (Last Night of the Proms)
Giacomo PUCCINI (1858-1924)
As Minnie from La fanciulla del West (The Girl of the West) - opera [1910]
12. L'amore e un altra cosa … Laggiù nel Soledad [3.30]
Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano Giuseppe Verdi/Anton Coppola
rec. July 2004, Auditorium di Milano, Italy
As Magda from La rondine - opera (1917)
13. Chi il bel sogno di Doretta [2.40]
14. Chi il bel sogno di Doretta [2.25]
15. Donale il bacio mio! [2.19]
16. Non! Non dir questo! [0.39]
17. Ma come puoi lascar [5.29]
Patrizia Biccire (soprano) – Yvette;
Patrizia Ciofi (soprano) – Bianca;
Monica Bacelli (mezzo) – Suzy;
Toby Spence (tenor) – Gobin;
Riccardo Simonetti (bass) – Périchaud;
Enrico Fissore (bass) – Crébillon
William Matteuzzi (tenor) – Prunier
Roberto Alagna (tenor) – Ruggero;
London Symphony Orchestra/Antonio Pappano
rec. August 1996, No. 1 Studio Abbey Road, London
As Angelica from Suor Angelica - opera (1918)
18. Senza mamma [5.07]
As Turandot from Turandot - opera (1926)
19. In questa Reggia [6.42]
Roberto Alagna (tenor) – Calaf;
Royal Opera House Chorus,
Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano Giuseppe Verdi/Anton Coppola
rec. July 2004 Auditorium di Milano, Italy
CD 7. French Arias and Melodies and Romanian Songs
Charles GOUNOD (1818-1893)
As Marguerite from Faust - opera (1859)
1. O Dieu! Que de bijoux! (Jewel Song) [4.56]
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Marco Armiliato
rec. May 2010, Henry Wood Hall, London
Georges BIZET (1838-1875)
As Micaëla from Carmen - opera (1875)
2. Je dis que rien ne m'épouvante [5.08]
Bayerische Staatsoper/Giuseppe Sinopoli
rec. December 1995, Stadthalle Germering, nr Munich, Germany
3. L'amour est un enfant de bohème [3.39]
Choeur 'Les Elements',
Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse/Michel Plasson
rec. February/March 2002, Halle aux Grains, Toulouse
Charles GOUNOD (1818-1893)
4. Sérénade [3.53]
Georges BIZET (1838-1875)
5. Chant d’amour (1872) [3.33]
Jules MASSENET (1842-1912)
6. Elégie [2.33]
Jeff Cohen (piano)
rec. live, March 2006, Teatro alla Scala, Milan
Jacques BREL (1929-1978)
7. La chanson des vieux amants [5.31]
Jeroen Willems (speaker); Eliane Rodrigues (piano)
rec. live, April 2005, The Royal Palace, Amsterdam
Tiberiu BREDICEANU (1877-1968)
8. Cate flori pe deal in sus [4.23]
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden/Ion Marin
rec. June 2001, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London
George GRIGORIU (1927-1999)
9. Muzica (Valurile Dunării) [3.00]
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden/Iván Fischer
rec. December 1996, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London
10. Muzica (Valurile Dunării) [2.51]
BBC Symphony Orchestra/Leonard Slatkin
rec. live, September 2003 (Last Night of the Proms), Royal Albert Hall, London
Alfred ALESSANDRESCU (1893-1959)
11. Cind perdeaua dragii mele [2.23]
Diamandi GHECIU (1892-1980)
12. Si Daca [3:06]
Tiberiu BREDICEANU (1877-1968)
13. Floricica de pe apa (1917) [1.43]
14. Bade, pentru ochii tai (1923) [3.03]
15. Vai, badita, dragi ne-avem (1905) [3.20]
Gherase DENDRINO (1901-1973)
16. Lăsaţi-mă să cânt (Let me sing), Aceast melodie… Te iubesc [3.37]
Jeff Cohen (piano)
rec. live, March 2006, Teatro alla Scala, Milan
Traditional Romanian Christmas Carols
17. O, ce veste minunatã!
18. Coroana de trandafiri
19. Na lerea Domnului
Corul Accoustic,
Corul National de Camera Madrigal,
Romanian National Radio Orchestra/Tiberiu Soare
rec. September 2013, Radio Hall & ISV, Geneva
CD 8. Angela Gheorghiu: An Interview Portrait
1. Introduction [4.18]
Extract, narration: La bohème, Si, mi chiamano Mimi
Extract, narration: I Puritani: Qui la voce sua soave - O rendetemi la speme
2. Early years in Romania, Bucharest School and Conservatoire, and becoming a singer [9.28]
Commentary from Angela Gheorghiu
Extract: Tosca: Vissi d'arte
3. Research, method and approach to interpretation
Commentary from Angela Gheorghiu -
The role of Mimi
Extract: La bohème: Donde lieta uscì (Mimì's Farewell)
4. Further discussion of research, method and approach to interpretation
Commentary from Angela Gheorghiu -
5. Introduction narration about La traviata [2.25]
6. La Traviata [4.21]
Extract: La Traviata: È strano ... Ah fors'è lui che l'anima
Commentary from Angela Gheorghiu -
Extract: Follie! follie! Sempre Libera
7. Introductory narration about Manon (Massenet) [2.10]
8. Manon (Massenet)
Extract: Je suis encor tout étourdie
Commentary from Angela Gheorghiu
Extract: Adieu, notre petite table
9. Adriana Lecouvreur [5.29]
Commentary from Angela Gheorghiu
Extract: Adriana Lecouvreur: Ecco: respiro appena ... Io son l'umile ancella
10. Introductory narration about Werther [1.28]
11. Werther [5.35]
Extract: Je vous écris de ma petite chambre
Commentary from Angela Gheorghiu
Extract: A cette heure suprême, je suis heureux! With Roberto Alagna (tenor) as Werther
12. Introductory narration about Madam Butterfly [2.12]
13. Madam Butterfly [9.37]
Commentary from Angela Gheorghiu
Extract: Ah! dolce notte! Quante stelle! with Jonas Kaufmann (tenor) as Pinkerton
Extract: Ora a noi... Quando? With Fabio Captaincy (baritone) as Sharpless
Commentary from Angela Gheorghiu
14. Narration about La Scala recital and Se tu m'ami (Parisotti) [1.52]
15. Se tu m'ami (Parisotti) [2.35]
Commentary from Angela Gheorghiu
Extract: Parisotti: Se tu m'ami
16. French mélodies [2.36]
Commentary from Angela Gheorghiu
Extract: Gounod Sérénade
17. Romanian Song [5.42]
Commentary from Angela Gheorghiu
Extract: Alessandrescu, Cand perdeaua dragii mele
This interview with Angela Gheorghiu was conducted by Jon Tolansky in London on 17 July 2014.
DVD
1. Madam Butterfly, Vogliatemi bene (Love duet) Butterfly/Pinkerton [13.47]
Roberto Alagna (tenor) - Pinkerton
Staatskapelle Dresden/Giuseppe Sinopoli
rec. 11 July 1999, Theaterplatz, outside Semperopera, Dresden
2. Un bel dì vedremo (Butterfly) [7.04]
Staatskapelle Dresden/Giuseppe Sinopoli
rec. 20-29 July 2004, Auditorium di Milano
3.Turandot, Tu che di gel sei cinta (Liù) [2.27]
4. Gianni Schicchi, O mio babbino caro [2.39]
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden/Ion Marin
rec. 8 June 2001, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London
5. Verdi La forza del destino, Pace, pace, mio Dio (Leonora) [5.58]
Staatskapelle Dresden/Giuseppe Sinopoli
rec. 11 July 1999, Theaterplatz, outside Semperopera, Dresden
6. Franco Zeffirelli pays tribute to Angela Gheorghiu
Franco Zeffirelli in conversation with Paul Cozighian, discusses Angela Gheorghiu’s qualities as an artist.
rec. April 2007, Apartment of Franco Zeffirelli in Rome.
7. Preview of Angela Gheorghiu’s first Warner Classics solo album.
Angela Gheorghiu, in conversation and, in the role of Norma, singing ‘Cast Diva’ from act 1 of Bellini’s Norma.
DVD - Colour NTSC system mixed format 16.9/4.3 - Disc format DVD-9
[56.48]
