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Puccini: Madama Butterfly
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Puccini: Madama Butterfly
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Track Listings
Disc: 1
1 | Madama Butterfly:... E Soffitto E Pareti - Luciano Pavarotti |
2 | Madama Butterfly: Sorride Vostro Onore? - Christa Ludwig |
3 | Madama Butterfly: Dovunque Al Mondo - Luciano Pavarotti |
4 | Madama Butterfly: America for Ever - Luciano Pavarotti |
5 | Madama Butterfly: Ler L'altro Il Consolato - Robert Kerns |
6 | Madama Butterfly: Ecco. Son Giunte Al Sommo Del Pendio - Michel Senechal |
7 | Madama Butterfly: Gran Ventura - Mirella Freni |
8 | Madama Butterfly: L'imperial Commissario - Michel Senechal |
9 | Madama Butterfly: Vieni, Amor Mio! - Luciano Pavarotti |
10 | Madama Butterfly: Leri Son Salita Tutta Sola in Segreto Alla Missione - Mirella Freni |
11 | Madama Butterfly: Tutti Zitti! - Michel Senechal |
12 | Madama Butterfly: O Kami! O Kami! - N/A |
13 | Madama Butterfly: Cio-Cio-San! - N/A |
14 | Madama Butterfly: Bimba, Bimba, Non Piangere - Luciano Pavarotti |
15 | Madama Butterfly: Viene la Sera - Luciano Pavarotti |
16 | Madama Butterfly: Vogliatemi Bene - Mirella Freni |
Disc: 2
1 | Madama Butterfly: E Izaghi Ed Izanami - Christa Ludwig |
2 | Madama Butterfly: Un Bel Di Vedremo - Mirella Freni |
3 | Madama Butterfly: C'e. Entrate - Michel Senechal |
4 | Madama Butterfly: Si Sa Che Aprir la Porta - Mirella Freni |
5 | Madama Butterfly: Udiste? - Michel Senechal |
6 | Madama Butterfly: Ora a Noi. Sedete Qui - Robert Kerns |
7 | Madama Butterfly: Ebbene, Che Fareste, Madama Butterfly - Robert Kerns |
8 | Madama Butterfly: E Questo? E Questo? - Mirella Freni |
9 | Madama Butterfly: Che Tua Madre Dovra Prenderti in Braccio - Mirella Freni |
10 | Madama Butterfly: Vespa! Rospo Maledetto! - Christa Ludwig |
11 | Madama Butterfly: Una Nave Da Guerra - Christa Ludwig |
12 | Madama Butterfly: Scuoti Quella Fronda Di Ciliegio - Mirella Freni |
13 | Madama Butterfly: Or Vienmi Ad Adornar - Mirella Freni |
14 | Madama Butterfly: (Coro a Bocca Chiusa) - Wiener Philharmoniker/Herbert Von Karajan |
Disc: 3
1 | Madama Butterfly: Intermezzo - G. Puccini - Wiener Philharmoniker/Herbert Von Karajan |
2 | Madama Butterfly: (Fischi D'uccelli Dal Giardino) - G. Puccini - Wiener Philharmoniker/Herbert Von Karajan |
3 | Madama Butterfly: Gil Sole! - G. Puccini - Christa Ludwig |
4 | Madama Butterfly: Chi Sia? - G. Puccini - Christa Ludwig |
5 | Madama Butterfly: Lo So Che Alle Sue Pene - G. Puccini - Robert Kerns |
6 | Madama Butterfly: Non Ve L'avevo Detto? - G. Puccini - Robert Kerns |
7 | Madama Butterfly: Addio Fiorito Asil - G. Puccini - Luciano Pavarotti |
8 | Madama Butterfly: Suzuki? Suzuki? Dove Sei? - G. Puccini - Mirella Freni |
9 | Madama Butterfly: Tu, Suzuki, Che Sei Tanto Buona - G. Puccini - Mirella Freni |
10 | Madama Butterfly: Come Una Mosca Prigioniera - G. Puccini - Christa Ludwig |
11 | Madama Butterfly: Con Onor Muore - G. Puccini - Mirella Freni |
Editorial Reviews
Product description
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Since Madama Butterfly has more stage time than other sopranos, it is imperative that the singing actress captures extensive dramatic variety in addition to singing with exquisite tone and an affinity to Puccini. Mirella Freni, one of the greatest recorded Butterfly's of all time, succeeds at these demands with vocal sensitivity and eloquence. She is assisted by Karajan's superb, symphonic conducting, crisply and poignantly realizing all of Puccini's vast moods; Ludwig's urgent, loving and tenderly sung Suzuki; and Pavarotti's endearing and almost likeable Pinkerton. In addition, the Pavarotti-Freni duets are nectars of the gods. Get out the tissues and indulge. --Barbara Eisner Bayer
Product details
- Is Discontinued By Manufacturer : No
- Language : English
- Product Dimensions : 5.94 x 5.91 x 1.54 inches; 12.42 ounces
- Manufacturer : Decca
- Original Release Date : 1990
- SPARS Code : DDD
- Date First Available : October 25, 1990
- Label : Decca
- ASIN : B0000041S8
- Number of discs : 3
- Best Sellers Rank: #48,312 in CDs & Vinyl (See Top 100 in CDs & Vinyl)
- #96 in Operettas (CDs & Vinyl)
- #3,962 in Classical (CDs & Vinyl)
- Customer Reviews:
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In 1988 I was commissioned by the Albuquerque Guild of the Santa Fe Opera to create an illustrated libretto to interest the younger audiences who were scheduled to attend SFO's production that year. The result was 365 finished paintings recently published in book form, available exclusively at the Metropolitan Opera Gift Shop and here on Amazon The Fully Illustrated Libretto of Puccini's Madama Butterfly . Butterfly was followed by Ravel's L'Enfant The Fully Illustrated Libretto of Ravel's L'Enfant et Les Sortileges (Librettos) and recently, Menotti's The Medium The Fully Illustrated Libretto of Gian Carlo Menotti's the Medium I used this Karajan/Freni recording as my point of reference to do Butterfly and have heard it almost 100 times. Granted, I've not heard every single recording of Butterfly, but I have heard many, including Leinsdorf/Moffo, Leinsdorf/Price, Barbirolli/Scotto for which I have written reviews to be read here on Amazon. For me, this Karajan/Freni recording is definitive.
Many other reviewers of this recording stated that Karajan's tempos are too slow and his orchestra is so loud and bombastic it often drowns out the singers. I disagree. Nowhere do I have to strain to hear the singers. As for the tempos, Act I is bright, sparkling, youthful and energetic. True, the tempos slow down for Acts 2 and 3, but I find that to be highly appropriate as the atmosphere has changed from the bright, sunny, youthful and optimistic outdoors to poverty stricken, tired, gray, and closed in. The tempo appropriately slows even more as Butterfly notices how she's aged before her time, and starts to wait the night for Pinkerton's arrival. In short, I believe Karajan's genius is in full bloom with Puccini. His Price/Tosca is unsurpassed, in my mind, the best recording of Tosca ever made and this Butterfly if not the absolute best, ranks right up there with the very finest.
Mirella Freni sings a flawless Butterfly. Convincingly young and innocent for Act I; sad, tortured, old before her time and tenaciously faithful for Acts 2 and 3. Amazing how she conveys all of that in a voice without the aid of visuals! As far as I'm concerned, neither Callas nor Tebaldi recordings can hold a candle to her. Albeit dyed in the wool Callas fans are now likely to be forming a lynching party, I stand by my opinion.
Robert Kerns sings a warm, appealing and thoroughly compassionate Sharpless. He delivers beautifully on all fronts.
Michel Senechal's Goro is likewise wonderful from a vocal standpoint. His voice portrays both pimp and sleaze while at the same time being a thoroughly likable chap.
As for Christa Ludwig's Suzuki, the reviewer who said her name alone says it all is right on target. Those delicious, buttery, creamy tones of hers can melt the hardest of hearts.
Now for Pinkerton: I was surprised to read how many reviewers said they never cared all that much for Pavarotti and I thank heaven to learn I am not the only one who feels that way. Indeed, Pavarotti's delivery is, as usual, technically flawless but due to his unique, one and only sound, combined with his super star status, I find I am unable separate the sound of his voice from the morbidly obese body that produces it. No matter how hard I try, I just can't picture a young, delicate Cio Cio San falling so hard for someone so old and fat!
That said, Pinkerton is an impossible role no matter who sings it. I struggled like a bear to illustrate this character convincingly and to this day question how well I succeeded (any and all feedback from those who view this libretto is appreciated) The Fully Illustrated Libretto of Puccini's Madama Butterfly (Madam Butterfly or Madame Butterfly) (Graphic Novel) (Illustrated Opera Librettos and Graphic Novels, Volume 1) The problem with Pinkerton lies in the fact most operatic characters are entirely two dimensional (the music supplies the missing 3rd dimension which makes the unbelievable, believable) and this is ESPECIALLY true for Puccini characters... except Pinkerton. Pinkerton is highly complex. He isn't really an evil person,he is in no way like the 2 dimensional Scarpia. He does, after all, care enough to come back for his child and does feel some remorse. He is over privileged, through no fault of his own, and as such, self centered. Although a fully grown adult, he still has the mind of a sixteen year old. While capable of passion and love (he really does love Butterfly), his adolescent brain is unable to process the fact that actions have consequences. He cares only about the moment, oblivious to what tomorrow may bring. If Pinkerton's age were close to Butterfly's, we might be able to rationalize his behavior and make some kind of sense out of it. But this is not the case. He is an officer in the US navy and considerably older than she. This fact makes his actions deplorable and we want to hate him but how is it possible to hate someone who sings all those lush Puccini melodies? In short, Puccini's music, gorgeous as it may be, simply does not fit.
All in all, Butterfly lovers need look no further. For great conducting, flawless singing and vocal acting this recording fits the bill par excellence.
The principal reasons are the two women. It appears that Mirella Freni recorded this when she was in her late 30s -- she's now 81 -- but her voice was fresh and had the sweetness and dignity that all of her roles do. She sings this role not as the superstar she became (and possibly already was at the time), but rather as part of a larger cast and story, and she pulls it off magnificently, from the sense of innocence and wonder in her first notes to her passion and sadness in her suicide aria. Having Christa Ludwig sing Suzuki is what opera fans call "luxury casting", but this is no mere cameo -- aside from lush, gorgeous singing, she makes her character into a vital part of the drama.
My problems lie in two areas. First, Pavarotti never was and still is not my favorite tenor. He tends to sing over his fellow singers, and I always found a "braying" quality to his voice. However, he's good as a cad, and if his final cries of "Butterfly" sound more like "how can you do this to me" than "Oh God, what have I done", it works.
The other problem area is that of Karajan's conducting. His tempi and the orchestra's volume are all over the lot, but it's all in the cause of bringing a melodrama to life, and it works, so I'm inclined to put up with all the schmaltz he brings to the performance. (I suspect that may be the first time that Karajan and schmaltz have been used in the same paragraph.
All in all, my problems with this recording are minor, and I recommend it highly.
Top reviews from other countries
Now later in life - I'm trying to collect those operas of his that I remember so well.
This is not the version Dad had (think his had Callas as butterfly).
I've listened through now a couple of times - so time for a review.
I honestly would not know how to fault this recording. The sound is superb - Pav - well state the obvious -
the guy had THE voice. Freni is wonderful - and the rest all add up to a fabulous sound.
It's (IMO) impossible to say that 1 recording is the best ever - but if there is a better recording of Butterfly than this - it must be b****y amazing!
Highly recommended!!
sempre impeccabile la spedizione