Favorite Arias
I am trying to build up a MP3 player that will have exquisite singing on it. So here is what I am asking:what are your favorite arias and who are your favorite singers vocalizing those arias? I would like to see if you can list singers from all the major vocal ranges: soprano, mezzo, alto, tenor, baritone, bass; or even if you are able to get specific and list for example, Lyric Tenor or Dramatic Soprano. SO let me hear from you, please.
Cinta di fiori e col ben crin disciolto from I Puritani.
One of the most beautiful bass arias by one of the greatest - Cesare Siepi
Ann
There was a similar thread some time back that might be helpful for recommendations: Favorite aria?
As for a selection from each vocal range:
Soprano: Ah, so many to choose from! So I'll go with "Listening to most at the moment" in which case we have Maria Callas singing Ah, Non Credea Mirarti
Mezzo: Joyce DiDonato - D'amore al dolce impero
Contralto: Ewa Podles - Una Voce Poco Fa
Tenor:
This lovely piece by Rameau
Baritone:
If you don't have this in your YouTube favorites or mp3 player, you definitely should. The (imo) definitive performance of Largo al Factotum, by Thomas Hampson
-Ian
Who is the Tenor?
If your eyes are dry after this you are made of stone:
Natalie
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John Aler (ugh why do I have to pad this message out to meet the forum minimum post length this is pointless)Originally Posted by TENORECOLEY
-Ian
How about a back to back soprano, countertenor combination in Poppea?
Three of my favourite baritone arias
Sherrill Milnes
Simon Keenlyside
Dmitri Hvorostovsky
Ann
One of my favorite arias is "Ombra mai fu" from Handel's Serse -- sometimes just referred to as Handel's Largo. Although the role of Serse is usually sung by a mezzo or countertenor, there are a few versions of the opera with a tenor in the role (which I prefer). In any case, I don't think you'll find many more beautiful versions of this aria than that of the great tenor Fritz Wunderlich:
Here's another gorgeous tenor aria: "Recondita armonia" from Puccini's Tosca. The tenor is Jonas Kaufmann, considered by many critics to be the best tenor to come from Germany since Wunderlich:
The wonderful bass Kurt Moll singing Sarastro's aria, "In diesen heil'gen Hallen" from Mozart's Die Zauberflöte:
Been on a Quando m'en vo kick lately and this must be the best version on youtube. Anna Moffo singing Musetta, and bonus points if you can guess the Mimi (without going to the YT page where it gives it away)
Been listening to this on repeat more times than I care to admit!
-Ian
I can listen to Gedda's "Je crois entendre encore" almost indefinitely.
Same here. I remember that I heard it for the first time just by coincidence on youtube. It was very late, I almost slept (with my computer in bed - awful, I know). Anyway, after that I couldn't fall asleep. For hours!
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