"Sad.... Something of a waste of time (the listeners' that is). The CD requires a link to the Internet; this alone disqualifies it as anything that could be useful for even the tyro Opera listener. The selections afforded the listener are too brief, and the included "bio's" of Opera Singers/Composers are not extensive enough to have value. I rated this CD at 1 star simply because a zero or negative value was not available. The idea behind this CD was excellent, the execution was not."
Worthless!
Craig W. Spitzberg | Dallas, TX United States | 07/23/2001
(1 out of 5 stars)
"The clips are so short, they could use them as audio clues on Jeopardy. I threw it away; didn't want it taking up space on my shelf."
Don't WASTE your $$$
msshel330 | 07/17/2002
(1 out of 5 stars)
"Don't WASTE your $$$. ...---I thought excerpts meant FULL excerpts. Not 15 second wonders!!"
Why bother?
Craig W. Spitzberg | 06/05/2001
(1 out of 5 stars)
"If one is buying this to play on a CD audio system, this is a mis-leading and very disappointing compilation of "excerpts" from famous operas by famous artists. To most classical music lovers, an "excerpt" is a fully-set piece from within a larger work. In orchestral music, usually a full movement; in opera, usually an aria, duet, chorus, etc.This collection features literally seconds from many operas, randomly starting and stopping with no thought to context or musical phrases. One doesn't even get a taste for the work or the singers in the length of time alotted for each snippet. The most interesting thing about the whole package is the cover.However, this might make a good gag gift for people who hate opera."
I should have known...
msshel330 | Wilmington, DE USA | 07/08/2004
(1 out of 5 stars)
"with 100+ track listings that these were not complete samples. Somehow I didn't notice this until AFTER I bought it. This CD gives you NO idea of how these pieces sound, it's better suited for a game of opera Name That Tune. Please, don't waste your money."