"Opera fans will enjoy this collection of celebrated arias without vocals for rest and relaxation. From the thrilling "March of the Toreadors" to the plaintive "Madame Butterfly" this CD is a great background for easy listening, romantic dinners, or just the drive to and from work. Even people who don't like opera can enjoy this one."
A real treat
Kurt A. Johnson | North-Central Illinois, USA | 09/25/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This wonderful CD, is a collection of some 23 arias, drawn from the works of such maestros as Pietro Mascagni, Guiseppe Verdi, and Engelbert Humperdinck (no, the German composer...sorry, I couldn't resist!). All of the tunes sound excellent, performed to perfection by Russian-American conductor and arranger Andre Kostelanetz and his orchestra. Overall, I found this to be a real treat to listen to, with lively arias that will not send any passionate music fan to sleep. I especially loved Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana, Verdi's Celeste Aida, and of course Bizet's March of the Toreadors.
So, if you like could orchestral music, then I must say that you will like this CD. I love it and give it my highest recommendations!"
Song list incorrect, though !
Untung P. Siahaan | Jakarta, Indonesia | 05/24/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"In the back cover of song list, "Celeste Aida" is printed BEFORE "La donna e mobile", while in the song list inside, there is no such song. In reality, the disk does have a "Celeste Aida", but it's number 14, as the list in Amazon.com. This "Celeste Aida" has the complete tune compared to that of "Verdi Without Words".The music is marvellous."
Very Good Opera Mix CD
Dianna-lynne Wells | Colorado Springs, CO USA | 04/23/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"For someone that isn't too keen on Opera, I really enjoyed this CD. As a choreographer, having famous operatic themes without lyrics is such a blessing. The only criticism I have about the CD is that the volume level isn't consistent throughout, and for some of the songs it is extremely low. I had to constantly adjust the volume from one song to the next, even within one track."
Idiomatic
Richard Veit | Robinson, TX USA | 06/08/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Kostelanetz has a real flair for this kind of material, and his orchestras are first-class. The Bizet aria alone (from "The Pearl Fishers") is worth the price of this enjoyable CD. Does it supplant the vocal originals? Of course not, but if you are looking for instrumental arrangements, you'll not do better than this."