Verdi Arias

Dmitri Hvorostovsky's rich, glorious voice is combined with his sense of drama in this recording and captures all the passion and fervor of these magnificent arias.Verdi made his baritone characters the most complex and interesting of his operas...sometimes evil, sometimes desperate, they would often lose the object of their affections to the tenor, whether it was a love interest like the Conte di Luna (Il Trovatore) or daughter like Rigoletto.Among my favorite arias is "Alzati ! ...Eri tu", from Un Ballo in Maschera, and Hvorostovsky's interpretation is sublime; other choice selections are "Cortigiani, vil razza dannata" (Rigoletto), and the villainous Iago's "Vanne...credo in un Dio crudel" (Otello). Some of these arias are better known than others, but all are terrific.Mario Bernardi provides energetic backing with the Philharmonia of Russia, tenor Vsevold Grivnov sings a few lines in "Sogno di Francesco" (I Masnadieri) and bass Alexander Vinogradov is Ferrando in "Tutto e deserto..." (Il Trovatore).Often thought of as primarily a singer of Russian music, Siberian-born Hvorostovsky is also completely at home with the Italian repertoire, as this fabulous CD proves. Sound is good and total playing time is 68'58.

Let me say up front that I am not an authority on opera. I'm basically just a "greatest hits" type. But you don't have to be an opera fan to love this CD of Hvorostovsky's singing Verdi. My favorites are the selections from NABUCCO and UN BALLO IN MASCHERA; you'll probably find your favorite Verdi here too. This CD would be perfect if Mr. Hvorostovsky sang "De Provenza il mar," but as his fans know, he has already recorded that aria on TCHIKOVSKY & VERDI ARIAS. Perhaps it speaks to his integrity as an artist that he doesn't record the same selections over and over with very little variety on his CD's as do so many singers.A music critic in a national magazine recently opined that perhaps that lovers of classical music would be left with listening to baritones since the tenor greats were nearing retirement and that there weren't many young tenors to replace them. If Mr. Hvorostovsky is an example of the best of the baritones and what we may be forced to listen to, let's retire the tenors. (Surely no one should have to listen to "The Three Tenors" ever again. Knowing when to stop singing is such an admirable quality.)Oh, if this CD gets my vote for the most beautiful recording this year, the design of this CD gets my vote for the worst art. The design and photo on the cover are somewhere beyond silly. No artist of this stature deserves such a photograph.

Some of my favorite Verdi arias are not on it, but you can't find out what is on it until it arrives. His voice is wonderful, though, and there are many fine renditions of major and less important works.

I saw and heard this astoundly beautiful voice, and, the evidently very nice man behind the voice, at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. What a terrible sadness to

I had never heard this artist. . . I was impressed with his Verdi renditions, Melody and Tonal quality. Trios, Quartets Etc

I'm a baritone junkie and a confessed Sherrill Milnes groupie who pouted for years after he retired. Then i discovered Dmitri Hvorostovsky, primarily via these Verdi Arias. Once again, I am enthralled with a baritone. He is a master, with amazing control, and a depth of emotion, his voice a well-tuned musical instrument. Unlike many singers, he is better today than he was when he recorded this album. But - it is a MUST HAVE!

Glorious renditions of mostly familiar Verdi arias by this late, great baritone.

Mr. Hvorostovsky with his magnificent rich instrument takes on Verdi, and any singer knows Verdi is "a bitch" to perform. He demands such range and power from his singers that often, many will not take him on. Mr. Hvorostovsky has such a wonderful range--his upper registers are unmatched by any other singer. If you love Verdi and his baritone arias, do not hesitate to purchase this. One must laugh at Dmitri's rather narcissistic CD art, but hey, he is a gorgeous hunk as well as perhaps the finest singer of our age.

Well I use it for listening too!Hvorostovsky, Has an amazing voice!Best wishes,Marg.

Fantastic singer

Auch wenn er bei uns noch kaum bekannt ist,er sollte es um so mehr werden:Hvorostovsky besitzt das ideale Timbre für einen Verdi-Bariton,männlich markant bis hin zu überbordender Viriliät(Credo des Jago),aber auch mit Gespür für die leiseren Töne und die mezzavoce(Rigoletto,Simon Boccanegra).Seit den Tagen von Robert Merrill hat es eine derart packende Stimme im italienischen Baritonfach meiner Ansicht nach nicht mehr gegeben.Ein weiterer Vorteil dieser CD besteht im Übrigen darin,dass man nicht nur die gängigen Hits zu hören bekommt,sondern auch ein paar Preziosen aus dem weniger bekannten Repertoire (Stiffelio,I masnadieri,Ernani).Eine sehr hörenswerte CD aus dem Jahr 2002,doch wie nur wenige andere geeignet,Verdi zu seinem 200.Geburtstag angemessen und überzeugend zu" gratulieren ".

schön, ich halte Hvorostovsky für den besten Bariton der Welt. Alle Opernsänger singen hervorragend, doch nur bei wenigen wird man so stark berührt wie bei ihm.NB ich rezensiere niemals aus Deutschland

Leider ist die Aufnahme nicht in der Qualität was dieser Bariton ergeben würde