Search - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, James Levine, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra :: Kathleen Battle Sings Mozart

Much more than a fine effort

lizurd6 | San Jose, CA USA | 02/16/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I disagree with "A Fine Effort, but..." Listening to Kathleen Battle has taught me to enjoy opera. This was the first opera CD I purchased, and I have used it to introduce several other friends to fine opera music. My friends and I all used to think that female opera singers were these large, Valkyrie-style women whose voices would rattle the floorboards as well as your eardrums. But Ms. Battle can hit those high notes with the grace of a songbird, and just as I pause to listen to the birds outside in the trees, I pause to listen and admire her voice everytime I listen to this CD. It's terrific, and I own several other of her CDs (Handel: Arias is a good one)."

Simply Delicious!

M. Bish | Rochester, NY United States | 02/10/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This disc of Mozart's opera arias manages to capture the perfection of Kathleen Battle's first disc of Mozart concert arias conducted under Previn. We are accorded the opportunity and privilege to hear Ms. Battle essay characters that she never did in the opera house, Constanze, Cherubino, and the Countess among them. In "Porgi amor," the CD's opening track, she negotiates the long passages of the Countess' aria with seeming ease. Hers is a smaller voice than we are used to hearing in the role but this is unimportant as her vocal acting is superb, bringing the heartache housed in the libretto fully to life. And who knew that she would make such a believable Constanze? Of course, we all know that she made Blonde her own on the world's opera stages (she sings one of Blonde's arias here too) but she astonishes as Constanze. (What I wouldn't do to hear her try her hand at "Martern Aller Arten.") "Ach ich liebte" is notorious for the difficulties it poses but she surpasses these and comes out on top looking like a champ. Ms. Battle also breathes beautiful life into the arias of Susanna and Zerlina. She communicates the humor of Zerlina's character in "Batti, batti, o bel Masetto" and vocalizes Susanna's aria ("Deh vieni, non tardar") beautifully. In fact, everything on this disc is wonderful to hear, but Ms. Battle does one better by inhabiting the characters. This is an experience you will not want to recover from!"

Blown Away

maiden pa. | bedford, pa United States | 02/11/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I just love playing this CD. Especially the Zaide track. Kathleen Battle truly has a magnificent voice. It shines on this CD. I would just love to hear this in concert. WOW. Blown away."