MIRELLA FRENI: SOPRANO ASSOLUTA! (PUCCINI, BELLINI, MOZART, VERDI)

Mirella Freni – Soprano Assoluta

Mirella Freni

‘these are all very beautiful performances, which at times achieve a rapt inner quality… the big Sonnambula aria is exquisitely done… Freni manages what I call a ‘smiling tone–colour’ for O mio babbino caro and Suzels’ delightful aria from Amico Fritz is sung with charming effect and everywhere she takes special care over dynamic control. Juliet’s lament (I Capuletti) is again delightful…. both Micaela’s aria and Nanetta’s aria bring out Freni’s sweetness to perfection’ (Gramophone)

1. O Mio babbino caro* (Gianni Schicchi: Puccini) 2.09
2. Si, mi chiamano Mimi+ (La Boheme:Puccini) 5.18
3. Donde lieta usci+ (La Boheme: Puccini) 3.20
4. Senza mamma* (Suor Angelica: Puccini) 4.37
5. Son pochi fiori* (L’Amico Fritz: Mascagni) 3.28
6. Ah! Se una volta…Ah! Non credea mirarti* 11.15
(La Sonnambula:Bellini)
7. Eccomi…O! Quante volte, o quante* 10.17
(I Capuletti e I Montecchi: Bellini)
8. Micaela’s Aria : Je dis que rien ne m’épouvante* 7.05
(Carmen: Bizet) (In Italian)
9. Sul fil d’un soffio etesio* (Falstaff: Verdi) 4.09
(* with Bayerischen Rundfunk Orchestra / Ino Savini Rec.1959)
(+ with Vienna Volksoper Orchestra / Argeo Quadri Rec.1961)
10. Batti, batti (Don Giovanni: Mozart) 3.51
11. Vedrai carino (Don Giovanni: Mozart) 3.29
10 & 11 with Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra /
John Pritchard (1960 Live)
12. Giunse alfin il momento …Deh vieni non tardar 5.37
(Le Nozze di Figaro: Mozart)
with Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Silvio Varviso (1962 Live)
13. Va godendo vezzoso e bello (Xerxes:Handel:Minato) 2.17
with Orchestra of La Scala, Milan / Piero Bellugi (1962 Live)
14. Quando si belle (Perti) 4.06
with Orchestra of Teattro Communale, Bologna / Tito Gotti (1960)