A selection of Pavarotti's great recordings

Advantages: Pavarotti at his best in core repertoire in clear beautiful sound
Disadvantages: 'Pavarotti's Greatest Hits' is only a few pounds more for 2cds

...This is one of the better introductions you could have to Pavarotti. This selection is good because all of them come from the middle region of his career (the pop songs are a little later but as they are not full out opera pieces this is not a problem) it also has earlier composers such as Donizetti and Rossini as well as later greats such as Bizet (not a big figure in Pavarotti's career but beautifully sung) and Puccini with Nessun Dorma taking pride of place. The inclusion of Italian songs is good fun and very well sung, listen to the high notes in the mattinata, but there are not any of Pavarotti's collaborations with celebrities like Sinatra etc which for me is a major plus but to others may be a bit of a let down depending how much you enjoy his 'pop' music output. His major early success are here including his performance...

operalover2000 01.01.2009 · Read review
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Review of Essential Pavarotti

Pavarotti at his very best

Advantages: Young/Prime Pavarotti in core repertoire in brilliant stereo sound
Disadvantages: Very little

...This is probably the best introduction you could have to Pavarotti. It has everything, early work (1960s) and more mature work (1970s/1980s) it also has earlier composers such as Donizetti and Rossini as well as later greats such as Bizet (not a big figure in Pavarotti's career but beautifully sung) and Puccini with Nessun Dorma taking pride of place. The inclusion of Italian songs is good fun and very well sung, listen to the high notes in the mattinata, but there are not any of pavarotti's collaborations with celebrities like Sinatra etc which for me is a major plus but to others may be a bit of a let down depending how much you enjoy his 'pop' music output. His major early success are here including his breakthrough role from la fille du regiment and Rodolfo in La Boheme the role he debuted in in very early 1960s. The roles are...

operalover2000 01.01.2009 · Read review
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Review of Pavarotti's Greatest Hits

The day the music died

Advantages: A true great amongst men
Disadvantages: none

...'I think a life spent in music is a life beautifully spent and this is what I devoted my life to.' Luciano Pavarotti 1935 - 2007 I am not a particularly sentimental person and I certainly have no respect for the cult of celebrity, but I will not deny that I shed a small tear of sadness this morning when I heard the news that Pavarotti had lost his battle against cancer. I am sure that over the course of the next few days we will be overdosed with phrases like 'larger than life', 'enormous talent' and any others that our overpaid tabloid editors can come up with to link his incredible talent with the size of his waistline. But for me, Pavarotti's shape was never in my mind, to watch him sing with the emotion and passion that he did and whether he was an incredible actor or it was entirely genuine there is a expression in his...

Digbycat 06.09.2007 · Read review
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Review of Luciano Pavarotti

A perfect mixture

Advantages: artists in unfamiliar surroundings
Disadvantages: nothing

...It was in 1996. The maestro Pavarotti called and the artists came to Modena. There, the star-tenor arranged a concert for the benefit of his foundation 'Warchild', which takes care of children in war zones like Bosnia (in 1996). This CD is a coverage of the concert in Modena and the players list looks like a who is who of music: 1. Holy Mother (Eric Clapton, Luciano Pavarotti) 2. Saint Teresa (Joan Osborn) 3. I guess that's why they call it the Blues (Elton John) 4. New York, New York (Liza Minelli, Luciano Pavarotti) 5. My love (Zucchero) 6. Run, baby run (Sheryl Crow) 7. Certe notti (Ligabue, Luciano Pavarotti) 8. Angel (Jon Secada) 9. Ave Maria (The Kelly Family, Luciano Pavarotti) 10. Spirito (Litfiba) 11. Third degree (Eric Clapton) 12. La ci darem la mano (Sheryl Crow(!!!), Luciano Pavarotti) 13. Le...

BabsS 04.01.2002 · Read review
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Review of Pavarotti And Friends (For War Child) - Various Artists

He's quite large

Advantages: Colossal
Disadvantages: Can't think of any

...The first thing that strikes you about Mr Pavarotti is his not inconsiderable size. In the world of opera singers, Mr Pavarotti is a giant among men (as for the women, that walking Bedhouin tent who performed with Freddie Mercury, Monster CampingEquipment, must be in contention for the bigness prize). Ever since I first saw him on Cardiff Largest Singer in the World back in the 80s I was transfixed with his girth. Its actually quite difficult to get hold of realistic figures - www.howfat.com barely mentions the tubby tenor while www.famousfatties.com/singers/pavarotti.html hasn't been updated since June 1999 and you can bet he's tucked into a few bowls of pasta since then. Love Songs, by the way, is a CD of, yep, love songs by large Luciano, as follows 1. Volare 2. Caruso 3. Non ti scordar di me 4. Musica proibita 5. Vieni...

oedipus 29.09.2001 · Read review
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Review of Love Songs (Popular Italian Love Themes) - Luciano Pavarotti

Let's talk about love

Advantages: Good selection of songs
Disadvantages: none

...Yet again, Celine manages to create another excellent album with 'let's talk about love'. Here she duets with the Bee Gees, Barbra Streisand and unusually Luciano Pavarotti creating a range of tracks ranging from her usual romantic songs to a couple of more up-tempo numbers. The unforgettable 'my heart will go on', from the smash hit movie 'Titanic' is on this album and others include:- 'immortality', 'tell him', 'the reason' and 'treat her like a lady'. This is definitely one of my favourite Celine Dion albums and would advise anyone who likes her style to have a listen....

lisa27 30.07.2000 · Read review
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Review of Let's Talk About Love [ECD] - Celine Dion

Why oh why...

Advantages: A beautiful voice...
Disadvantages: but not up to his usual high standard.

...I have followed Andrea's career from the very beginning when Pavarotti took him under his wing. Pavarotti knew then what an exceptional asset Andrea would become for the opera world. Although Pavarotti, possessing an exceptional talent himself, drew in hordes to the world of classical and operatic music, it was Andrea who stole everyone's heart. It was Andrea who opened our eyes, ears and hearts to the type of music most of us shrugged aside and refused to listen to. The opera... not everyone's cup of tea... but when Andrea opens his mouth and lets out that first note, everyone's heart stops beating and we listen. Andrea turned operatic type songs into music the rest of the world wanted to hear, and by modernizing it, a whole new type of music was created. Thank God he never went on to become a lawyer as his father had intended...

GoFigure 22.02.2007 · Read review
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Review of Amore - Andrea Bocelli

Back to Reality

Advantages: Collection of love songs and protest songs for weary travellers
Disadvantages: hard to decide which version is best!

...and evoke memories many dark nights and troubled days. I am sure that Billy would never regard himself as a Pavarotti in waiting but he has more soul and passion than is decent for a man of a certain age. Buy it, take it home, find a quiet place, turn the lights off and the volume up and enjoy....

Curlio 03.05.2008 · Read review
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Review of Mr. Love And Justice (Deluxe Edition) - Billy Bragg

Modernity in Modena

Advantages: Good stopover. Clean and comfortable
Disadvantages: None for me

...those who follow the Pavarotti Trail (assuming such a thing exists), and there are those who would visit for some big expo/conference or other as seemed to be the case when we were there, or it could be that you were travelling from Venice to Pisa and it was a convenient stopover. Guess which category I fell into? Incidentally, was it any coincidence that that well known bon-viveur, epicurean and part-time chanter, Pavarotti, was so...um, plump? In the two nights we stayed there, we had probably the two best meals we've ever had in italy - and we've had a few. But I digest...er, digress (Freudian slip). Where exactly is the Holiday Inn? Glad you asked. Only a fool would be struggling to find this hotel. It's just off the junction of the A1 and the ring road on the northern edge of the city, and as it's about 10 floors of grey concrete...

proxam 22.02.2009 · Read review
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Review of Holiday Inn Modena, Modena

U218 Singles

Advantages: Perfect for casual listeners, value for money.
Disadvantages: Not so good for die-hard U2 fans.

...such as 'Ultra Violet (Light My Way)' and 'Two Hearts Beat As One'. It misses out tracks from the fantastic debut album 'Boy' and doesn't feature anything from highly underrated 'Zooropa' and 'Pop'. The only reason to buy this is if your a completist and must own everything, if you want to hear the new tracks and an alternate mix of 'Walk On', which were released as singles anyway or for the DVD. For the die-hard U2 fan: 3 stars. The DVD is a short film, comprising of only around 10 songs, but set in a fantastic venue in front of a fantastic crowd. It features a version of "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" which is truly breathtaking. Really energetic versions of "Vertigo", "I Will Follow" and "Elevation" and an emtional performance of "Miss Sarajevo" with Bono himself taking on the role of Luciano Pavarotti. It's a really...

Timothij 07.08.2008 · Read review
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Review of U218 Singles (+DVD) - U2