LOS ANGELES (Hip-O/UMe Records) - One of the world's most popular tenors, one of the most influential guitarists of all-time, one of the finest coloratura sopranos today, and one of the greatest conductors in history are celebrated with new "best of" editions of
20th Century Masters/The
Millennium Collection, each released November 9, 2004 by Hip-O/UMe.
Albums for Placido Domingo, Andres Segovia, Kathleen
Battle and Herbert von Karajan join previously released volumes of the series spotlighting such giants of classical music as Leonard Bernstein,
Luciano Pavarotti and the
Boston Pops.
A new essay and photos are included in each package.
THE BEST OF PLACIDO DOMINGO finds one of the original Three Tenors performing many of his signature songs and arias, including "Granada," "Be My Love," "Volver," "La donna e mobile" (Rigoletto), "Celeste Aida" (Aida) and "Vesti la giubba" (Pagliacci) as well as songs from the operas The Barber Of Seville, Il Travatore, Carmen and Tosca. Along with Pavarotti, Domingo has been largely responsible for the increasing mainstream popularity of opera among contemporary listeners. His rich ringing tenor voice and his warm personality has made him one of the world's best-loved classical singers.
THE BEST OF ANDRES SEGOVIA offers a collection of the best-known and most popular works from one of the best-selling classical guitarists of all-time. A major influence on guitarists from Eric Clapton, Roger McGuinn and Keith Richards to students such as John Williams, Christopher Parkening and Oscar Ghiglia, he single-handedly raised the instrument's status in popular culture through concerts, best-selling recordings and as a renowned teacher.
The album includes Bach's Prelude in G major from Cello Suite No. 1, Bouree in E minor, Gavotte from Violin Partita in E minor and Gigue from Lute Suite in C minor plus works by Rodrigo, Albeniz and Granados.
THE BEST OF KATHLEEN BATTLE presents the five-time Grammy winning lyric soprano's best-known arias and songs. Her exceptionally pure voice and remarkable range are heard on works from classical music to the popular songbook to spirituals. From "Porgi amor" from The Marriage of Figaro and "Una donna a quindici anni" from Cosi fan tutte to "Summertime" and "I Loves You Porgy" from Porgy And Bess and "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" and "He's Got The Whole World In His Hands" (with Jessye Norman), Battle's extraordinary artistry is center stage.
THE BEST OF HERBERT VON KARAJAN visits the extraordinary legacy of the best-selling conductor of all-time. Considered by many to be the greatest conductor in recording history, Karajan led the Berlin Philharmonic for more than 50 years, during which he recorded much of the standard repertoire, from early music to modern composers, his interpretations noted for their smoothness of line and luxuriance of sound.
This compilation features Pachelbel's Canon in D, Bach's Air on a G String, Wagner's The Ride of the Walkure, Mozart's Allegro from Eine kleine Nachtmusik, Mascagni's Intermezzo from Cavalleria rusticana and works by Vivaldi, Corelli, Rossini and Offenbach.
The series 20th Century Masters/The Millennium Collection, featuring new "best of" albums from the most significant music artists of the past century, is the most successful single artist series in music history.
