Rapture: Opera’s Most Heavenly Moments

RELEASE
October 08, 2002
LABEL
Universal Distribution
GENRES
Classical, Classical Crossover, Soundtracks, Film Music

Album Review

Rapture: Opera's Most Heavenly Moments collects two discs' worth of opera classics that have been featured in films and commercials, and features performances from such star singers as Bryn Terfel, Joan Sutherland, and Kiri TeKanawa. The collection offers a good sampling of works from many of opera's definitive composers, including Mozart, Verdi, Bizet, Purcell, and Wagner, and includes music from films such as Driving Miss Daisy, Babette's Feast, and The Shawshank Redemption. Highlights include Bellini's Casta Duva, as featured in The Bridges of Madison County, Offenbach's The Tales of Hoffman from Life Is Beautiful, and Puccini's Un Bel Di from Madame Butterfly and featured in Fatal Attraction. Delibes' Flower Duet from Lakmé and Mozart's Soave Sia il Vento from Cosi Fan Tutte are some of the other standout tracks in this collection, which may have a slightly glib premise but features quality music nevertheless.
Heather Phares, Rovi

Track Listing

  1. Casta Diva [From the Bridges of Madison County]
  2. Barcarolle [From the Tales of Hoffmann]
  3. Ebben? ne andrò lontana [From la Wally]
  4. Intermezzo [From Raging Bull]
  5. Letter Duet [From the Shawshank ...]
  6. Che farò senza Euridice [from Orfeo Ed Euridice]
  7. Va pensiero [From Nabucco]
  8. Una furtiva lagrima [From l'Elisir d'Amore]
  9. Porgi amor [From the Marriage of Figaro]
  10. Humming chorus [From Madam Butterfly]
  11. Soave sia il vento [From Sunday, Bloody Sunday]
  12. Overture (excerpt) [From the Force of DeStiny]
  13. Un'aura amorosa [From Cosi Fan Tutte]
  14. Un bel di [From Madam Butterfly]
  15. Depuis le jour [From Louise]
  16. Là ci darem la mano [From Don Giovanni]
  17. Quando le sere al placido [From Luisa Miller]
  18. Mir ist so wunderbar [From Fidelio]
  19. Flower Duet [From Lakmé]
  20. Au fond du temple saint (duet)
  21. Lascia ch'io pianga [From Rinaldo]
  22. Prelude [From La Traviata]
  23. O Silver moon [From Rusalka]
  24. When I am Laid in Earth [From Dido and Aeneas]
  25. Miserre [From Il Trovatore]
  26. Vissi d'arte [From Tosca]
  27. Intermezzo [From Notre Dame]
  28. Softly awakens my heart (Mon coeur s'oeuvre à ta voix) [From Samson and
  29. Ombra mai fu (Largo)
  30. Pilgrim's Chorus [From Tannhauser]
  31. Ruhe sanft [From Zaide]
  32. Flower Duet [From Madam Butterfly]
  33. [Unspecified] Entr'acte [From Carmen]
  34. Mira o Norma [From Norma Rae]
  35. Höchsten Heiles Wunder [From Parsifal]