Notes and Editorial Reviews
VICTORIA DE LOS ANGELES—PROFILE IN MUSIC
•
Victoria de los Angeles, (sop); Gerald Moore (pn);
1
Georges Prêtre, cond;
2
Royal PO;
2
Patrick Harvey (pn);
2
Felix Zanetti (pn);
3
Federico Mompou (pn)
4
•
EMI DVD 3102039 (66:45) Live: London
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9/1/1957;
1
London 5/31/1962;
2
Besançon, 11/14/1957;
3
Barcelona 1/21/1971
4
SCHUBERT
1
Whoin? An die Musik.
BRAHMS
1
Vergebliches Ständchen.
FALLA
1
Jota.
VIVES
1
El retrado de Isabela.
FALLA
2
La vida breve:
Vivan los que ríen!
ROSSINI
2
Il barbiere di Svigilia:
Una voce poco fa.
NIN
2
Paño murciano.
WAGNER
2
Tannhäuser
:
Dich, teure Halle.
PUCCINI
2
Madama Butterfly
:
Con onor muore.
GRANADOS
3
El majo timido. De aquel majo amante. El tralalá y el puteado.
VIVES
3
El amor y los ojos. El retrato de Isabella.
MONTSALVATGE
3
Canción de cura para dormir a un negrito.
MOMPOU
4
Damunt de tu només les flors
The artistry of Victoria de los Angeles is well evidenced on this DVD, and it is a tribute to her versatility. Whether she sings German Lieder, Spanish songs, or operatic arias as diverse as those of Rossini, Wagner, and Puccini, the beauty of her voice is always evident, and the interpretations are always excellent. In the opening section filmed in London in 1957, she is accompanied by the great Gerald Moore. The format is black and white and the picture quality is good. De Los Angeles’s charm is evident in the close-ups.
The second section “Profile in Music” is a TV program presented by the BBC in London on May 31, 1962. Each musical section is followed by an interview of de Los Angeles by John Freeman who asks about her career and personal opinions. The operatic scenes are staged in costume, and again her charm and versatility are strongly in evidence. The format is also black and white, and the picture quality is excellent. She is well supported by Georges Prêtre’s conducting, and in the Nin song the pianist is Patrick Harvey.
The third section is a concert, live from the Festival de Besançon on November 14, 1967. She is, of course, completely at home in the genre of Spanish song. Interestingly, she repeats the Vives song,
El retrato de Isabella
, which she sings in the opening section. The pianist is Felix Zanetti, and again the format is black and white, while in the final bonus selection, where she sings the Mompou song accompanied by the composer, the format is in color.
Subtitles are available, and the format of the DVD with its excellent menu allows one to play any of the selections in whatever order one wishes. No notes are given. De Los Angeles fans should rush to buy this DVD, and it is strongly recommended.
FANFARE: Bob Rose
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Works on This Recording
1.
Romances and Songs (5), Op. 84: no 4, Vergebliches Ständchen by Johannes Brahms
Performer:
Victoria de los Angeles (Soprano)
Period: Romantic
Written: ?1877-79; Austria
2.
La vida breve: Vivan los que rien! by Manuel de Falla
Performer:
Victoria de los Angeles (Soprano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1904-1905; Spain
3.
Tonadillas en un estilo antiguo: no 5, El majo tímido by Enrique Granados
Performer:
Victoria de los Angeles (Soprano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1910-1911; Spain
4.
Damunt de tu, només les flors by Federico Mompou
Performer:
Victoria de los Angeles (Soprano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: Spain
5.
Canciones negras (5): no 4, Canción de cuna para dormir a un negrito by Xavier Montsalvatge
Performer:
Victoria de los Angeles (Soprano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1945; Spain
6.
Cantos populares españoles (20): no 15, Paño murciano by Joaquin Nin
Performer:
Victoria de los Angeles (Soprano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: by 1923
7.
Madama Butterfly: Con onor muore by Giacomo Puccini
Performer:
Victoria de los Angeles (Soprano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1904; Italy
8.
Il barbiere di Siviglia: Una voce poco fa...Io sono dolcile by Gioachino Rossini
Performer:
Victoria de los Angeles (Soprano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1816; Italy
9.
Die schöne Müllerin, D 795/Op. 25: no 2, Wohin? by Franz Schubert
Performer:
Victoria de los Angeles (Soprano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1823; Vienna, Austria
10.
Canciones epigramáticas: El retrato de Isabela by Amadeo Vives
Performer:
Victoria de los Angeles (Soprano)
Period: Romantic
11.
Canciones epigramáticas: El amor y los ojos by Amadeo Vives
Performer:
Victoria de los Angeles (Soprano)
Period: Romantic
12.
Tannhäuser: Dich, teure Halle by Richard Wagner
Performer:
Victoria de los Angeles (Soprano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1845/1861; Germany
Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review: 
( 1 Customer Review )
Amazingly beautiful February 23, 2013
By m. cherry (NEW YORK, NY) See All My Reviews
"This is a wonderful DVD, and the highlight of it for me is Victoria De Los Angeles singing with Gerald Moore at the piano. What artistry! The BBC interview from the early 60s is also fascinating."
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