Great Operatic Arias - Sir Thomas Allen
CHAN 3155
Mozart
1 The Magic Flute Papageno’s Aria
'I'm sure that there could never be'
2 The Marriage of Figaro Figaro's Aria
'Here's an end to your life as a rover'
Verdi
3 Falstaff Ford's Monologue
'I'm dreaming? Or is this true?'
4 Don Carlos Don Carlos' and Rodrigo's Duet
'Listen!' - 'God who has brought us together'
with Gwyn Hughes Jones, tenor, Philip Tebb, bass and Geoffrey Mitchell Choir
5 Macbeth Macbeth's Scena and Aria
'Treachery!' - 'When you are old and full of tears'
Mozart
6 Don Giovanni Leporello's Catalogue Aria
'Little lady! Here's a list I've assembled'
7 The Marriage of Figaro Figaro's Recitative and Cavatina 'Bravo, my lord and master' -
'So little master, you're dressed to go dancing'
Verdi
8 La traviata Recitative and Duet
'You are Violetta Valéry?' - 'I have a daughter sent from God' with Claire Rutter, soprano
Mozart
9 The Magic Flute Pamina and Papageno's Duet
‘A man in search of truth and beauty'
with Susan Gritton, soprano
10 Don Giovanni Don Giovanni's Aria 'Now that the wine has stopped them from thinking'
11 Don Giovanni's Canzonetta 'Come softly to your window'
Verdi
12 Don Carlos Prison Scene 'I'm here, Carlos!' - 'My last day has dawned for ever' with Gwyn Hughes Jones, tenor
Mozart
13 The Magic Flute Papagena and Papageno's Duet 'Pa-pa-ge-na' with Susan Gritton, soprano
Weill
14 Knickerbocker Holiday September Song

Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by David Parry

Recorded in Blackheath Halls, London, 12-15 October 2007
Producers - Brian Couzens (Executive), Rachel Smith
Sound engineer - Jonathan Cooper Assistant sound engineer - Paul Quilter

The Sunday Telegraph

'The second volume of the great baritone's selection of operatic arias, sung in English, offers reminders of how splendid he was at Don Giovanni, Leporello and Figaro, and Papageno in The Magic Flute. His diction is a lesson to all. His Verdi is very impressive - Ford's monologue from Falstaff (superb dark tone), Posa's duet with Don Carlos and his death scene, a Macbeth aria and Germont père's scene with Violetta. Everyone a winner.

Classic FM Magazine

'Macbeth's despair, Papageno's melancholy optimism, Ford's angry suspicion that his wife will be unfaithful - all of

  21 November 2008
them are presented with an awe-inspiring emotional immediacy that leaps off the disc. It's great that Allen is given a chance to sink his teeth into some really generous scenes, too: the 20 minute duet from La Traviata (with Claire Rutter) crackles with dramatic tension, and Posa's long farewell to life (with Gwyn Hughes Jones as Don Carlos) is wonderfully affecting.'