Jennifer Larmore's strong, intense voice is at times overwhelming because it positively fills the room. Best played at the highest volume your neighbours can tolerate, this lush, gorgeous, and bewitching compilation of Larmore's treatment of many opera standards is truly stunning.
I love opera but must admit that I am far from an aficionada about it. I try my best to learn on my own, and I feel that this collection was a great introduction by a great American opera singer. The entire CD flows together seamlessly, begging the listener (relentlessly!) to bury him or herself in its styling and in, of course, the key asset of the CD, Larmore herself. My favourite here is the intoxicating "J'ai perdu mon Eurydice" from the opera Orphée et Eurydice (which is an excellent complete opera... the version with Larmore and another brilliant American opera star, Dawn Upshaw.)