Leontyne Price - The Complete Album Collection of Songs and Spirituals

RCA decided to split Leontyne Price's many recital albums into opera and other. This "other" volume includes a wide range of material, including lieder, hymns, spirituals and popular songs. Her voice is so beautiful throughout its wide range and she is able to use it with such precision and feeling. The packaging duplicates the original album covers, which means that you need a magnifying glass to read the backs. The CD labels duplicate the original LPs, including the grooves, so again you have tiny, tiny print and a reproduction of the A-side label. I get the idea, but it's stupid. There is a book with complete track information, but the presentation could be better. However, you're not buying it for the labels and having the chance to hear all these wonderful albums again makes up for the too-clever presentation.

There is one glaring omission in this beautifully packaged set. In the early 1980's, Price recorded a set of patriotic songs for RCA with the National Philharmonic, Charles Gehrhardt conducting. It is no where to be found in this "complete" collection. I rated the set based on the beauty of the product, providing the original LP covers and notes, with the selections in their original order. But someone at RCA/Sony - or whoever owns these at this point - did not do their homework.

The spirituals alone justify the purchase. Price's voice is so versatile, powerful, and supple as to be irresistible. This is the stuff of legend. Buy this collection and consider yourself fortunate to have it.

This is an exhaustive collection (12 CDs) of classical arias and songs from opera and classical themes as well as spirituals and folk songs. It is well-worth the cost and is a must for those who love the clear vocals of this wonderful artist.

I don't know how much I can add to prior reviews. Leontyne Price goes without saying. I very much love the spirtuals, but the whole set is beyond wonderful. As a regular person, I recognize fabulous when I hear it.

I just got both box sets in the mail yesterday! WOW WOW I have been waiting for this for a long time. Words alone can not describe how excellent this package is. Ms. Price's voice is a gift to the world!

This and it's companion set are well worth the price --- no pun intended. This is a must have for fans of Price.

As always, Ms Price NEVER disappoints ❤👏

I doubt (save for the Barber perhaps) that any of these recordings would be "library shelf" interpretations. Price also has a dubious grasp on the French and German language and sings it rather self-consciously. More recent historically informed performances also reveal Price's rich and husky voice sometimes to be at odds with what one is used to hearing. And yet. And yet. It took only a few minutes of CD 2 for Price's tone to draw me in completely. The voice is without question one of the most beautiful ever to have graced the operatic stage - totally even (when these recordings were made) through her enormous register and able to be thinned down to a whisper on occasion. Also no evidence of the swooping style she developed later on in her career (e.g. the Levine Forza and the Leinsdorf Aida). Do not doubt the value of owning this box set of songs recitals - rush to buy it immediately. Credit also for Sony/RCA in providing the original LP covers for the discs (and the backs too) in a nice sturdy box. But shamefully, especially for a song recital, no translations are provided nor any pdf versions to download. Perhaps RCA/Sony might like to release Price singing the phone book - I'd buy it!

A terrific bargain and a great tribute to one of the greatest singers of all time. Its great to have the Leinsdorf's Strauss disc back i n the catalogue again (included in this set). I love the Poulenc songs. However, there are many other delights to be sampled in this bargain set. Don't hesitate.

Miss. Price may have admitted being 'mad about her voice', but so were millions of her admirers, as this issue, together with the opera arias also issued by Sony, make plain.

Très beaux albums de Leontyne Price. Mais on ne peut pas lire les titre des enregistrements car ils sont écrits trop petit sur les pochettes. Mais quelle voix !

Wer Schumanns Opus 42 mag, muss diese Aufnahme haben, die in dieser Box unter einem Dutzend anderer CDs zu finden ist.