Francisco Tárrega’s Lágrima, played by César Amaro

Lágrima is a piece by Francisco Tárrega, and certainly a little gem in the guitar’s repertoire. It’s called “lágrima” (tear, or teardrop) because of the sadness in the second section, and isn’t a piece difficult to play: the feeling is much more important than technique with this one.

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Top 14 best versions of “Je crois entendre encore”

The best versions of “Je crois entendre encore” (I still believe I hear), a beautiful aria from Georges Bizet‘s Les pêcheurs de perles.

Les pêcheurs de perles (The Pearl Fishers) is an opera in three acts by the French composer Georges Bizet, to a libretto by Eugène Cormon and Michel Carré. It was first performed on 30 September 1863 at the Théâtre Lyrique in Paris and was given 18 performances in its initial run.

Set in ancient times on the island of Ceylon, the opera tells the story of how two men’s vow of eternal friendship is threatened by their love for the same woman, whose own dilemma is the conflict between secular love and her sacred oath as a priestess.

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Caruso: Vesti la giubba [1902, 1904, 1907 editions]

Italian tenor Enrico Caruso was the first gramophone star to sell more than a million copies with his 1904 recording of “Vesti la giubba” from the opera “Pagliacci” (Clowns) by Ruggero Leoncavallo. Here are his recordings from the 30th of November 1902, the 1st of February 1904, and the 17th of March 1907.

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Di quella pira (Verdi): Caruso, Corelli and Pavarotti versions

Three beautiful versions of Giuseppe Verdi’s “Di quella pira. The first version is sung by Enrico Caruso, the second one is sung by Franco Corelli, and the third one is sung by Luciano Pavarotti. Three of the greatest tenors of the 20th history.

Di quella pira is a popular tenor aria (or more specifically cabaletta) sung by Manrico in Act 3, Scene 2 of Giuseppe Verdi’s opera, “Il Trovatore”.

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Bach: Air on the G-String (Voices of Music, with original instruments)

Early music ensemble Voices of Music performs the second movement, Aria, from Bach’s orchestral suite in D Major, BWV 1068, popularly known as the “Air on the G-String” with original instruments from the time of Bach.

Air on the G String is German violinist and teacher August Wilhelmj‘s (21 September 1845 in Usingen – 22 January 1908 in London) arrangement of the second movement in Johann Sebastian Bach’s Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major, BWV 1068.

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