Kawai Piano Prices: Favorite Italian Songs: Voice and Piano (Vocal Collection) [Paperback] Review

Favorite Italian Songs: Voice and Piano [Paperback]

Since this is the first review of this item, and since there is not a complete index listing for it, I have included one at the end of this review.This is a wonderful and varied collection of Italian songs and arias. Several of the opera arias are transposed to slightly lower keys than they were originally composed in - for those of us who don't have a 'perfect high C'- which is one of my favorite aspects of this book.
Conspicuously absent, however, are several of the best and most famous neapolitan songs such as "O Sole Mio," "Non ti scordar di me," "A vucchella," "Torna a Surriento," and "Oi Marie." (Not to mention the most gorgeous Italian song of all time, "Rondine al Nido.")
Never the less, this book is awesome and I highly recommend it!

Index Listing (Indice):

1).Anema e core
2).Arrivedeci Roma (Buy a Mario Lanza recording of this song!)
3).Carmela
4).Caruso (Even in old age, Pavarotti belts this incomparably!)
5).Casta Diva
6).Che gelida manina (A 'calling card' aria for Pav.)
7).Core 'ngrato (Who but Carreras?)
8).Coro a bocca chiusa
9).Di quella pira (Domingo & Pav. both do this one nicely.)
10).E lucevan le stelle (Not my favorite ten. aria no matter who sings it.)
11).Fenesta che lucive
12).Funiculi Funicula (What a fun song!)
13).Inno di Mameli
14).La donna e mobile (transposed to B flat major - easier to play.)
15).Libiam ne lieti calici (Who doesn't love this 'bubbly' tune from La traviata?)
16).Marechiare (One of my all-time favorite Neapolitan songs!)
17).Mattinata (You'll love this one!)
18).Mi chiamano Mimi (The soprano companion aria to Che gelida manina- see above.)
19).Nel blu dipinto di blu (Also known as "Volare")
20).Nessun Dorma (Try the originial 3 tenors recording for two great live renditions of this amazing aria.)
21).Non dimenticar le mie parole
22).O mio babbino caro (Transposed to a friendlier range!)
23).Quando, quando, quando
24).Recondita armonia (Pav. or Corelli)
25).Resta cu'mme
26).Roma, nun fa la stupinda stasera
27).Santa Lucia
28).Santa Lucia luntana (My favorite of the two S.Lucias.)
29).Tammurriata nera
30).Ti guardero nel cuore (The melody of the popular song "More")
31).Una furtiva lagrima (Pav.,Domingo, or Alagna)
32).Una voce poco fa
33).Un bel di vedremo (Also more Mezzo friendly!)
34).Va pensiero sull'ali dorate (Verdi's famous 'Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves' from Nabucco)
35).Vierno
36).Vissi d'arte, vissi d'amore (Not as high as Te Kanawa sings it, but less taxing on the vocal chords!)

Buy it! You won't be disappointed!

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Product Description:
A wonderful collection of the most celebrated Italian songs from operatic arias to pop Italian melodies. Includes: Nessun Dorma * Caruso * La Donna e Mobile * Santa Lucia * Mattinata * Funiculi Funicula * and 33 more, all in piano/vocal format.