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Background -

FACTORY SEALED since 1996 - OUT OF PRINT and a very COLLECTIBLE Set. This is your chance to get a TRULY MINT set!

The daughter of a carpenter and a midwife, African-American soprano Leontyne Price (born Mary Violet) studied piano and singing with the assistance of a local family that recognized her innate talents. After earning her degree from College of Education and Industrial Arts at Wilberforce, OH (where she studied with Catherine Van Buren), Price was awarded a scholarship to attend the Juilliard School of Music where she continued vocal training with Florence Page Kimball. Upon hearing her there, Virgil Thomson invited her to sing Saint Cecilia in the 1952 revival of his Four Saints in Three Acts. She then toured the United States and Europe as Bess in Gershwin's Porgy and Bess (1952-1955); on this tour she met and married bass-baritone William Warfield who was singing the role of Porgy.

In October 1953, Price sang the premiere of Samuel Barber's Hermit Songs at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., and she gave her first New York recital in November 1954; in December of the same year she sang Barber's Prayers of Kierkegaard with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Her appearances in Tosca, Die Zauberflöte, Dialogues des Carmelites, and Don Giovanni on television brought her to wide attention for both her outstanding singing, and for being the first African American leading soprano of note.

In the following seasons, she made her debuts at San Francisco, Chicago, Vienna, London, and Milan. This culminated in her first appearance at the Metropolitan Opera House as Leonore in Il trovatore, an evening that garnered a front page review in The New York Times. The Metropolitan would soon become her favored opera house; she sang most of her wide repertoire there, including Aida, Tosca, Madama Butterfly, Leonore in La Forza del Destino, Ernani, Amelia in Un ballo in maschera, Donna Anna (Don Giovanni), Pamina (Die Zauberflöte), Fiorgiligi (Così), Ariadne (Ariadne auf Naxos), and Tatiana in Eugene Onegin. She sang her last operatic performance there in 1985 as Aida.

Price was known as much for her concert and recital appearances as for those in opera. Besides performances of common repertory works, such as Beethoven's Missa Solemnis and the Verdi Requiem, she also undertook Honegger's rather obscure Jeanne d'Arc (with the New York Philharmonic) and Bruckner's Te Deum (at Salzburg). Her solo concerts often featured lesser-known arias and excerpts, including the "Awakening of Helen" from Strauss' Egyptian Helen, selections from Barber's Anthony and Cleopatra and The Songs of the Rose of Sharon by John La Montaine.

She gave annual recitals throughout North America and was also heard regularly in Europe, being a special favourite at the Salzburg Festival. Her recital repertoire was extensive, ranging from the songs of Poulenc, Hahn, and Marx, to traditional spirituals; her final encore was often "This little light of mine" -- one of her mother's favorite pieces.

Leontyne Price's voice was a spinto soprano of great beauty. She had a wonderful feeling for the sweep of the long phrases of Verdi and her technique allowed her to encompass all of the difficulties of Donna Anna (Don Giovanni) and Elvira (Ernani). Her lower register had a quality often described as "dusky" which many listeners found quite sensual. Most of her important operatic roles were recorded by RCA, but only a small fraction of her recital repertoire found its way onto disc. Leontyne Price will always be remembered as one of the greatest Verdi sopranos of the twentieth century. - Richard LeSueur

This 11-CD set, one might say jokingly, contains all the music ever written for the soprano voice and a bit for mezzo as well. And indeed, it's a staggering collection: In addition to her great Verdi heroines (the two Leonoras, Aida, Amelia, and Elvira in Ernani), Price is heard in her Puccini roles— Manon Lescaut, Butterfly, Tosca--and at least two dozen other roles, most of which she never sang on stage. Here are her heroic, secure Leonore in Fidelio, Strauss's high-flying Egyptian Helen, Purcell's Dido, Barber's Cleopatra, Bellini's Norma, Ariadne, Verdi's Violetta and Desdemona, Bizet's Carmen, Mozart's Countess, and Fiordiligi. Some are, naturally, more successful than others; almost none are embarrassing (Carmen comes close). In addition, she sings songs by Schubert, Schumann, and Strauss--none of them as well as say, Janet Baker or Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, and Barber's Knoxville, etc.--quite beautifully. Berlioz's Les Nuits d'été is not very good, but a group of spirituals is. In all, however, this is an amazing display by one of the century's greatest sopranos. There may be no new depths plumbed here, but the singing is a knockout. - Robert Levine

This listing is for a very rare, out of print Boxed Set of 11-CDs - a FACTORY SEALED box set, PRESSED and ISSUED by RCA / BMG Classics RECORDS of a highly collectible title from their catalog - a superb title featuring -

Leontyne Price

11-CD Box Set Title -

The Essential Leontyne Price

Track Listing -

Disc: 1
1. Aida: Act I: Ritorna vincitor!
2. Aida: Act I: E l'amor mio?
3. Aida: Act I: I sacri nomi di padre, d'amante
4. Aida: Act III: Qui Radames verra!
5. Aida: Act III: O patria mia
6. Un Ballo in Maschera: Act II: (Prelude)
7. Un Ballo in Maschera: Act II: Ecco l'orrido campo
8. Un Ballo in Maschera: Act II: Ma dall'arido stelo divulsa
9. Un Ballo in Maschera: Act III: A tal colpa e nulla il pianto
10. Un Ballo in Maschera: Act III: Morro, ma prima in grazia
11. Il Trovatore: Act I: Che piu t'arresti?
12. Il Trovatore: Act I: Tacea la notte placida
13. Il Trovatore: Act I: Di tale amor che dirsi
14. Il Trovatore: Act IV: Siam giunti
15. Il Trovatore: Act IV: D'amor sull'ali rosee
16. Ernani: Act I: Surta e la notte
17. Ernani: Act I: Ernani! Ernani, involami
18. Ernani: Act I: Tutto sprezzo che d'Ernani
19. La forza del destino: Act II: Son giunta! Grazie, o Dio!
20. La forza del destino: Act II: Madre, madre, pietosa Vergine
21. La forza del destino: Act II: La Vergine degli angeli
22. La forza del destino: Act IV: Pace, pace, mio Dio

Disc: 2
1. Cosi fan tutte: Act I: Come scoglio immoto resta
2. Madama Butterfly: Act II: Piangi? Perche?; Un bel di vedremo
3. Madama Butterfly: Act III: Tu? tu? piccolo Iddio!
4. TOSCA: Act II: Vissi d'arte
5. Manon Lescaut: Act II: In quelle trine morbide
6. Manon Lescaut: Act IV: Sola, perduta, abbandonata
7. Dialogues des Carmelites: Act III: Mes filles, voila que s'acheve
8. Don Giovanni: Act I: Don Ottavio, son morta!
9. Don Giovanni: Act I: Or sai chi l'onore
10. Don Giovanni: Act II: Crudele? Ah, no, mio bene!
11. Don Giovanni: Act II: Non mi dir
12. Turandot: Act I: Signore, ascolta!
13. Turandot: Act III: Tu che di gel sei cinta
14. Ariadne auf Naxos: Es gibt ein Reich
15. Antony And Cleopatra: Act III: Give me my robe

Disc: 3
1. Otello: Era piu calmo?
2. Otello: Mia madre aveva una povera ancella (Willow Song)
3. Otello: Ave Maria
4. Fidelio: Act I: Abscheulicher! Wo eilst du hin?
5. Suor Angelica: Senza mamma, o bimbo, tu sei morto!
6. Carmen: L'amour est un oiseau rebelle (Habanera)
7. La Traviata: Act I: E strano, e strano !
8. La Traviata: Act I: Ah, fors' e lui
9. La Traviata: Act I: Sempre libera
10. Le nozze di Figaro: Act III: E Susanna non vien!
11. Le nozze di Figaro: Act III: Dove sono
12. Die Agyptische Helena: Act II: Awakening Scene
13. La rondine: Ore dolci e divine
14. Salome: Finale

Disc: 4
1. Eugene Onegin: Act II: Puskai pogibnu ya
2. Eugene Onegin: Act II: Ya k vam pishu
3. Eugene Onegin: Act II: Net, nikomu na svete
4. Eugene Onegin: Act II: No tak i byt'!
5. La rondine: Act I: Chi il bel sogno di Doretta
6. VANESSA: Act I: He Has Come, He Has Come!
7. VANESSA: Act I: Do Not Utter A Word
8. Carmen: Act I: Pres des remparts de Seville (Seguidilla)
9. Manon: Act II: Allons! il le faut!
10. Manon: Act II: Adieu, notre petite table
11. Macbeth: Act IV: Sleepwalking Scene: Vegliammo invan due notti
12. Macbeth: Act IV: Sleepwalking Scene: Una macchia e qui tuttora
13. La Boheme: Act IIII: Addio. Donde lieta usci (Mimi's Addio)
14. Die Frau ohne Schatten: Act II: Empress's Awakening Scene
15. Dido and Aeneas: Act III: Thy Hand, Belinda!
16. Dido and Aeneas: Act III: When I Am Laid In Earth
17. Don Carlo: Act V: Tu che le vanita conoscesti del mondo

Disc: 5
1. Otello: Act I: Gia nella notte
2. Otello: Act I: Quando narravi
3. Otello: Act I: Venga la morte!
4. Cosi fan tutte: Act I: Ah, guarda, sorella
5. Madama Butterfly: Act I: Bimba, bimba, non piangere
6. Madama Butterfly: Act I: Bimba dagli occhi
7. Madama Butterfly: Act I: Vogliatemi bene
8. Requiem: Recordare
9. Porgy And Bess: Act II: Bess, You Is My Woman
10. Norma: Act III: Me chiami, o Norma
11. Norma: Act III: Mira, o Norma
12. Ernani: Act II: Tu, perfida!
13. Ernani: Act II: Ah, morir, potessi adesso
14. Cosi fan tutte: Act II: Sorella, cosa dici?
15. Cosi fan tutte: Act II: Prendero quel brunettino
16. Aida: Act IV: La fatal pietra sovra me si chiuse
17. Aida: Act IV: Presago il core della tua condanna
18. Aida: Act IV: Vedi? Di morte l'angelo
19. Aida: Act IV: O terra, addio

Disc: 6
1. Un Ballo in Maschera: Act II: Teco io sto!
2. Aida: Act III: Ciel! mio padre!
3. Aida: Act III: Rivedrai le forest imbalsamate
4. Aida: Act III: In armi ora si desta il popol nostro
5. Aida: Act III: Padre! a costoro schiava non sono
6. Requiem: Angus Dei
7. Manon Lescaut: Act I: Oh, saro la piu bella!; Tu, tu, amore?
8. Cosi fan tutte: Act I: Soave sia il vento
9. Porgy And Bess: Act II: I Loves You, Porgy
10. Aida: Act II: Silenzio! Aida verso noi s'avanza
11. Aida: Act II: Fu la sorte dell'armi
12. Aida: Act II: Pieta ti prenda del mio dolor
13. Aida: Act II: Alla prompa che s'appresta
14. Il Trovatore: Act IV: Udiste?
15. Il Trovatore: Act IV: Mira, di acerbe lagrime
16. Il Trovatore: Act IV: Vivra! Contende il giubilo
17. Madama Butterfly: Act II: Scuoti quella fronda di ciliegio (Flower Duet)
18. Carmen: Act IV: C'est toi! - C'est moi!
19. Carmen: Act IV: Ou vas-tu? - Laisse-moi!

Disc: 7
1. Les nuits d'ete, Op.7: Villanelle
2. Les nuits d'ete, Op.7: Le spectre de la rose
3. Les nuits d'ete, Op.7: Sur les lagunes
4. Les nuits d'ete, Op.7: Absence
5. Les nuits d'ete, Op.7: Au cimetiere (Clair de lune)
6. Les nuits d'ete, Op.7: L'ile inconnue
7. Four Last Songs: Fruhling
8. Four Last Songs: September
9. Four Last Songs: Beim Schlafengehen
10. Four Last Songs: Im Abendrot
11. Clair de lune, Op.46, No.2: Clair de lune
12. Notre amour, Op.23, No.2: Notre amour
13. Au cimetiere, Op.51, No.2: Au cimetiere
14. Au bord de l'eau, Op.8, No.1: Au bord de l'eau
15. No.1, Cinq melodies de Venise, Op.58: Mandoline
16. Main dominee par le coeur
17. Miroirs brulants No.2: Je nommerai ton front
18. Miroirs brulants No.1: Tu vois le feu du soir
19. Ce doux petit visage

Disc: 8
1. Knoxville: Summer Of 1915, Op.24: Knoxville: Summer Of 1915
2. Frauenliebe und -leben, op.42: Seit ich ihn gesehen
3. Frauenliebe und -leben, op.42: Er, der Herrlichste von allen
4. Frauenliebe und -leben, op.42: Ich kann's nicht fassen
5. Frauenliebe und -leben, op.42: Du Ring an meinem Finger
6. Frauenliebe und -leben, op.42: Helft mir, ihr Schwestern
7. Frauenliebe und -leben, op.42: Susser Freund, du blickest
8. Frauenliebe und -leben, op.42: An meinem Herzen, an meiner Brust
9. Frauenliebe und -leben, op.42: Nun hast du mir den ersten Schmerz getan
10. Widmung (No.1, Myrthen, Op.25): Widmung
11. Mignon (No.28, Liederalbum fur die Jugend, Op.79): Mignon
12. Volksliedchen, Op.51, No.2: Volksliedchen
13. Schone Wiege meiner Leiden (No.5, Liederkreis, Op.24): Schone Wiege meiner Leiden
14. Er ist's (No.23, Liederalbum fur die Jugend, Op.79): Er ist's
15. Heiss mich nicht reden (No.5, Lieder und Gesand aus Wilhelm Meister)
16. Lust der Sturmnacht, Op.35, No.1: Lust der Sturmnacht
17. Allerseelen, Op.10, No.8: Allerseelen
18. Schlagende Herzen
19. Freundliche Vision, Op.48, No.1: Freundliche Vision
20. Wie sollten wir geheim, Op.19, No.4: Wie sollten wir geheim
21. Der Gartner (Morike-Lieder No.17)
22. Lebe wohl (Morike-Lieder No.36)
23. Morgentau (From An Old Songbook)
24. Geh, Geliebter, geh jetzt (Spanisches Liederbuch No.34)

Disc: 9
1. Ev'ry Time I Feel The Spirit - Various Artists
2. Let Us Break Bread Together On Our Knees - Various Artists
3. His Name So Sweet - Various Artists
4. 'Roun' About De Mountain - Various Artists
5. Swing Low, Sweet Chariot - Various Artists
6. Sit Down, Servant - Various Artists
7. Were You There - Various Artists
8. He's Got The Whole World In His Hands - Various Artists
9. Deep River - Various Artists
10. Honor! Honor! - Various Artists
11. My Soul's Been Anchored In De Lord - Various Artists
12. On Ma Journey - Various Artists
13. A City Called Heaven - Various Artists
14. Ride On, King Jesus - Various Artists
15. I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free - Various Artists
16. Sinner, Please Don't Let This Harvest Pass - Various Artists
17. Sweet Little Jesus Boy - Various Artists
18. There Is A Balm In Gilead - Various Artists
19. Let Us Cheer The Weary Traveler - Various Artists
20. Ev'ry Time I Feel The Spirit - Various Artists
21. My Way Is Cloudy - Various Artists
22. Nobody Knows The Touble I've Seen - Various Artists
23. I Couldn't Hear Nobody Pray - Various Artists

Disc: 10
1. Holy, Holy, Holy
2. Lead, Kindly Light
3. Blessed Assurance
4. Ave Maria
5. What A Friend We Have In Jesus
6. Amazing Grace
7. The Lord's Prayer
8. Pass Me Not, O Gentle Saviour
9. The Church's One Foundation
10. Bless This House
11. I Need Thee Every Hour
12. Fairest Lord Jesus
13. I Wonder As I Wander
14. Ave Maria
15. Porgy And Bess: Summertime
16. America The Beautiful
17. Lift Ev'ry Voice And Sing
18. A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
19. Battle Hymn Of The Republic

Disc: 11
1. Chants tziganes, Op. 103: He Zigeuner
2. Chants tziganes, Op. 103: Hochgeturmte Rimaflut
3. Chants tziganes, Op. 103: Wisst ihr, wann mein Kindchen
4. Chants tziganes, Op. 103: Lieber Gott, du weisst
5. Chants tziganes, Op. 103: Brauner Bursche
6. Chants tziganes, Op. 103: Roselein dreie in der Reihe
7. Chants tziganes, Op. 103: Kommt dir manchmal in den Sinn
8. Chants tziganes, Op. 103: Rote Abendwolken
9. Adriana Lecouvreur: Act I: Io son l'umile ancella
10. This Little Light O'Mine
11. Interview With Leontyne Price By John Pfeiffer

Performers / Credits / Other Information -

• 11-CD box set
• Made in the USA
• Issued 1996
• UPC 090266815326
• Original recordings are from 1958-1995
• FACTORY SEALED - no cut out marks 
• Comes in a very heavy leather like cardboard outer box with a massive libretto.
• Vocals – Leontyne Price

The 11-CD Boxed Set is from the RCA / BMG RECORDS series of CDs.

  • Catalog # 09026-68153-2
  • CDs issued in 1996
  • CDs made in the USA

Beautifully packaged box set! The CDs, outer BOX and INSERTS are all assumed to be in MINT overall condition as this item is FACTORY SEALED (with no cut out marks of any kind)!.

This CD is an audiophile quality pressing (any collector of fine MFSL, half speeds, direct to discs, Japanese/UK pressings etc., can attest to the difference a quality pressing can make to an audio system).

Do not let this rarity slip by!