These 39 selections, spread over 3 CDs and equalling over 3 hours of music, were recorded between 1926 and 1938, and catch Dame Eva Turner in her glorious prime. For those unfamiliar with her voice she never ceases to surprise: Her entire range is absolutely even, the sound is enormous, she has no fear of, but does not overuse, chest voice, her enunciation, whether in Italian or English, is excellent, her emotional involvement, while far from challenging a Callas or a Scotto, is head-and-shoulders above, say, Kiri Te Kanawa. Not once in these 3+ hours does one get even the slightest feeling that she might not make it up to or down to a note, that she might run out of breath, or that she will lose control of the scene's dynamics. At full throttle--and there are two whole, live Question Scenes from Turandot included here (with Giovanni Martinelli at his formidable best)--her sheer power is overwhelming; when she wishes to sing sweetly, she manages that as well (although never with the type of beautiful "floating" some sopranos--Milanov comes to mind--are capable of). Some arias are presented more than once: we get "Vissi d'arte" four times (twice in English), "Suicidio" shows up three times, each more hair-raising than the last, "Un bel di," twice in English and once in the original, and lots of "In questa reggia(s)." A real treasure is Leonora's fourth act aria from Trovatore, sung delicately and with great nuance, and Vaughan Williams "Serenade to Music" with Isobel Baillie and Heddle Nash thrown in for good measure. The sound varies from fine to challenging, but that's not the point: This set might be overkill, but we are dealing with a great artist with a great voice, a force of nature, practically, and opera lovers everywhere should have some Eva Turner lying about to thrill them once in a while.

--Robert Levine