Bryn Terfel - Bad Boys

Bryn Terfel shot to opera fame after his duelling competition with Dmitri Hvorostovsky in the Cardiff world Singer Competition, and he hasn't looked back since. On the announcement that Terfel was going to undertake this project, i was intrigued to see how he would tackle the arias and songs that he has not sung on stage previously. Of course Bryn Terfel being Bryn Terefl can do no wrong. Terfel has this ability to handle anything that is thrown at him whether it be difficult opera arias or a musical song. it's Terfel's dynamic voice and unquestionable musicality which allows him to accomplish this. On this recording we see Terfel undertaking arias from the 'bad boys' of opera and musicals alike. such bad boys include Scarpia from Puccini's Tosca and even Sweeney Todd. Many of the arias found on this recording will probably not be repeated by Terfel in the opera house and should therefore be taken advantage of in this recording. As always Terfel's diction is impecable. However, if one was to compare the voice on this recording to that of his earlier recordings one can hear that the voice is not as subtle and round but still very impressive. This is a definite needed addition to the Terfel collection.

Tracklist

1. Mefistofele - Boïto: Mefistofele "Sono Lo Spirito Che Nega"
2. Scarpia - Puccini: Tosca 'Tre Sbirri, Una Carrozza'
3. Dulcamara - Donizetti: L'elisir D'amore "Udite, Udite, O Rustici"
4. Jago - Verdi: Otello "Vanne - Credo In Un Dio Crudel"
5. Kaspar - Weber: Der Freischütz "Schweig, Schweig, Damit Dich Niemand Warnt"
6. Sporting Life - Gershwin: Porgy And Bess 'It Ain't Necessarily So'
7. Mackie Messer - Weill: Die Dreigroschenoper 'Die Moritat Von Mackie Messer'
8. Sweeney Todd - Sondheim: 'Epiphany'
9. Roderic - Sullivan: Ruddigore 'When The Night Wind Howls'
10. Javert - Schönberg: Les Miserables 'Stars'
11. Barnaba - Ponchielli: La Gioconda 'O Monumento'
12. Don Basilio - Rossini: Il Barbiere Di Siviglia "La Calunnia È Un Venticello"
13. Pizzaro - Beethoven: Fidelio "Ha! Welch Ein Augenblick!"
14. Méphistophélès - Gounod: Faust "Le Veau D'or Est Toujours Debout"
15. Il Commendatore, Don Giovanni, Leporello - Mozart: Don Giovanni "Don Giovanni, A Cenar Teco M'invitasti

Jonas Kaufmann - Verismo Arias

From the moment that I heard the first recording of Jonas Kaufmann i knew that this tenor would be one of the greats of his generations and be counted amongst the best tenors that have gone before him. His warm and dark tonal qualities matched with his ability and ease in which he tackles the tough tesatura and high notes that is required of his choice of repertoire, makes him a stand out in the field. in This third recording from Kaufmann, we see him return to the Italian and French repertoire that is synonamous with Verismo opera. Verismo (meaning realism) is a style that requires pure emotion from the performer and Kaufmann definatley delivers. The listener is drawn in by his musical and textual understanding of these demanding arias. the listener can expect to hear traditional verismo araias such as "Amor ti vieta", "Cileo e mar" and "Mamma quel vino e generoso". A noticeable and stand out aria that is found on this recording is Pagilacci's "Vesti la giubba" which is linked to all the great tenors from Caruso, Corelli and Bjorling and does it complete justice. This is a definate buy for any fans of Kaufmann and any fans of opera in general.

Track List:

1.	Riccardo Zandonai (1883-1944): Giulietta e Romeo - "Giulietta! Son io!" (Romeo)
2.	Umberto Chénier: Andrea Chénier - "Un dì all’azzurro spazio" (Andrea)
3.	"Come un bel dì di maggio" (Andrea)
4.	Francesco Cilea (1866-1950): L’arlesiana - "è la solita storia" (Federico)
5.	Ruggero Leoncavallo (1857-1919): La Bohème - "Testa adorata" (Marcello)
6.	Pagliacci - "Vesti la giubba" (Canio)
7.	Pietro Mascagni: Cavalleria rusticana - "Viva il vino spumeggiante" (Turiddu, Lola)
8.	"Mamma, quel vino è generoso (Turiddu, Lucia)
9.	Arrigo Boito (1842-1918): Mefistofele - "Dai campi, dai prati" (Faust)
10.	"Giunto sul passo estremo" (Faust)
11.	Umberto Giordano (1867-1948): Fedora - "Amor ti vieta" (Loris)
12.	Francesco Cilea: Adriana Lecouvreur - "L’anima ho stanca" (Maurizio)
13.	"La dolcissima effigie" (Maurizio)
14.	I Lituani - "Sì. . . questa estrema grazia" (Corrado)
15.	Amilcare Ponchielli (1834-1886): La Gioconda - "Cielo e mar" (Enzo)
16.	Licinio Refice (1883-1954): "Ombra di nube"
17.	"Vicino a te s’acqueta" (Andrea, Maddalena)

Vittorio Grigolo - The Italian Tenor

Vittorrio Grigolo is indeed an Italian tenor. With a charisma that is reminiscent of the most famous Italian tenors, Grigolo makes an impressive début recital recording that is getting a lot of attention. This of course is recognition that is much deserved. This recording showcases Vittorio's fluid and beautiful lyric tenor voice in a variety of arias. Both from those that are more well known to those that are less widely recognised. Grigolo purposely waited to record his first operatic solo album until he had something unique to communicate in the repertoire and has chosen arias representing the culture he come from.THE ITALIAN TENOR presents music from three giants of the lyric stage Gaetano Donizetti, Giuseppe Verdi and Giacomo Puccini and combines famous arias with lesser-known discoveries. All in all this listener was extremely impressed with the colouring of phrases and the  ease in which Grigolo takes on the top notes required for any great tenor. So is Grigolo the next big thing in Opera. This listener thinks that he definitely has the potential, Grigolo will just need to be careful in the coming years as to which operas he sings. We hope that he doesn't take on any heavy roles too soon that will jeopardise his voice and career. This listener would definitely recommend the purchase this recording of this great young singer.

Tracklist:
01. Quando le sere al placido – GIUSEPPE VERDI “Luisa Miller” (5:36)
02. Una furtiva lagrima – GAETANO DONIZETTI “L’elisir d’amore” (4:52)
03. Parmi veder le lagrime – GIUSEPPE VERDI “Rigoletto” (4:57)
04. Possente amor mi chiama – GIUSEPPE VERDI “Rigoletto” (3:27)
05. Spirto gentil – GAETANO DONIZETTI “La favorita” (5:02)
06. Che gelida manina – GIACOMO PUCCINI “La Bohème” (5:00)
07. Firenze e come un albero fiorito – GIACOMO PUCCINI “Gianni Schicchi” (3:15)
08. Torna ai felici di – GIACOMO PUCCINI “Le Villi” (6:10)
09. Tutto parrea sorridere – GIUSEPPE VERDI “Il corsaro” (4:07)
10. Si, de corsari il fulmine – GIUSEPPE VERDI “Il corsaro” (3:44)
11. Ma se me forza perderti – GIUSEPPE VERDI “Un ballo in maschera” (4:54)
12. Donna non vidi mai – GIACOMO PUCCINI “Manon Lescaut” (2:38)
13. E lucevan le stelle – GIACOMO PUCCINI “Tosca” (3:12)
14. Ah! Si, ben mio – GIUSEPPE VERDI “Il trovatore” (3:03)
15. Di quelle pira – GIUSEPPE VERDI “Il trovatore” (4:05)

Joseph Calleja - The Maltese Tenor

I have to admit that the first time that I heard a recording of Joseph Calleja I was not immediately taken aback. The voice is extremely distinctive and if one was to listen to a recording one would be able to tell who the tenor was from the first phrase that he sung. This could be predominately attributed to the quick vibrato that Calleja possess and unique lyrical tone that he has been graced with. In saying this however I was not blown away on first listening by the voice. I found Calleja's quick vibrato would get in the way of the beautiful tone that this tenor possesses. However I continued to listen to recordings and found that the voice grew on me and Callaja's musicality and fantastic vocal control took the listener on a musical and vocal, a journey very different than that of any other tenor of his generation.


The "Maltese Tenor" is the third individual recording of Calleja. The record includes faviourite tenor arias such as "Che gelida manina" from La Boheme, "E lucevan le stelle" from Tosca as well as some more obscure arias from Simon Boccanegra and Mefistofele. An aria that would have stand out would have to be "Salut, demeure chaste et pure!" (Faust), where Calleja shows his musicality and his  vocal control by singing the famous and treacherous top C with an even more trecherous diminuendo. All in all this is a very impressive recording which showcases why many people have taken to this unique lyric tenor. 



Tracklist:

1. La Bohème, Act 1 – Che gelida manina

2. La Bohème, Act 1 – O soave fanciulla

3. Simon Boccanegra, Act 2 – Oh inferno…Sento avvampar

4. Les Contes d’Hoffmann, Act 1 – Il était une fois à la cour d’Eisenach (La légende de Kleinzach)

5. Tosca, Act 1 – Recondita armonía

6. Tosca, Act 3 – E lucevan le stelle

7. Mefistofele, Act 1 – Dai campi, dai prati

8. Mefistofele, Act 4 – Giunto sul passo estremo

9. Faust, Act 3 – Quel trouble inconnu…Salut! Demeure chaste et pure

10. Manon Lescaut, Act 1 – Ma se vi talenta…Tra voi, belle

11. Manon Lescaut, Act 1 – Donna non vidi mai

12. Manon, Act 3 – Je suis seul…Ah, fuyez, douce image

13. Luisa Miller, Act 2 – Oh! fede negar potessi… Quando le sere al placido

14. Un ballo in maschera, Act 3 – Forse la soglia attinse… Ma se m’è forza perderti

15. Les pêcheurs de perles, Act 2 – De mon amie, fleur endormie… Léila! Léila!… Ton coeur n’a pas compris le mien!

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