Exuberant and charismatic, Rolando Villazón is the tenor of today. Here he releases his first solo album on Deutsche Grammophon. The soaring title track from Ponchielli s La Gioconda inspired Villazón to become a singer. Here it is the starting point for an intriguing album which moves far beyond the usual greatest tenor hits . Less familiar masterpieces by Boito, Cilea and Verdi feature alongside little-known Donizetti arias and rarities by Gomes, Mercadante and Pietri. The album is Villazón s personal homage to his illustrious predecessors in the lyric-dramatic repertoire great tenors such as Bergonzi, Caruso and Domingo. Cielo e mar offers something special for connoisseurs of opera, Villazón s many fans and mainstream listeners who will be gripped by the beauty of both his voice and the music
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
Not another Domingo but a lyrical tenor in true color:
I absolutely love this album - the choice of arias is simply superb and tasteful. Villazon has poured out his heart into these songs, and it really represent a milestone in the stellar career of this young tenor.
Even so, I sincerely hope that he will fully recover from his general physical breakdown, and recap his vocal prowess with a redirected vision.
Not being unduely harsh, I have strong reservations for young Rolando assuming spinto roles. Listen to his aria from Simon Boccanegra. The... more info
Editor's Choice:
This disc is featured by Gramophone Magazine as "Editor's Choice" in Opera for the Month of July!
Villazon is, as usual, excellent:
Since Villazon is one of today's top tenors, it is always nice to have a new album from him. This is an interesting collection with some well known arias and some little known.
The new Domingo/Pavarotti Combined:
Villazon has an outstanding voice, the best among the new tenors in my opinion. It is strong, does not stray flat or sharp, has depth and darkness when that is needed but can also be light and lyrical. His choice of arias on this CD provides proof that he is capable of playing and singing a wide and diverse range of operatic characters.
Tracks:
"Cielo e mar!" (La Gioconda: Enzo)
"La dolcissima effigie" (Adriana Lecouvreur: Maurizio)
"La Dea di tutti i cor! Bella adorata incognita" (Il Giuramento)
"Dai campi, dai prati" (Mefistofele: Faust)
"Il conosco il giardino" (Maristella: Giovanni)
"Intenditi con Dio!" (Fosca: Paolo)
"O inferno! Sento avvampar nell'anima" (Simon Boccanegra: Gabriele)
"Veleno è l'aura ch'io respiro!" (Poliuto: Poliuto)
"Compita è omai Fu celeste" (Il Giuramento)
L'anima ho stanca (Adriana Lecouvreur: Maurizio)
"Il padre! Tenda natal" (Il Figliuol prodigo: Azaele)
"Giunto sul passo estremo" (Mefistofele: Faust)
"Oh! fede negar potessi Quando le sere, al placido" (Luisa Miller: Rodolfo)
"L'ara, o l'avello apprestami" (Luisa Miller: Rodolfo / Walter / coro)
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