CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

Romantic Arias

by: Jonas Kaufmann

Release Date March 11, 2008
Some very distinguished tenors started out as baritones. Such was the case with the great Carlo Bergonzi who retained a warm Caruso like baritonal timbre in his voice while still hitting ringing, spinto high B-flats and singing in sweet head voice and mezza voce. Ramón Vinay also began his career as a baritone, becoming a gifted heroic tenor before returning to the baritone repetoire as his voice darkened with age.

Unfortunately, Kaufmann is not cut from the same cloth. With some effort, he could become a useful baritone. But his premature and unjustified desire to enter the tenor range is quite ridiculous, producing a strained, constipated and thoroughly unpleasant sound. And he should learn to shave.

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

Voce D'Italia: Arias For Rubini

from: Decca

Release Date January 22, 2008
I have been thrilled seeing Florez in operas, his voice is powerful and pure; his acting ability is unmatchable. But his CD's are produced very purely. He sings too loud, it is not pleasing to the ear. I have seen audiences move Florez to tears with ovations; he is amazing. But the people who produced this CD apparently did not listen to it before selling it to the public. I found it offensive.

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

Anna Netrebko & Rolando Villazon: Duets

from: Deutsche Grammophon

Release Date September 11, 2007
Anna Netrebko and Rolando Villazon are today's operatic royalty and hot [stage] couple. The attention is certainly deserved; they are MAGIC. Tragedy, comedy...Perfect.

This selection of duets is a great opportunity to see what all the fuss is about...my own favorites were the cut from La Boheme, the fountain scene from "Lucia", and the duet from "Romeo et Juliette" [shades of Sayao and Bjorling]. The Rigoletto, not as good...Anna's voice doesn't quite fit Gilda.

Opera had had several legendary pairings over the years...Villazon and Anna rank with the VERY best. This record has my HIGHEST recommendation.

CD-Charts Position 4
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Gaetano Donizetti - La Fille du regiment / Dessay, Florez, Palmer, Corbelli, French, Campanella, Pelly (Royal Opera House 2007)

starring: Natalie Dessay, Juan Diego Florez, Felicity Palmer, Alessandro Corbelli, Dawn French
directed by: Laurent Pelly

Release Date April 15, 2008

Miss Dessay and Mr. Florez are magnificent in this production. The singing by both and the rest of the cast is excellent and the acting, especially Miss Dessay, is outstanding. This is a DVD I will enjoy for ever. Naty Fowler

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

Italian Opera Arias [Includes DVD]

from: Virgin Classics

Release Date February 05, 2008
A must have! That's all one has to say about this! Well done Natalie. We move with you...a true actor-singer synthesis who is also very precise musically and correct in technique! Brava!

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

Jules Massenet - Manon / Dessay, Villazon, Ramey, Lanza, Henry, Perez, McVicar (Gran Teatre del Liceu 2007)

starring: Natalie Dessay, Rolando Villazon, Samuel Ramey, Manuel Lanza, Victor Pabro Pérez
directed by: David McVicar, François Roussillon

Release Date January 15, 2008
It is an excellent presentation of Massenet's opera Manon. Of course, the dream cast of Natalie Dessay and Rolando Villazon contributes enormously to the enjoyment of this DVD. The production is first-class and depicts the life of these women, who are paid for by wealthy suiters, more realistically than in any other production.
Highly recommended.

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

Viva Villazón (incl. bonus DVD)

from: Angel Records

Release Date September 18, 2007
Rolando Villazon is a contemporary tenor. This CD (with an accompanying DVD of a live Prague concert) provides a sense of his craft. As such, listeners will find this a representative introduction to his work. In short, he compares favorably with his contemporaries.

A few examples from the CD. . . .

"Che Gelida Manina" from "La Boheme" is one of my favorite tenor pieces. Once upon a time, when I remembered the words, I'd sing this while driving along (a terrifying thought, I concede). Villazon shows us a smooth and attractive voice. He tends to steer clear of mannerisms (those catches and cries that distress me so much) for the most part (with some exceptions). It does seem that he "scooped" a note early on (if I properly understand the meaning of that ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 8
Average Rating:

Puccini - La Boheme

from: Deutsche Grammophon

Release Date June 10, 2008
Because it's recorded so often, La Boheme has accumulated a host of fine recordings, but this new one, made in Munich as a concert performance in 2007, doesn't quite rise to the top. It's been hyped for the pairing of Netrebko and Villazon and critically sneered at because Villazon doesn't dare the high C in 'Che gelida manina' or the succeeding duet in Act 1. Listening on purely musical grounds, I think Villazon has proved himself at last: his is a fully realized, ardent Rodolfo who holds your attention from first to last. He's got personality, and his voice encompasses a lovely range of feelings.

Except for this one golden nugget, the rest varies from average to very good. I'd put Netrebko in the very good department, for her beauty, steady stream of appealing tone, ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 9
Average Rating:

Tchaikovsky - Eugene Onegin / Fleming, Vargas, Hvorostovsky, Gergiev, Carsen [Metropolitan Opera 2007]

starring: Renee Fleming, Ramon Vargas, Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Valery Gergiev, Jean-Paul Fouchecourt
directed by: Brian Large, Robert Carsen

Release Date December 18, 2007
This is a stellar performance by a superb cast and conducted expertly by Valery Gergiev. Hvorostovsky and Fleming are ideal as Onegin and Tatiana The stark set, indeed a "non-set", is at first disappointing, but does succeed in focusing attention on the human drama instead of toward lavish production elements. Color is used very effectively to saturate each scene and outline the singers. This production no doubt benefited from the close scrutiny of the camera because the performances were finely tuned and sublty nuanced. As an example, the usual "dance spectacle" accompanying the Polonaise which opens Act III is replaced here by Onegin attended to by his valet staff while changing from dueling attire to formal dress. Although I enjoy a lavish production as much as anyone, it was refreshing ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

Verdi - La Traviata

starring: Renee Fleming, Rolando Villazon, Renato Bruson, James Conlon, Ania Alkimova
directed by: Marta Domingo

Release Date October 30, 2007
Martha Domingo's production has taste and style. Opera lovers are lucky to experience - in the days of Euro trash - a well done Traviata.
I was relieved that Ms.Domiongo's direction seems to have eliminated some of
Rolando Villazon's clownish acting we had to endure in the unbearable Salzburg production.
I like Renee Fleming's well sung and acted Violetta, and she looks beautiful.However, her interpretation is marred by the missing E flat.Violetta is a part sung by a multitude of sopranos, and if a star soprano attempts it, she should be spectacular in every way. Usually, she is not shy of acuti - so why not here, where everybody expects it?! And where it is part of the score!