Pure Tenors: Eighteen Romantic Classics

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
If you're looking to play the devil, the lower male range gives you an advantage, at least according to stage convention. But when it comes to the art of romance--unless you happen to be a certain promiscuous Don--a thrilling tenor voice is worth its weight in gold. This Pure Tenors compilation showcases the gleaming brilliance of this voice type in its romantic guise. The tenor--so to speak--of the selections ranges from Broadway fare and favorites such as "Love Is a Many-Splendoured Thing" to the fervent intensity of Puccini's Turandot (in the pulse-elevating closing number). Predictably, today's great tenor trinity--voice of gold Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo (in some very frisky moods), and the passionate José Carreras--gets by far the most representation. But of the huge world of other tenors out there, Universal at least gives a hint, with a vintage selection from the legendary Giuseppe di Stefano--a golden voice from the past very worth your while to seek out if you haven't yet discovered it. And, of course, pointing to today's contenders for the throne, there's an aria from Andrea Bocelli's recent Verdi compilation. When you listen to these voices, with their different ways of shading and coloring a phrase, you'll realize no two tenors sound alike. --Sarah Chin

Tracks:

Cats: Memory - Jose Carreras
Rigoletto: La Donna E Mobile - Andrea Bocelli
Be My Love - Placido Domingo
Mattinata - Luciano Pavarotti
Fedora: Amor Ti Vieta - Russell Watson
Vida Mia - Placido Domingo
Non Ti Scordar Di Me - Luciano Pavarotti
West Side Story: Maria - Jose Carreras
Chitarra Romana - Guiseppe Di Stefano
Love Is A Many Splendoured Thing - Jose Carreras
Core 'Ngrato - Placido Domingo
Maria Mari! - Luciano Pavarotti
Munequita Linda - Placido Domingo
West Side Story: One Hand, One Heart - Jose Carreras/Kiri Te Kanawa
Because - Placido Domingo
Vieni Sul Mar - Luciano Pavarotti
You Belong To My Heart - Jose Carreras
Turandot: Nessun Dorma - Luciano Pavarotti

Amazon.com

If you're looking to play the devil, the lower male range gives you an advantage, at least according to stage convention. But when it comes to the art of romance--unless you happen to be a certain promiscuous Don--a thrilling tenor voice is worth its weight in gold. This Pure Tenors compilation showcases the gleaming brilliance of this voice type in its romantic guise. The tenor--so to speak--of the selections ranges from Broadway fare and favorites such as "Love Is a Many-Splendoured Thing" to the fervent intensity of Puccini's Turandot (in the pulse-elevating closing number). Predictably, today's great tenor trinity--voice of gold Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo (in some very frisky moods), and the passionate José Carreras--gets by far the most representation. But of the huge world of other tenors out there, Universal at least gives a hint, with a vintage selection from the legendary Giuseppe di Stefano--a golden voice from the past very worth your while to seek out if you haven't yet discovered it. And, of course, pointing to today's contenders for the throne, there's an aria from Andrea Bocelli's recent Verdi compilation. When you listen to these voices, with their different ways of shading and coloring a phrase, you'll realize no two tenors sound alike. --Sarah Chin

Customer Reviews:

Pure Tenors.......2007-03-13

What can I say, who doesn't love romance especially when sung in another romantic language??

Good mix.......2005-09-15

Good choice of opera classic and popular songs. Always masterful voices of Carreras, Domingo and Pavarotti.
Should buy for fans of these tenors.

A Great Cd.......2003-05-05

This is an excellent run-down of all the tenors who's names you hear floating around right now. For a newcomer to opera or perhaps a possible convert from the insidious Pop-opera this will be great entertainment. All that is missing is Roberto Alagna to make this a full showing of the "stereotypical" tenors of our times.
Carreras gets gyped a bit in this Cd. They only really allow him to sing from Broadway and west side story which is a shame. This is not where is vocal glory lies. Don't get me wrong he sounds great, but I want to hear E lucevan le stelle or one of the arias from Carmen he is so famous for. His Maria is the highlight if only to hear him sing a decent high-note after hearing so much of his diminished "three-tenors" cannon fodder.
Anyone interested in him should buy "Carreras the Golden Years."
Im glad Bocelli was included on this Cd to show how thin he sounds next to some of the big tenors of the generation. Ladies and Gentelemen Bocelli is not an opera singer. He has no training or stylistic integrity in the field. He is, however, a smashing pop artist and would encourage you to hear his "Sueno" for proof. La Donna E Mobile is one of his best aria's as he shows he has firm high notes but his voice is also noticably thinner than the rest.
Domingo sounds awesome in this Cd. His voice is splendid in the Lanzaesque reperatoire which he sings here. Go out and buy his Dvd's and opera recordings. Check out "The greatest hits of Placido Domingo" His Core N'Grato rivals Carreras's 1978 recordin of the song. He is in absolutley electrifying form.
Pav sounds okay. He is recorded here very late in his carrer. Nessun Dorma is fantastic even though his voice is not heavy enough fundamentally for the aria. His Mattinata is not that impressive. Don't get me wrong he is one of my favorite tenors, I just prefer him in the light italian opera repretoire. I would suggest The Pavarotti Gold Collection for further study on the big italian. His L'esir D'amore is as good as it gets.
Russel Watson is a bit of a paradox. I heard him on this Cd and thought he was the real thing. He sounds like a great verismo tenor on this cd in one of my favorite ( though slightly modified) arias. I say he is a paradox because I just recently watched his concert "Now is the Hour" on Pbs and he doesnt sound like that at all. His passagio is spread and there are visible signs of strain as well as tecnical problems. Where is the Watson who sang this Amor ti Vieta? Who knows? I do know I almost vomited when he talked his way through O Sole Mio in his "Now Is the Hour" saying "are you ready" each time before the famous Da Capo; but that is neither here nor there.
Di Stefano is also there as a welscome surprize. This is a tenor from the last generation of the likes of Corelli and Gedda. He is reasonably impressive singing Chitarra Romana considering the old-school recording tecniques.

Overall this is a good run-down of the tenors out there on the Pop/ Opera world stage. Have fun with it!

Nice CD! Must have for Classic fan........2003-03-27

Nice CD! Must have for Classic fan.

There are tenors,and then there are Italian tenors.......2001-05-30

Every once in a while I do my best to appreciate tenors,et.al.I should accept the fact that I have a proclivity for Italian tenors and not try to change that fact.I have followed Maestro Pavarotti for 25 years and am always enthralled by the voice.Great cuts on this CD.Andrea Bocelli is a never ending amazement to me.In 1994 I saw/heard him on a PBS Pavarotti and Friends telecast and have followed his progress,which has been astounding to me.He has such a tone to his voice,it gets inside of me.It is so full of emotion.Dame Kiri deserves plaudits as well as the others on this CD.However,I would not have included Mr. Watson in this company.Power alone does not make a tenor.Perhaps 10 years from now,after study and dedication he will have that elusive quality which makes tenors truly great.I warned you,I am biased ,I love Italian tenors.Overall,this is an enjoyable CD,it gives an opportunity to hear various tenor voices and decide for yourself what qualities you prefer in the voice itself.If you are just getting to know the tenor voice you will be listening to some of the best.There are many more out there for you to investigate and enjoy.

Track Listings:

Track Listings

track listings

Track Listings

Wake

Caruso Sings French Opera and Song

Cantatas 133 152 & 122 Volume 64

The Sorcerer [Original recording remastered]

Cobalt

Courage [Enhanced]

Cascade: Art of Oriental Tanbur Lute

Business Casual [Enhanced]

Black Betty Pt.2 [CD-single] [Import]

Brahms - Piano Trios KV. 496 & KV. 502 · Divertimento KV 254 / Maria João Pires · Augustin Dumay · Jian Wang [Import]

Cobb's Groove [Import]

A Navidad en Mexico: A Christmas in Mexico

Bamboleo [Import]

All-Time Greatest Hits

Ritual of Love