"WOW! There is no voice in the universe more beautiful than the gorgeous deep silky baritone of Alejandro Fernandez...and no better place to show it off than in concert at the Palacio de Bellas Artes! Back up the beautiful voice with the Orquesta Filarmonica Mexicana, Coro Mexico, and Mariachi Juvenil Tecalitlan.......WOW!......it just doesn't get any better than that! The first disc is operatic and demonstrates Alejandro's impressive vocal technique. Memorable are "Nortena De Mis Amores" and "Granada" for his opera-like performance. The most gorgeous song on this first disc is "Alejandra", a song that his famous father made him perform on stage when he was young. He's all grown up now...no more butterflies...he has this song mastered! It's incredible! "Ojos Tapatios" touches your heart...he perfectly harmonizes along with the recorded voices of Pedro Infante and Jorge Negrete. It is SO beautiful! Then, there is a medley of boleros that includes "El Andariego", Alejandro's first recording. I almost fell off my chair when I heard that!... I love that song, and he speeded it up....WOW....wish it was a full length version instead! The second cd is RANCHERAS! and this is where Alejandro Fernandez has NO EQUAL! From "Ella" to "Serenata Huasteca", he is TOTALLY AWESOME! He does a medley of his father's songs. BOY, do they sound different when Alejandro sings them! He has this velvety legato style, Vicente is more of a belter.Then, as if this weren't enough....there is a medley of Juan Gabriel songs "Ya Lo Se Que Tu Te Vas" (SO BEAUTIFUL), "La Diferencia", and the show stopper....."Te Sigo Amando"!...Love this song when Juan Gabriel sings it, but I think I ADORE the way Alejandro sings it MORE! I have the DVD of "Christmastime in Vienna" and was impressed that Alejandro Fernandez would sing in an opera house with Placido Domingo. This concert at Bellas Artes is WAY BETTER...because Alejandro is DEFINITELY in his element here! No one sings rancheras as beautifully, or might I add, looks more handsome in a CHARRO SUIT! This is a recording TO DIE FOR!... The only thing better would be to have it on DVD so I could SEE IT!"
The fabulous Alejandro, in concert
Alejandra Vernon | Long Beach, California | 11/26/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Recorded at the Palacio de Buenas Artes in Mexico City, this is a very impressive 2-disc set.
Alejandro's magnificent golden voice is in top form, and he sings a total of 37 songs; some are grouped in medleys, and some are full length.
Though I'm not usually fond of live recordings, this is well produced, for a total of 2 hours and 18 minutes, with of some of the best of Mexican music represented.CD # 1 has mostly classic boleros, with orchestral arrangements. It includes a trio, with the recorded voices of the long gone idols, Pedro Infante and Jorge Negrete on "Ojos Tapatios", a duet with Lourdes Ambriz, a sensational redition of Agustin Lara's "Granada", and a jazzy treatment of "Jurame" that is phenomenal.CD # 2 is an all-mariachi program, and this disc will get a lot of play from me. Included are 6 songs by Jose Alfredo Jimenez (with exquisitely tender versions of "De un Mundo Raro", and "Amaneci en Tus Brazos"), and 3 from Juan Gabriel. There is a duet with Eugenia Leon, and a big favorite is the final song, Gabriel's "Te Sigo Amando".The closing piece is the 8 minute orchestral "Huapango" by Jose Pablo Moncayo. Popular in many concert halls, it's a great example of Mexican classical music.
There is some applause heard from the audience, but it is not intrusive, and very little talking on Alejandro's part, so at times one forgets this is a live performance; obviously many adjustments were made in the recording process, and the final product is excellent. Bravo y ole Alejandro !"
Magnifico!
S. D. Clemett | Astoria, NY United States | 03/03/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Alejandro reaches for the stars and finds them in this magnificent live performance, extending his talent into classics. He shows he is as much at home in a tuxedo as in a charro suit. His usual almost breathy (and very sexy) voice here gives way to a more heroic sound, especially in his superb rendition of "Granada", which would please anyone who has enjoyed versions previously recorded by opera singers. "Morenita Mia" is a show-stopper also because it expresses his incredibly dangerous sex appeal. Worth owning for those tracks alone, although the rest are also marvelous. "Perfidia" and "Besame Mucho" are particularly noteworthy and whet the appetite for more. A concert with no "filler" and lots of excitement."
Solamenta Alejandro
Marc Tejeda | San Diego, CA United States | 09/24/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I absolutely loved this production. I can honestly say that of all the "new wave" Charros, Alejandro is the only one that could pull something like this off. Pepe Aguilar is good, Pedro Fernandez is good, Pablo Montero is nowhere in their league, but only Alejandro has the vocal talent to do all these songs of true legends. I truly believe that we are blessed to have someone like Alejandro to interpret a lot of the excellent music that comes out of Mexico. My father and mother were lucky to see Vicente Fernandez and Juan Gabriel grow to superstardom, and I have to say, Alejandro is our chance to see someone grow into superstardom. The first disc is impressive because Alejandro does what I thought only Luis Miguel could do: Sing some classic boleros. BUT what I really liked was the second disc. The songs he performs are the epitome of classic mexican music. I really like that you can hear that beautiful voice of his when he sings songs like "Un Mundo Raro", "Cuando El Destino", and "Amaneci en Tus Brazos". Equally impressive was the fact that he covered my two favorites in Vicente and Juanga. I heard him sing the Vicente songs in Concert, and I was wondering if I would ever be able to hear it on a recording. Well, here they are! I'd just like to hear him do "My Way"/"A Mi Manera", as he did at the Universal Amphitheatre two years ago. Overall, a great disc that celebrates mexican culture and a great tribute to the great performers of the past!"
Excelent
S. D. Clemett | 01/09/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Las canciones son interpretadas excelentemente por alejandro, no pueden ser comparadas con las originales, son un estilo diferente, las canciones son en vivo y en el palacio de bellas artes, y eso las hace diferentes a las originales.
El primer cd es buenisimo, pero el segundo esta excelente, si te gusta la musica mexicana y la quieres escuchar no solo en pedas, adquiere este cd, en el tiangas o donde quieras. muy recomendable"