Search - Michael William Balfe, Georges Bizet, Leo Delibes :: International Opera Star

Beautiful beyond words

William R. Franklin | Timonium, MD USA | 07/21/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"John McCormack had one of the most beautiful voices ever recorded and it flowed like liquid gold. Coupled with perfect breath control and unequaled muscianship, his recordings remain the standard by which all singing must be judged. This disk is an absolute must for all those who love the art of singing and especially for those who think that charlatans like Andrea Bocelli who squeal like a stuck pig sound like tenors."

Worth its weight in gold?

Robert J. Cruce | Muskogee, OK United States | 07/14/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"...if you have enjoyed the popular song recordings and the lieder there is no reason to stop at the opera recordings. He is good here, but not perfect. There were apparently few "second takes" in the acoustic era. But there are plenty of great things on this disc and its that beautiful, glorious voice. In the digital era, the acoustic recordings (made without electricity by aiming the voice into a horn) are more than listenable (it used to be questionable in the LP era). I wish I had every McCormack recording ever made, but this CD will go a long way short of that."

The Joy and Despair of Vocal Students

L. E. Cantrell | Vancouver, BC Canada | 01/17/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Almost forty years ago my voice teacher had me listen to McCormack's Il Mio Tesoro. "There," she said, "he makes it sound easy, doesn't he? Let's try for that effect."I tried, oh, how I tried, but I never came within a mile--and neither has anyone else (with the possible exception of Anton Dermota).John McCormack was a living, breathing textbook on the technique of great singing. One listens to McCormack to learn what art is, just as one listens to Caruso to discover heart and fire.There is a story about the two which might even be true:McCormack and Caruso shared seasons at the Met together and stayed at the same hotel. One morning, while Caruso was tucking away the sixth or seventh course of his breakfast, McCormack sat down with him to share his table. "And how is the greatest tenor in the world this morning?" greeted McCormack."When did you stop singing, John?" replied Enrico."