Search - José Carreras :: Great Carreras

Daniel Y. (coolascaliban) from CANTON, MI
Reviewed on 10/18/2007...

A thoughtful blend of operatic staples and religious and secular classics. Carreras is as brilliant as ever.

1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.

Great compilation testifying to a great talent

04/24/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I bought this CD in 1994 right after hearing the 2nd Three Tenors concert (in LA). The concert itself had a bombastic quality to it, but I was immediately impressed by sincerity and humanity of a slight but elegant man in the center. Domingo and Pavarotti were household names prior to the concert, but an average person had heard very little of José Carreras. Well, for me personally, he was the single force that drew me into the world of opera and kept me there. I've collected over 5,000 CDs and complete operas of various artists since then, and what started it all was this single CD with a very proper title, showcasing Carreras at his greatest (1970s-80s). Philips has done a splendid job of capturing his electrifying tenor on record. The CD starts with an aria that has been long considered a measuring staff for tenors - Di Quella Pira. The very first time I heard Carreras's version of it I was simply blown away. His voice had a very unique quality (since then I've found that young Di Stefano had it in the early 50s) - his high notes (above middle E) are like bursts of fire, easily carrying above large orchestras and booming choruses. By the way, those thinking it's just Philips's engineering, check out a CD of live performances entitled "Bravissimi Tenori" (just 3 bucks) and you will see that Carreras was even more thrilling live on stage. The disc further has morsels not currently available anywhere, such as a white-hot final duet from Rossini's "Otello", a great scene from Verdi's "La Battaglia di Legnano", and "La Danza", a rousing Italian tarantella. What will strike even a seasoned fan are the two selections from "Tosca". This particular version was recorded under baton of Sir Colin Davis in 1976 and immediately became the best "Tosca" on record. It featured a star-studded cast of Caballé, Wixell, and even young Samuel Ramey in a secondary role, but Carreras's rendition of Cavaradossi stood out as the freshest and most insightful of all. "Recognita armonia" is youthful and triumphant (for some reason, we get the continuation of the scene with the sacristan here), but "E lucevan de stelle" will send chills down your spine for sure. Two sacred songs, Bach (arr. Gounod) "Ave Maria" and Franck's "Panis Angelicus", sound very much like opera arias, and such tenor repertoire staples as "Una furtiva lagrima" and "Vesti la giubba" testify to phenomenal acting abilities of Carreras. While he could sound young and romantic as Rodolfo, or even swaggering (tenor aria from Rosenkavalier), he could also become a deranged murderous Canio or a brooding Riccardo. The voice rings brilliantly and effortlessly on all selections, providing over 70 minutes of pure delight.
Of many compilation CD's this one had the most thought invested into it. For instance, it includes both Puccini's and Leoncavallo's versions of "La Boheme", and most fascinating early Verdi (Carreras has recorded a complete series with Lamberto Gardelli). Hearing this CD will prompt you to do more research on the man and his art, read about his overcoming leukemia and his charitable efforts, about his taking risks with the heaviest tenor roles, and his commitment to the art of opera. And just maybe it will inspire you with courage to take singing lessons and just see if you can sing your own "Vincero!""

All the best by the best

04/24/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD has all the most famous arias as well as other great music, sung by one of the best tenors ever. If you're new to opera, this is a great way to start your collection."