Search - Giacomo Puccini, London Philharmonia Orchestra, Plácido Domingo :: Jose Cura - Puccini Arias / Domingo

An impressive and promising debut recital

David A. Kemp | Plano, TX USA | 05/18/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is a very impressive and promising debut recital of Puccini operatic arias by the young (born 1962) Argentinean tenor. Cura has a virile, dark, baritonal spinto voice with good heft and some real metal/squillo in it, and at their best (e.g., Nessun dorma) his high notes are vibrant and compelling. While it's difficult to judge the size of a voice solely from recordings, he may be a true tenore di forza, that rarest breed of tenors, and if so that is good news, because there hasn't been a decent one since Del Monaco and Corelli. Like Del Monaco and Corelli, his voice is better described as exciting than as beautiful. Indeed, Cura's voice reminds some listeners of Del Monaco's, although he sounds to me like he might prove to be a more interesting and imaginative singer than Del Monaco (to me Del Monaco usually sang like a bull in a china shop, and I never found his occasional big moments enough to offset the frequently crude, insensitive phrasing and inability to sing at any dynamic level but loud or louder). Cura's singing here is gutsy and full-blooded, but he is also capable of sensitive phrasing and soft singing. His breath control is admirable and he is able to sustain some long phrases. His recording of Nessun dorma is stunning, one of the best I've heard, and the best performance on this CD. Unfortunately his high notes are not always this good; sometimes they are not cleanly attacked or well placed, and sound somewhat strained. The CD is well recorded (in 1997) and contains 21 Puccini arias, an unusually generous (71 minutes) and comprehensive collection that includes, besides all the standard ones you'd expect (and no less than five from Manon Lescaut), Gianni Schicchi, Il Tabarro (2), Edgar, and an extended scena from Le Villi.On the strength of this CD I bought Cura's next two operatic recitals, Verismo Arias (1999) and Verdi Arias (2000), and I regret to report that I am less impressed with either of them than with this Puccini recital. But this disc can be confidently recommended."

Bravo Cura!

ernest schwarcz (sysint@istar.ca) | 07/08/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"At last we have a tenor who can make the very hairs rise on the back of your neck.My God what a voice! Of course we are all aware of the Puccini favourites such as Nessun Dorma and Stelle ,but this wonderful disc has introduced me to the composers other operas such as Manon Lescaut and Gianni Schicci which have become favourites of mine. I had the pleasure of seeing Cura in concert and meeting him afterwards,and he sounds as amazing live as he does from the recording studio. My favourite Puccini aria is Che Gelida Mannina and this was the first track I played.I was awestruck.Not since Domingo had I heard such a beautiful interpretation of this aria.Curas robust ,baritonal tenor soars magnificently to a ringing high C. His mezzo-voce opening to Stelle is heart breaking and is not only one of the most beautiful I have ever heard but THE most beautiful. People have accused him of not having the ringing top of Pavarotti in Nessun Dorma.Rubbish.Pavarotti is Pavarotti and Cura is Cura.Two completely different artists and equally as credible. A word about Domingos conducting.Wonderful.The tempos are always perfect , and who else knows this repetoire better than Maestro Domingo? I am a tenor in training myself and I hold these two great artists as my role models.If we continue to produce artists such as Cura ,opera has a bright future.Bravo. P.S. A note to Signor Cura .Please record Carmen soon!!!!!!!!!!"

Consistently heroic

David A. Kemp | 06/22/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Tenor Jose Cura is not a newcomer to the world of opera, just to opera on record, so his treatment of these arias attests to large experience and great care for Puccini's music. So does Placido Domingo's thoughtful supportive conducting. These qualities separate this remarkable album from those of amateurs like Bocelli. Cura's voice is reminiscent of Del Monaco's, a ringing lirico-spinto with slightly "metallic" upper notes and strong expansive lower register. This makes it ideal for most of the dramatic/heroic tenor repertoire, although it would be difficult to imagine such voice in Donizetti roles. However, I would love to hear Cura's rendition of Verdi, I've always been fascinated with "darker coloring" of Verdi's characters, for example Domingo's Otello or Carreras' Stiffelio. Such voices bring out hidden connotations in familiar pieces. Cura's attention for detail in every one of virtually all of Puccini's arias is endearing; it's as if he invites the listener to enjoy Puccini as much as he does. His phrasing is clear and polished, breath control is excellent and not forced, as though to say "there's more where that came from." Among the midst of various "new " tenors, this one is to watch for. A word of caution, let's hope he sticks to classical repertoire for now since this is what he does best. Anhelo was okay, but I wait for "Verismo Arias"!"