Search - José Carreras, Tosti :: La Mia Canzone

True to Tosti

Barbara R Gandy | Salt Lake City, Utah United States | 10/06/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Imagine a Sunday evening music salon at the grand home of a patron -- a piano, a small string ensemble, and two vocalists performing the gorgeous songs of Tosti -- this recording transports the listener to this imagined salon. Carreras, along with soprano Barbara Frittoli, honor the composer with simple elegance. The recital is Carreras' milieu (I fell in love with him when he recitaled in Salt Lake City in 1998), and this recital is a fine example. The Tosti songs are mostly about love, but often tinged with sadness. Carreras plumbs the emotional depths, as he has so often done before, with each song be it light or heavy, sad or happy. Frittoli brings a richness and strength to this recital. While Frittoli doesn't possess the exquisite phrasing Carreras does, together they create a powerhouse of sound. Carreras seems to like to duo; many of his recordings feature duets with sopranos. Some he overwhelms (i.e. Sarah Brightman), but Frittoli is an excellent match. This recording is of a live performance and the energy of live performance is captured in this CD. This is a wonderful recording for Carreras fans, Tosti fans, as well as chamber music aficionados. As my professional singer friend Janice remarked, "I wish I could do what they're doing -- it's superb." So, sit back in your gilded chair,sip some lovely champagne and enjoy this tribute to Tosti by a vocal master."