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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Rolando Villazon and Anna Netrebko, opera's "golden couple" (or is it "dream team?") have just released their first CD of duets. In the duet that closes the first act of Bohème, both singers are in rapturous voice, their phrasing sensitive and sincere. The Lucia-Edgardo duet is passionate and tender by turns, with Villazon particularly good--he takes his solo softly and in a long breath. The Duke and Gilda are roles made for them: She sounds sweet and vulnerable and he sounds like he believes what he's singing at the moment, and their final high D flat together is a dazzler. A hypnotic Roméo et Juliette duet follows, with gentle singing from both, and they make the most of Leila and Nadir's scene from The Pearl Fishers, turning in a languorous, smooth performance. The big duet from the third act of Manon finds Netrebko at her most seductive and a duet from Iolanta, probably the most lyrical tenor-soprano moment in Russian opera, is a nice rarity, with Villazon very at home in the Russian idiom and the pair soaring to great emotional heights. A delicious number from Torroba's Zarzuela Luisa Fernando ends the CD on a soft, tender note. Netrebko's diction remains unfortunate and while singing with a partner whose diction is as clean and clear as Villazon's, it becomes more noticeable. But there's precious little to complain about here--it's a true pleasure to hear singing and communicating of this caliber. --Robert Levine
Product Description
Famed opera singers Anna Netrebko and Rolando Villazón collaborate again for their much anticipated Duets album. Already a platinum-seller internationally, this album is a collection of their favorite pieces from the world's most celebrated operas including La Bohème and Roméo et Juliette. As a gift to one another, Anna and Rolando also sing in each other's native language with duets from Luisa Fernanda and Iolanta. This release coincides with the pair's engagement at New York's Metropolitan Opera in Gounod's Roméo et Juliette from September-December, 2007 (see dates below). Netrebko and Villazón established themselves as the new operatic dream team when they sang in the Salzburg Festival production of Verdi's La Traviata in 2005 (their interpretations are preserved on Deutsche Grammophon CD and DVD). Since then, they have conquered the world's stages in Gounod's Roméo et Juliette in Los Angeles, and Verdi's Rigoletto at New York's Metropolitan Opera (conducted by Plácido Domingo).
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Tremendous voices and some surprises,
By
This review is from: Anna Netrebko & Rolando Villazon: Duets (Audio CD)
Whatever objections one has to the details of this album (yes, their French is not great, and yes, Deutsche Grammophon's marketing of them as the next big thing in opera is a bit over the top), the voices on display here are nothing but impressive.
And the obvious passion of the music comes through clearly. Villazon fairly smolders with intensity throughout. The recording opens with Rodolfo and Mimi, and Villazon is magnificent. The album also benefits from a bit of sonic staging: when the opera calls for one or the other to be offstage, their voice does indeed come from a distance, which adds a nice poignancy to spots like the end of Rodolfo and Mimi's encounter, where the orchestra is playing very softly but the singers are in the wings crying their love in full voice. A nice touch. And you're not getting Opera Top 40 here, either. These are full-length scenes from works both well trod (Boheme, Lucia, Manon) and less well known (Luisa Fernanda and Iolanta). An appealing mix. It is worth mentioning that the orchestra is uneven. In most of the recording everything is fine, but because of the conductor or the recording level or what, the orchestra seems too "hot" in a few places, threatening to overwhelm the voices. All in all, a fine package well worth the attention of opera lovers.
18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Divine Duo,
By Robert Petersen (Durban, South Africa) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Anna Netrebko & Rolando Villazon: Duets (Audio CD)
Anna Netrebko and Rolando Villazon, dubbed the 'Golden Couple' pair up for an album of beautiful operatic duets. Both singers possess glorious voices and each selection/scene captures the listener, with even two unfamilar items alongside the standard repertoire. I urge people to rather purchase the limited edition package that contains a bonus DVD, which shows the making of the album, as well as the music video for the Boheme duet, directed by Vincent Patterson.
12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Netrebko and Villazon, Opera's Golden Couple!,
By Raymond Vacchino "Music Begins And Ends In Th... (Toronto, ON. Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Anna Netrebko & Rolando Villazon: Duets (Audio CD)
The world of opera is beginning to sizzle with breathtaking new talent. Netrebko and Villazon are certainly earning the right to be considered the cellebrated opera singers of their young generation. The combining of their voices appeals to our imagination despite the difference of their backgrounds. Netrebko's bright voice seems reduced enough to distribute the lighting more evenly. However it is still not the voice of a Mimi (lacking in warmth) and not a Lucia (lacking vulnerability). There is however, some wonderful singing produced by Villazon in the phrases from the Lucia duet, matched by his grace and beautiful, lyrical tone. The excerpts in French are appealing in Manon with some fine characterization.
While there are splendid moments, they are not as memorable as their solos. When we think of the early careers of Callas and di Stefano, one thinks of their magnificant collaborations. Yet with Netrebko and Villazon the voices don't really complement one an-other's, they are both just superb artists still in their prime. However, this CD provides considerable pleasure. In the opening duet that closes the first act of Boheme, the singing is lusciously conveyed. Both singers are in rapturous voice, with phrasing that is sensitive and sincere. When the time comes for Mimi to respond, the tempo virtually slows to a crawl, the singers seem to be leading the conductor, Luisotti. However odd it may seem, it is effective and allows the pair to linger awhile on their off-stage high C. There are moments when tiny pitch variations occur when singing on the same note; it seems that Netrebko is slightly sharp. Despite the fact that there is room for improvement, there is something undeniably special about this "golden couple". Netrebko and Villazon deliver enough charisma to justify the overall presentation. It is easy to "spilt hairs", but as a whole, Netrebko and Villazon deliver a magical performance! Author: Raymond Vacchino M.Mus.(MT) A.Mus. L.R.S.M. Licentiate (honorary)
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