Customer Reviews

The Broadway I Love - Placido Domingo

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I found this one in my library system and checked it out because of "So In Love" -- and quickly fell in love with the rest of it! There are classically trained opera singers who cannot pull off singing Broadway, but Domingo is not one of them. Granted, the idea of hearing "Oh, What A Beautiful Mornin'" sung with an Italian accent seems a little strange, since everyone knows that a cowboy is supposed to be singing it, but I think Domingo's accent adds to the charm of the songs.

I only gave this album four stars because I didn't care for the arrangements of the songs from "West Side Story" and also because the combination of Domingo and Carly Simon seemed mismatched. The duet with Rebecca Luker, however, in "All I Ask Of You," is what I would consider the highlight of the CD. Their voices blend so well and they have the same classic style. Ted Huffman's boy soprano adds a lot to "Try To Remember," enhancing the soaring prettiness of the melody. The arrangement of "Send In The Clowns" is a masterpiece, while Domingo sings it with convincing sadness. Also his portrayal of "Our Love Is Here To Stay" has the gentle simplicity that I believe the Gershwins meant for it.

As for the rest of the songs, they are just plain GOOD! All in all this is a very enjoyable recording and it goes to the top of my wish list.

Most of Domingo's renditions of these songs are gorgeous. "You'll never walk alone" sounds as though it was written for him. Ditto for "so in love." On the cut with Carly Simon and and "over there" his accent negatively affects the phrasing. It's not a compilation I listen to every day, but it never fails to satisy. There's no substitute for rare talented molded by top-notch vocal training. He's my favorite of the operatic tenors.

Hearing Placido Domingo sing some of my favorite songs is a wonderful experience. I listen to this CD over and over

It may be cornball schlock, but there's always value in a good song well sung. A couple of items are so lovely for the chocolate richness Placido Domingo lends them that it's worth hearing well-written material performed with such sumptuous vocalism. In fact, this may be the schlockiest of the pop albums the man has made in his long career but if Placido is your weakness as he is mine, you giggle to yourself at some of the clunkier moments and just pay attention to other things. For those of us who'd almost pay to hear Placido sing the telephone directory, "Try to Remember" and "Send in the Clowns" are the reasons to buy the thing: in the former, his dark tonality and power in the lower voice make something of the intervals that most singers cannot bring off; the latter is infused with a warm wistfulness the ironic text usually doesn't have because Sondheim wrote the tune in short, punchy phrases to accommodate an actor of minimal vocal ability. That Domingo does not make a silly hash of both is a clear indication that he apprehends what he's singing about and why, and trying to give the music something it ordinarily doesn't get. "Over There" is an odd choice and out of context, but it does give him an opportunity to cut loose with Ethel Merman-like relish in material his operatic power won't overwhelm. Look, if you're the kind of person who buys an offering like this and quibbles because Domingo isn't Somebody Else, then be sure to buy Somebody Else's album. For those who love certain voices and love certain songs, and always wanted to hear the two together, this album is for you.

I love this CD. Have had it for many years on cassette decided it was time to upgrade. It is great. Wish he would release another one of Broadway

This is a compilation of lovely Broadway songs, beautifully sung. I liked most of the selections in every way--singing, orchestration, etc. I found the piece from "Miss Saigon" ("The Last Night in the World"), with a moving duet with Domingo and Carly Simon, to be astonishingly beautiful. I was surprised that these two could collaborate so well reminiscent of Mary Martin and Ezio Pinza), I have enjoyed repetitive listening of this track. The only downer, in my view, was "Over There." Sad to say, Placido does not do justice to George M. Cohan. For reasons I don't completely understand, he substitutes "The boys are coming" for the very triumphant "The Yanks are coming" line, which is the heart of the song. Toss this ridiculous mistake out, maybe a fifth star.