Customer Reviews

Christmas with Pavarotti

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

 

 

The first eight songs on this CD appear to be either studio outtakes, or very badly recorded concert material. The ends of several songs are faded off too soon; Pavarotti is still on the note and you do not get to hear him finish. These bad edits, plus a lot, and I mean a lot, of distracting, unpleasant, and surprisingly loud background noise, mar what could have been a bargain. But it is not. And although I think 10 songs is a bit stingy, may I emphasize that the real problem is the abysmal noise and amateurish edits. The last two songs are fine. I recommend that you spend a bit more and buy another Pavarotti CD. He was great. This CD is terrible.

A thousand little angels in chorus smile at you from heaven.

This christmas album is a real tresor (treasure). My family has had this for years and I couldn't keep this little song out of my head this morning as I thought of Luciano's passing last night. 'Chiudi gli ochi, ascolta gli angioletti'. Close your eyes, listen to the little angels. 'Una man ti guida lieve tra le nuvole d'oro'. A hand guides you gently through the clouds of gold.

He sings this song in Italian, so I was singing it in my mind in Italian this morning. It's really a lullaby for little children, but it is such a sweet song. It's one of my favorites on this CD. I also love "Oh, Holy Night" which he sings, I believe, in English and French. His is my favorite version of this Christmas carol. I learned this morning that this carol was adapted from a French poem in the 1800's and the English is not a direct translation of the French. No wonder the impact is greater in French, even though I didn't fully understand the French. 'Minuit chretien, c'est l'heure solennelle'. Midnight, christians, it is the solemn hour. 'Peuple a genoux, attends ta delivrance. Noel, Noel, voici le Redempteur'. People, bow, on your knees; Christmas, Christmas, here is your Redeemer, here is your Redemption.

'Attends ta delivrance'. 'Sogna piccolo amor'. Dream my little love.

Christmas with Pavarotti has some flaws, mainly that of the 10 songs on the CD, two are arias not particularly associated with Christmas (at least by me). Also, the sound quality is compromised on some of the recordings. It sounds like the songs were recorded before a live audience which is OK, but the quality suffers accordingly. I hope that somewhere, out there, there is a better recording of Pavarotti singing "O Holy Night" as his voice sounds strained and the recording ends abrubtly. If you like Pavarotti, this is an OK CD, but I don't consider it his best.

Christmas With Pavarotti This is a marvellous recording. It is a selection that one can listen to all year round. This is Pavarotti at his best.