Customer Reviews

Encore

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(28)

 

 

Russell Watson was born with a unique talent, a very versatile voice wich can only get better with the ongoing voice lessons he now takes. I purchased his original album "The Voice" last year, and I think Encore is even better. I have listened to it daily since I received it. This is my de-stressing music. When I listen, I am told a smile comes to my face which I didn't even realize. Russell Watson's versatiliy comes through with the powerful tenor and whispering lullabye tones in Va,Pensiero, my current favorite. The powerful tenor voice in Volare, O Sole Mio, Che Gelida Manina, and Celeste Aida are unsurpassed. My Andrea Bocelli cd has been shelved for awhile. The Pop Classics are extremely well done. You Are So Beautiful is sung with so much feeling. Somewhere and the Magic of Love with Lionel Richie are also favorites. But I was floored when I heard Where My Heart Will Take Me, theme from the new Star Trek Series Enterprise. I have heard this theme weekly while watching the show and never realized it was Russell Watson. Must be that versatility again.

I don't believe most people buying this album will be sorry. The 1,500,000 people who so far have purchased "The Voice", his debut album, can't be wrong.

A friend of mine who is an avid Russell Watson fan suggested I purchase the Encore album. I had no idea who Watson was so I first listened to her album and liked what I heard and eventually bought it. I went to Amazon.com and decided to see what other albums Watson had made and out of curiosity, read some of the ratings. I really question those individuals who have panned Mr. Watson and still bought his album, if they did. I would think that if they had listened to one or two of his songs first and disliking Watson as the ratings indicated, they would not buy the album. Strange. Anyway, I personally will buy an album in which I enjoy, despite what critics may say. Avid Russell Watson fans will give this album a 5 rating whereas fans of Bochelli etc. would give Watson a zero. I would rate this a 4 because anyone who can sing opera or pop with ease has to be better than average. I, personally, want to listen to music that I like and a voice that I like. Watson's album satisfied my preference and so I am happy with it. This lad seems to a potential, rising star that will go places. My friend informed me that he is already at the top of the charts in Australia and New Zealand, surpassing Pavarotti, Bochelli, and Brightman. His album has gone platinum, whatever that mean, down under and in Ireland, too. Can that many people in those 3 countries be buying a 0 rated album? I think I am becoming a Watson fan too.

After Russell Watson's first cd, I couldn't wait for this one. I jumped the gun and ordered it from amazon.uk. It is another incredible album. "Somewhere" reduced me to a puddle, and Ave Maria made me expect Mary to show up any minute. Russell, with is versatile voice, is an amazing artist that I hope will be coming to America real soon in concert. If you liked the first cd...you will love this one. I highly recommend it...keep them coming, Russell.

2. At a time in history when so much that passes for music is unappealing, even ugly and offensive, it is a real joy when someone comes along and reinforces a love for beauty. That is what young Russell Watson has done, for he gives us an interesting combination of wonderful classical arias, classical-pop hybrids, duets, and popular songs, and he sings them beautifully! Watson has an extremely enjoyable voice, and I'm looking forward with great anticipation to his next release.

We should all applaud a great voice, and Russell Watson's IS a great voice. Is it the greatest in history for all vocals? Assuredly not, but then no one voice intones all vocals with equal felicity. Mr. Watson's voice is decidedly given to the operatic in which its lyric quality is superb and his range and power of astonishing note. This album "Encore" is not as impressive as his previous and premiere compact disk: "The Voice", but it still reflects a luminous clarity of sound that entrances millions of people, and if the liner notes are to be believed, he did so in Italy, the home of opera, as well.

Those negative reviews given by a 'fan of music' or some similar pseudonym, are sad indeed, not for the fact that such a writer cannot appreciate this man's brilliance, but that he stoops to snide comments on Mr. Watson's background and personal life in a futile attempt to diminish The Voice. Could this reviewer be a modern day version of the nineteenth century "claque," that sometimes negative group HIRED to occupy a performance and boo and stomp their feet as the performer being publicly degraded took the stage? If so, one wonders if it is not some former workmates who take offense at the success and escape of one among them so gifted. Is this the welders' revenge? If so, his or their venom will not poison the multitudes who continue to buy Mr. Watson's recordings.

Perhaps the above 'claque' first noticed the images of Mr. Watson on the booklets included with the disks and concluded from the photos of him alone that so baby-faced a man could not be the equal of the barrel-chested, lantern-jawed, dark and Latin ones so synonymous with tenors of past and present. It is indeed incredible to hear such a massive voice issue from so benign a countenance, but that says more for the hidden talents of men of all sorts than any indictment of so gifted a man. We assume that Mr. Watson has imperfections and indiscretions, but they only serve to prove that he is human, quite like the often scandalous lives of the artists and composers before him!

The arias on both disks are clearly his forte, and his promoters should definitely emphasize the classics as his repertoire. The popular pieces are there as a marketing ploy, since 'opera does not sell' is the dictum of most musical publishers today. True, I had hoped for more the wistfulness and longing in the unforgettable piece "Somewhere" as I first heard it in the original "West Side Story" and the Rock beats of some of the others along with back up by far lesser voices do little to enhance his presentation or reputation. He would do well to concentrate on what his voice does best: classical. It may not make as much money as the popular, but it will make for his place in history. His voice will remain along with others with the gift of range and enunciation such as Mario Lanza, who also sought to span the then popular/classical gulf. Listen to a native English speaker like Mr. Watson so skillfully duplicate the trill of Italian, something for which there is no precedent in English, yet he masters it fully. I would love to hear him render "Be My Love" a piece of astonishing demands that cemented the memory of Mr. Lanza. If Mr. Watson can do the same, he will attain yet greater heights in the realm of supreme vocalists.

Lastly, I hope he does find new producers of his booklets inside the compact disks...Solid writing is required of even the modern equivalent of liner notes, and Mr. Watson now has the means to employ real writers as opposed to [ones] of the past, as well as a photographer who emphasizes his stature as a performer rather than a 'Wunderkind.' All singers polish their voices as they mature and I look forward to following this young man's progress as he further polishes such a jewel.

Those who love good music will really enjoy this CD! Watson is the most talented of the crossover artists, and he has a very attractive tenor voice that I, along with millions of other fans, simply find irresistible. I also recommend "The Voice", by Russell Watson, which was his debut CD.

I'm not an authority on music but do enjoy listening to the 3 tenors, Streisand, Midler, N-Sync, and anyone who has a hit. However, I cannot listen to 90 straight minutes of these singers without getting bored or losing interest with selections I personally do not like. With Watson, however, I can listen to every single selection, even those that I do not like because he is such a versatile singer, whose range covers opera, semi-classical, pop, and pop-rock. Perhaps he is not the best in each category and he may not be a Pavarotti, yet, but I have never heard anyone sing "E Lucevan le stelle" better than Watson and his versions of "Ave Maria," "You Are So Beautiful," "Lost in the Snow," and "Volare" are second to none. For me, Watson is a great talent and seeing him perform live makes me appreciate him even more.

I first heard Russell Watson sing during his U.S. concert that aired on Public Television, and I was immediately taken by his powerful, appealing, lyrical voice. After the concert, I went online and had Amazon send me a copy of his CD, "The Voice", which contains some nicely sung arias; some real gems which Watson interprets exceedingly well -- including a thrilling rendition of `Nessum dorma!'; and a couple of listenable duets (excluding `Barcelona', which may appeal more to the hip-hop crowd then to those who might frequent an opera house.)

After listening to "The Voice" I paused mentally for a silent `standing ovation', and then waited with great anticipation for Russell's `Encore' to arrive in the U.S.A. Well, this second CD was worth the wait, and though slightly less attractive than his first, it still has much to recommend it.

The CD begins with a delightful, pop-classical hybrid entitled `Va, pensiero', which is at once warm, then arresting, highlighting well Watson's versatility. His performance of `Volare' is impeccable, the best rendition I've heard to date, as is `The Prayer' -- a sensitive, thoughtful duet in which he is joined by Lulu for a superlative performance. The popular arias `O sole mio' and `Mattinata' are sung with sufficient power and grace, though Russell really shines in `Pelagia's Song', where his interpretation is done with such tenderness and warmth as is reminiscent of the great Mario Lanza, the tenor extraordinaire! Puccini's breathtaking `E lucevan le stelle' and beautiful `Che gelida manina' are performed with warmth and ardor, though in the latter Russell's voice is sometimes overpowered by the over-zealous orchestra. Verdi's `Celeste Aida' provides the tasteful conclusion to the arias (the purest may raise an eyebrow at the electronic fade out at the end of `Celeste Aida', but this doesn't distract from the beauty of the piece, befittingly sung by Watson.)

I found his choice to include `You Are So Beautiful' less than ideal, as I was around when this particular tune by Joe Cocker was so overplayed (in the '80s?); nevertheless, he renders it anew, and those who enjoy this song should certainly prefer it to the original. He performs `Somewhere', from `West Side Story', and I recommend that you hold on to your wineglass when this one begins, for once again the orchestra seems a bit over-zealous, as was Watson, whose interpretation lacks the wistful yearning required by the subject matter. The rest of the popular songs are agreeable enough, with the exception of `Where My Heart Will Take Me'; oddly, to me, this song doesn't even sound like Watson!

Watson's voice is indeed versatile, so much so that I refer to him as "the tenor with three voices". The first voice is the one he uses for the arias, the second voice for the more demanding popular tunes, such as `Bridge Over Troubled Water' (on "The Voice") and the third voice for songs like `You Are So Beautiful' and the uninspiring `Were My Heart Will Take Me' (the theme from Enterprise). It is with the classics that he really shines, and I hope that he focuses more on this genre. I find it somewhat difficult to describe Russell's voice. It is powerful enough, and doesn't strain as many others do over the more difficult phrases, such as the final `Vincero!' in `Nessum dorma', yet it is not as `large' as Jose Cura's, nor as full, rich, or romantic as Mario Lanza's. On the other hand, to me Russell's voice bears much resemblance to Lanza's, which is no small compliment! I look forward to the continued maturing of his interpretive skills.

I sympathize with his desire to attract young people to classical music and the combination of arias with popular songs will likely help in this effort. I would like to see him drop the "third voice", however, and concentrate on those popular tunes that are more demanding and attractive, thereby making better use of his extraordinary gifts. If he were to solicit my suggestions for his next release, I'd like to hear him sing popular tunes such as `Granada', `Memory' (from `Cats'), and `Tonight', and arias such as Donizetti's `Una furtiva lagrima', Verdi's `Questa o quella' and `Parmi veder le lagrime', Puccini's `Recondita armonia', Ponchielli's `Cielo e mar', and Leoncavallo's `Vesti la guibba' (et al).

Finally, I feel compelled to offer a few brief comments regarding the one-star reviews by "a music fan" (whose reviews motivated me to give "Encore" five stars rather than four, in an attempt to counteract the negativity). Likely this is not really necessary, for most people can probably separate the `wheat' of truth offered by insightful reviewers from the `chaff' of jejune quibbles, offered by some who seem bent on trying to undermine Watson's success, but it would be unfortunate if some were swayed by comments so lacking in discernment, causing them to miss out on a very enriching experience. Perceptive reviewer James H. Rankin has probably hit on the problem where he states that those posts may come from a person or persons who know Watson and are consumed with jealously over his success. Well, Watson has indeed been successful, and I would encourage all who love good music to experience The Voice!

Watson's voice has grown stronger and more polished since The Voice. His passion comes through in Italian and English. Che gelida manina, E lucevan le stelle are beautifully done and I loved his O Sole Mio-interesting rhythm. Must admit, his version of Somewhere is my favorite right now and Va Pensiero keeps running thru my mind. If you liked The Voice, you'll love Encore. Hope Russell Watson decides to promote the album with a tour.

When you think of Russell Watson, think versatility! If you want pop, you may chose to listen to Joe Cocker or Lionel Richie; when you want popular folk, you may chose Simon & Garfunkel; when you want to hear the great classical arias, you may chose Pavarotti, Domingo, Carreras, Heppner, Licitra, Cura, or Beltran; but if you enjoy all these forms of music, there's a man who can do it all, exceptionally well: Russell Watson!

He's not the only cross-over artist, but he's is, without a doubt, the very best. His voice is more attractive, smooth, and tonally pure than Michael Amante's, and he handles the difficult phrases in the classical arias better than Andrea Bocelli. The only explanation for all of the one-star reviews by "a music fan" is that they are written by the same person, likely some bored teenager. My suggestion to this teenager, who is probably a young man, is to take Russell Watson's CDs along with him the next time he has a date with a young lady. Her positive reaction may motivate him to give up his odd crusade against the supremely talented cross-over artist that fans affectionately refer to as, "The Voice".