Customer Reviews

Italia, Ti Amo

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

 

 

As an avid Domingo fan I loved the CD. I prefer his opera performances but loved this music, it is a wonderful selection of Italian favorites. Relaxing, pleasant music from a master of song. After all he is the tenor of the century. B.Hamilton, below Savannah, Ga.

Unfortunately he waited too long to record these songs. If only he had sung these when he was in his youthful prime. Only compare his recording of "Non t'amo piu" to that of Pavarotti and you will realize the difference between good and great. He seems to be pushing throughout, and this effortfulness limits his ability to interpret these songs. I almost wish he had transposed these songs down a Major Second or minor Third, so that he could sing them with more ease. But being Domingo it is not a bad cd; it is only not as good as it could have been.

I can only hope that Juan Diego Flores does not make the same mistake.

I am a huge admirer of Domingo's. With this month's release of Parsifal, Edgar, and these songs, he moves into an area little short of miraculous: at 65, the voice is still magnificent, and what he can do with it...!

These are all good, simple songs, sung very well. Note the 40th wedding anniversary present to his father and mother by Placido Junior! Really, it's Caruso territory, and Domingo need fear no comparison vocally or musically. But one advantage Caruso (and Gigli) did have: arrangements that remembered that these are simple songs. The arrangers here have yet again over-blown the orchestration in the best (or worst) Hollywood style, and the effect is simply that of too much sugar (and too many cymbals).

Domingo, who emerges with honor regardless of such schlock, deserves better. He is a treasure.

If you can filter out the thousand-and-one strings effect - get this.

Well, I bravely bought the "Italia, ti amo" Domingo disc from Amazon and I know now why there is all this criticism. Something went wrong with the recording -- the sound is very bad (it sounds like indistinct monaural from the 1950s) and does not reflect Domingo's real voice. He is not straining, he actually sounds more like he did in his 30s when his RCA recordings also generally failed to properly record his beautiful and unique voice. I think there is a lot of Pavarotti-ness in those who are used to hearing Italian songs from that particular Italian. My introductions to Italian and Neapolitan songs were recordings by Franco Corelli, which to me are the ultimate ... not Pavarotti's versions. Now you out there who adored Pavarotti and know I never did think much of him may consider me prejudiced. Here in NY and New Jersey there is a quite an obsession with anything Italian among Italian-Americans who are so numerous. They surely believe that a non-Italian is incapable of singing Italian songs properly, which is ridiculous. It's such a shame that Domingo's "Italia" was so badly recorded and that my review will be considered prejudiced when I feel prejudice really was more prevalent in the other camp, starting with Pavarotti's late (un)lamented (IMHO) publicist, Herbert Breslin, and his well-known machinations in pursuit of fame and fortune for his client.

I'm a totally devoted fan of Placido's and have hundreds of recordings of his more than any other artist but this was a disappointment for me. There are a few songs here that are some of my favorites, but overall, I like many of his discs better than this collection of Italian songs. I like Domingo's operatic voice better than his "crossover" voice which he used in much of this disc which is understandable as he tries to use an appropriate style to the genre he is performing. Mariachi is a perfect example. He changes his voice to accommodate the genre and it is not pretty! My throat hurts hearing him sing it because that is where he is singing the songs - in the throat not with the breath supported - wrong for the genre. He is careful in the Italian rep. displayed here to sound authentic but at the same time, no true thrills are there for me. Nice, quiet Placido to listen to as a break from the opera to which I usually listen. I was disappointed because I know how great the man can sing and this album may have been fun for him but it not up to the usual standard of performance I expect from his other recordings. If you are a big fan of these songs, by all means buy the disc but Pav's versions just might be better as someone else noted.

It almost hurts to say anything negative about this magnificent tenor..this man who has succeeded in ANY repertoire..arguably the greatest tenor of his generation..But: Why Placido did you record this material now? As another reviewer aptly put it - some 20 years too late? These songs requre a fresh, young Italianate voice. At this point in his life, the great Placido Domingo does not meet any of these requirements. I can only conclude that Domingo was persuaded to record this material only to "complete" a career repertoire that includes Handel and Wagner, and everything in between! My advice: before you start to dislike these glorious love songs from this recording, find them done - the way they are supposed to be done - by the inimitable Giuseppe Distefano.