Customer Reviews

Marcelo Alvarez: Bel Canto

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I refuse to call this guy the 4th tenor because there are lots of good tenors, always have been. But I do think Marcelo Alvarez is in line to inherit the mantle. Here he puts his agile voice through all the paces. It is a sweet voice, with power-like a velvet glove over a hammer! Never does it sound harsh or forced. I also like that he used "longer cuts" from scenes including duets and ensembles instead of the usual "Greatest Hits" (altho i like those too) But for me the most attractive and appealing element is the absolute joyful quality of his voice, like he is singing for the sheer pleasure of it. Thank you, Marcello, the pleasure is all mine!

I bought this disk about a year ago. It was as if I were transported back to the time when tenors had beautiful, dramatic, exciting voices. Think of Corelli, for example. I thought that maybe this was just the disk (nevertheless, a good reason to buy it). However, I recently saw him sing the Duke in Rigoletto at the Met. The elctricity went on whenever he came on stage (unfortunately, Sumi Jo's dismal Gilda turned the elctricity right off whenever he walked off stage). I love Domingo and Pavarotti. But, Domingo does not excell in this reperatory (i.e., Rigoletto) and as Beautiful as Pavarotti sings, he is not really beliveable in the role. Alvarez' singing on this disk is every bit as exciting as his Met performances. If you think there are no great tenors on the horizon, listen to this to change your mind. I can't wait to here more from Alvarez.

Only a few years ago, I was biting my proverbial finger nails at the bleak tenor landscape that loomed. Then I stumbled into Jose Cura singing Pollione at the LA Opera, and hope flamed that at least we'll have one interesting singer to follow. Then Ramon Vargas in his Nemorino and perfect Werther (both again in LA). And now Marcelo Alvarez in this very mature and ingratiating recital disk. I can only hope he sounds as good in performance. If Roberto Alagna can modulate his often coarse mono-mood delivery (some hope from his Verdi duets CD), we have gone from bleak to bodacious!!! (This assessment includes of course the indomitable Domingo. Just saw him in Samson and Delilah --LA again--...he gave nothing away to the "youngin's".) Mr. Alvarez has made an excellent CD -- interestingly put together and beautifully sung.

This seems to be the age of the great argentinian tenors! Apart from Cura, Marcelo Alvarez is gaining recognition for himself because he has a beautiful lyric tenor voice with shinning top notes and exquisite phrasing. I love this CD, the repertoire is chosen with great care, specially the Favorita, Duca d'Alba and Puritani arias, all sung beautifully. Highly reccomended. Maybe Marcelo will be considered to record I Puritani with Ruth Ann Swenson (wouldnt that be great?).

This review is a great departure from the norm of my regular book reviews here, but I will give it a go and share my thoughts.

I am not an opera lover, but I do share the enjoyment of the music. I have purchased, in the past the 3 tenors. I have no idea what the music is about or what they are saying in the music, but there is something about it I can not describe; most people say its the passion in their voices. I purchase this CD on a whim and I was very surprise at the crispness of the voice and the range Marcelo has. I listened to this CD for 3 hours on a business trip that I was drivng too. I will tell you, I am not a lover of this art, but maybe soon; and I would truly not recommend something I do not like. So trust me on this, for the lovers of the art, get this one, and for those who are not opera lovers listen to Alvarez for the first time. I plan to get Marcelo Alvarez sings Gardel next. I expect this star to rise in stardom.

Now that enough. Check out my book reviews next.

See Ya !

Tripp

I love the brilliant quality of Alvarez singing. He has a lovely clarion voice - the timbre is beautiful, velvety. Hard to believe that only 5 years ago he was working in a furniture factory in Cordoba (Argentina). There's an occasional rough edge, but overall his singing is very arresting indeed. He executes the chestnuts from Rigoletto and Traviata splendidly, and I especially like the opening scene from Act 3 of I Puritani. Carlo Rizzi and the Orch. of the Welsh National Opera are first rate. Alvarez is going places. Stay tuned!

Now and then it is a pleasant excursion to return to early recordings made by singers who are reaching a heady level of importance just to see how voices mature. In the case of Marcelo Alvarez, who is enjoying great success with his recordings (Massenet's 'Manon' with Renee Fleming, and his own solo CD 'The Tenor's Passion' for example), listening to this remarkable disc of bel canto arias is of particular interest.

This recording features the younger (1998), lighter voice in the appropriately lighter repertoire and the intelligence coupled with sheer beauty of sound is here. Though his voice has darkened and is much more full now, these bel canto arias are still splendid. The technique is sound, the line is pure, and the bloom at the top promises that he would become the lyric tenor he has become in 2004.

Marcelo Alvarez started here with the right works at the right time in his career. They are here to savour - sort of a hint of what he has become - a treasureable, exciting and intelligent singer. Grady Harp, December 2004

These arias from La Traviata, Lucia di Lammermoor, Linda di Chamounix, I Puritani and Rigoletto have been recorded often (Too often) but among recent recordings I like Marcelo Alvarez's recordings of them the most. He has a most velvety and gorgeous timbre, wonderful high notes and he phrases sensitively, he uses vocal colours to shade and illuminate every phrase making him a great successor of lyric tenors like Giuseppe di Stefano and José Carreras. Of course he is individual but just as amazing as these guys! Bravo Monsieur Alvarez!

Marcelo Alvarez began his singing career later than most tenors. As the booklet coming with the CD notes, "After years of nearly everyone he knew wondering if he was crazy to want to be a singer, all the doors are opening." This CD appears to be a solid introduction to his work. His repertoire here runs from Verdi ("Rigoletto" and "La Traviata"), to Donizetti ("L'elisir d'amore," "Il Duca d'Alba," "Lucia di Lammermoor," Linda di Chamounix"), to Bellini ("I Puritani").

Some reflections on some of the "cuts" on this CD:

From "Rigoletto," "Questa o quella." This is smoothly sung; Alvarez demonstrates an attractive voice. There are some annoying affectations, but these are not critical. A nicely paced version of this work. Then, "La donna e Mobile." This is a spirited version of this well known piece. His voice appears a bit on the light side; he does not have the instrument of Tucker or Corelli (although that is hardly a criticism). The final high note is done well.

He does a nice turn on "Una furtive lagrima" from Donizetti's "L'elisir d'amore."

His turn at the opening of Act III of Bellini's "I Puritani" is quite musical. He shares the stage (albeit briefly) with soprano Ying Huang and a chorus. Again, an attractive voice is on display. For someone on stage for so long, his voice wears well on the listener.

"La Traviata": "Lunge da lei. . .De' miei bollenti spiriti. . .o mio rimorso!" is well done. The first part is sung nicely. He shows much spirit and captures the character in "De' miei bollenti spiriti." The final part of this scene, "O mio rimorso" is dramatically done. He does not quite have the agility that would be ideal here, but, nonetheless, a good version.

So, all in all, a good CD from one of the finer tenors around today. He does not have a large voice, but it is attractive. A good introduction to his art.