In My Heart - 17th and 18th Italian Songs

Giulio Caccini (Composer), Giacomo Carissimi (Composer), Alessandro Scarlatti (Composer), Antonio Lotti (Composer), Antonio Caldara (Composer), Antonio Maria Bononcini (Composer), Benedetto Marcello (Composer), Leonardo Vinci (Composer), Vincenzo Ciampi (Composer), Christoph Willibald Gluck (Composer), Giovanni Paisiello (Composer), Jean-Paul-Gilles Martini (Composer), Tommaso Giordani (Composer), Giovanni Bononcini (Composer), Giuseppe Giordani (Composer), Katherine Chu (Performer), Ramón Vargas (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Katherine Chu, Ramón Vargas
• Composer: Giulio Caccini, Giacomo Carissimi, Alessandro Scarlatti, Antonio Lotti, Antonio Caldara, et al.
• Audio CD (October 14, 2002)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: RCA
• ASIN: B00006JO9L
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #140,910 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #16 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Featured Performers, A-Z > U to Z > Vargas, Ramon

Track Listings

1. Amarilla, mia bella

2. Vittoria, mio core!

3. O cessate di piagarmi

4. Già il sole dal Gange

5. Toglietemi la vita ancor

6. Pur dicesti, o bocca bella

7. Sebben, crudele

8. Come raggio di sol

9. Per la gloria d'adorarvi

10. Il mio bel foco; Quella fiamma

11. Teco, si, vengo anch'io

12. Nina

13. O del mio dolce ardor

14. Nel cor piu non mi sento

15. Plaisir d'amour

16. Caro mio ben

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Those who prefer 17th- and 18th-century music performed in a "historically correct" manner may balk, but these "old songs and arias" ("arie antiche") are beautifully presented and sung. It's not that Ramón Vargas approaches them in a verismo style or that he overexclaims them. Rather, he sings with ardor, generous portamento, and a Romantic, cushioned voice filled with vibrato and expression. At the same time, Vargas embellishes the vocal line in very much the style popular and proper 200 and 300 years ago, and these embellishments are attractive and in excellent taste. But the voice is the thing, and it's gorgeous and beautifully used. The opening, earliest song (for instance) is sung sweetly and softly from start to finish--it's hard to recall the last time one heard such sustained elegant, gentle vocalism from a major tenor. Vargas never overstates his case, and by refusing to do so, sells us these brief, lovely items one at a time. Another winner from this unique tenor. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A (perhaps too) romantic approach to some old favorites, November 26, 2003

By 

Joy Fleisig (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: In My Heart - 17th and 18th Italian Songs (Audio CD)

Ramon Vargas is probably the most elegant and classy tenor singing today. If I may be forgiven an ethnic cliche, the Mexican singer's voice reminds me of dulce del leche ice cream - rich, sweet, and smooth as caramel. Having sung both on stage and on records a wide operatic repertory ranging from bel canto to French works to Puccini and Verdi, Vargas now turns his efforts to this album of arie antiche entitled (rather unimaginatively, I think) `Nel Mio Cuore' - In My Heart. Nearly all lovers of classical vocal music are familiar with the songs represented on this disc; many singers have recorded them and just about everybody who has ever had a voice lesson has studied at least some of them. The defining feature of these songs - which is why they are used by voice students - is that while it is easy to learn the basics of singing them, it takes true expertise to handle all their technical challenges and to bring out all their nuances. If some misguided performance practice decisions make the CD a less than total success, Vargas' vocal beauty, excellent technique and total commitment make this a mostly very enjoyable listen.

As Vargas says in his brief comments, he wants to sing this music in a more 'romantic', (i.e. unrestrained and overtly emotional) manner than many other performers do, to bring a 21st century sensibility to mostly 17th and 18th century music. Vargas as a child was a soloist in the choir of the Basilica Guadalupe of Mexico City, and it was standard procedure there to sing sacred music from this and earlier periods that way. While this approach to the actual singing works very well, I am not entirely happy with the decision to use a small 'salon' orchestra instead of the usual piano or harpsichord, and I suspect many will agree with me on this. I don't object to orchestral arrangements on principle - the arrangements of the arie antiche recorded by Richard Tucker on the superb CD 'The Soul of Italy' work very well, particularly the delightful 'Gia sole del Gange'. On this disc, however, few of the arrangements (by Sascha Goetzel and Joseph Turrin) really enhance the music or make it more interesting, and sometimes they just get in the way. Perhaps in an actual salon or concert setting, this wouldn't be as big a problem. In general, the best arrangements are the most quiet and unobtrusive ones, such as 'Nina' or 'Plaisir d'amour', allowing Vargas to sing softly and tenderly instead of just ardently. The major exception to this is actually the best track on the disc, `Sebben crudele', where the music helps Vargas' anguish and pain reach appropriately operatic proportions. Gluck's `O del mio dolce ardor', an actual opera selection often sung with orchestra, also responds well to this treatment. For most of the other selections, however, it might be helpful to play individual selections or a few at a time instead of the entire album at once, and I wouldn't advise playing it at much more than medium volume.

The good news, though, is that Vargas sings this music with real passion, warmth, and style. The arrangements may require him to sing the music more loudly than many singers do but he never forces or shouts - his heart may be on his sleeve, but is sincere and never vulgar. He pays close attention to the meaning of the words and is musically sensitive and expressive. His Italian diction is excellent, although his French could be a bit crisper. His long experience with bel canto operas makes runs and articulated grace notes easy for him, and he inserts some lovely decorations. The musicians, led by pianist Katherine Chu, do an excellent job with what they are given, and Vargas should actually have been credited as their conductor. I note particularly the beautiful wind playing in 'Teco, si, vengo anch'io'.

In addition to Vargas' comments, there are also notes on the music and full texts and translations. However, I thought the tone of the notes was just a bit too defensive of the more 'modern' approach. All the musicians are listed by name, a nice touch.

The sheer beauty of Vargas' voice, his enthusiasm and his sincerity should set aside most objections to the performance decisions made here. However, I would definitely recommend a more 'traditional' piano-or-harpsichord-accompanied set of this music alongside this if you don't already have one. Cecilia Bartoli's 'Se Tu M'Ami' is essential, and I would also suggest that if you are interested in hearing the music sung by a tenor, you should listen to Alfredo Kraus, especially since many opera lovers consider Vargas to be an heir to this late great Spaniard. Also, Vargas' 'Canzoni' album, from a live concert in Mexico City, shows how wonderful his voice sounds with piano in Italian and Mexican songs - including 'Gia sole del gange' sung in much the same way it is here. It's at super-budget price, too. Still, `Nel Mio Cuore' will give admirers of this lovely tenor the opportunity to wallow in a wonderful voice and experience the heart of an artist.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful singing, inappropriate arrangements, February 10, 2003

By 

wolfgang731 - See all my reviews

This review is from: In My Heart - 17th and 18th Italian Songs (Audio CD)

I don't for one second, regret having bought this CD and the moment you've heard the first aria, neither will you. Ramon Vargas voice is golden with an innate melodiousness and elegance rarely found these days. Though his approach is hardly authentic in style, it's also not overwrought or bombastic. A sense of sweetness is ever present in his singing and is a balm to ears often assaulted by over indulgent tenors only too eager to prove themselves. I would have loved to have given this release 5 stars, but couldn't, in all conscience, do so and the fault lies exclusively with the arrangements. They really are inappropriate, at best, with piano, strings and winds creating a sonic wall of schmaltz, that rarely compliments these lovely arias. I don't' mean to imply that the arrangements are unpleasant but they do, as a whole, diminish the experience considerably. Nevertheless, it's still a very worthwhile effort and highly recommended if only for Mr. Vargas' charming approach and pure, tonal beauty.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Vargas is the Real Thing, February 27, 2003

By 

Ronald F. Payne (Alexandria, VA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: In My Heart - 17th and 18th Italian Songs (Audio CD)

I think Ramon Vargas is the best tenor out there right now. His is a beautiful solid voice, well trained and used with both taste and showmanship. I hardly ever buy a recital disc, preferring to hear my favorite singers perform a role in a complete opera recording, but after a few seconds of hearing this disc, I was hooked. I think Vargas is the best tenor I've heard since Pavorotti was in his prime. The songs on this disc are tastefully (if not authentically) performed. Charming.