Customer Reviews

Reprise

5 star:		(201)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(55)

 

 

"Santa Lucia" was my first real memorable encounter with classical music as a child. It's on this album, beautiful and listenable for the way Watson makes the most of every word, and yet the phrase is always there. "Torna a Surriento", the opener, is enchanting and lovely. All of the Neopolitan songs on here are fabulous (Granada, etc). But also great renditions of "The Pearl Fishers' Duet", "Pourquoi me reveiller?", "Recondita armonia", La danza" and the always beautiful, "Core `ngrato".

Acquiring this CD and listening to The Voice upclose and personal finally awakened me to the genius that everybody has been applauding for the past few years. Watson possesses a rare combination of subtlety, control, spontaneity, and swagger that are evident on these classical and pop tunes. I can feel the lilt in his step on "That's Amore" and the fragility and heartbreak in "The Living Years".

Hearing him sing "the Best That Love Can Be" with Cleopatra makes it obvious to me why so many regard Watson as the quintessential English cross-over singer.

If you're new to Watson, you'll have no regrets buying this CD first.

This CD is rated as one of the best recordings for Russell Watson, and I couldn't agree more whole-heartedly. One of the best cross-over albums ever, this CD boasts an incredible list of classical and pop songs. Many of them are your Neopolitan classics which are sung beautifully by Watson.

You also have your standard pop surprises by Watson's talented and versatile pop voices - "Nothing Sacred", "That's Amore", "the Living Years", "The Best That Love Can Be" and "Bohemian Rhapsody", each sung with a different and wonderful pop voice - quite a talent! Even in the classical realm, Watson sings both the baritone and tenor parts in "The Pearl Fishers' Duet".

Is there anything Watson can't do? I love to put this CD on while I'm at home, and it always makes me perk up. It's the epitome of the how Watson spreads his enthusiasm and joy of singing to all of us. Watson is a complete delight.

Last year, you couldn't have convinced me I'd ever own a Russell Watson album, but a few weeks ago I found myself humming these songs that I'd heard my mother playing last year. The arrangements are wonderful and they leave Watson's voice far forward -- and some of his greatest performances are here, bookended by two masterpieces -- "Torna a Surriento" and "Vesti la giubba" The songs selected flawlessly support the album's concept of the singer introducing classical music to non-classical fans such as myself, and Watson doesn't hit a wrong note anywhere.

When you think of everything it meant to be Russell Watson - bringing heretofore intimidating music to the average music fan, what a life to be looking back on! -- the chance to listen in is irresistible.

"That's Amore"...his voice is perfection, as smooth as Scotch, and his tone one of reflection.. one of the best versions of this old favorite I've heard.

"The Living Years" -- Good lyrics and superb phrasing propel this thought-provoking song to a higher plane.

Other masterpieces include "Core `ngrato" with an arrangement as timeless as the vocalization, and "Va, pensiero" -- quintessential Watson -- quietly passionate and exciting.

"I don't know how I just got by" -- an evocative arrangement with Watson's smooth-as-silk delivery.

"The Pearl Fishers' Duet" is a terrific song, and can you hear it without believing Russell is singing both the baritone and tenor solos.... Magnificent.

Even if you're not a diehard fan, you can't help but enjoy hearing Watson at the top of his form on this breathtakingly beautiful album.

Reprise in my opinion is Russell Watson's best album thus far. Even in the opening few seconds of the first track, "Torna a Surriento", the strings and orchestration and his voice will send shivers down your spine! Watson's voice is smooth as velvet, as always, throughout each and every song.

He really delivers the emotion more than any other singer could ever be capable of doing. You feel that he's singing to you, and that he's been down that road before. All the songs on this album are exquisite and you'll be in utter amazement of Watson's beautiful voice and the lush orchestral arrangements.

Perfect for listening deep into midnight, when you want to relax, or when you just want to hear one of the the greatest vocalist of all time do his thing. My personal favorites on this album are "Santa Lucia", "That's Amore", "The Living Years", and "The Best That Love Can Be". "The Pearl Fishers' Duet" and "La Danza" show the amazing versatile side of Watson that will leave you in wonderment.

Russell Watson in his latest "gift" to us "Reprise" has proven once again what an extraordinary talent he is. He has such an incredible ability to sing both classical and pop with each style being equally as thrillling! In the beautiful "The Pearl Fishers' Duet" both of the voices you hear belong to Mr. Watson which leaves one to believe that there is no end to what this young man from Manchester can do. "Pourquoi me reveiller?" "Recondita armonia" and "Core'ngrato" are truly breathtaking, each exquisitely performed with such depth and feeling. "The Living Years" and "The Best That Love Can Be" will truly touch your heart and you will be using the replay button often. And you won't believe the voice in "That's Amore" while "La danza" will totally amaze you at Mr. Watson's strength of voice and versatility. And, of course, the wonderful "Nothing Sacred"....truly another convincing performance. As with his other CDs, "The Voice" and "Encore", I find myself listening straight through the entire album hoping there is one more song. The music on this CD is truly beautiful as well as captivating. It is a complete delight from beginning to end!

I have heard Josh Groban, Andrea Bocelli, and the three tenors. All of them have beautiful voices. Still, I love Watson the best.

Perhaps, Watson's voice doesn't have the traditional classical voice as these great singers but, nevertheless, Watson is the singer that mesmerizes me from beginning to end on an hour long cd. With the other singers, I eventually will do my work or whatever chores that have to be done. With Watson, I stop everything and listen.

I don't how many times a day I listen to this CD. Maybe its his clear, powerful tenor voice as he hits his high notes, or its that raspy pop voice ("the Living Years") or that semi-classical broadway type voice or its that sweet, mellow almost Dean Martin-like voice (listen to "That's Amore") or his rock voice ("Bohemian Rhapsody"---how many voices does Russell have?) that just sends me.

I saw him perform live once and, there again, he just captures his audience with his charm, wittiness and above all, talent. Cocky? Sure he is, but he's also has more warmth and rapport with his audience than many of the stars.

All of the singers are great in their own way, but Watson is just special.

Where to begin. Many people put Reprise ahead of his other two albums, and I agree. Perhaps his first two albums were more varied in tempo and emotion. But, this cd shows off Watson's classical voice and the musical arrangements are also in top form on this release.

Another reason I love this album is its superior song selection. Every song is a classic standard, from the opening number "Torna A Surriento" to "Questa o quella", "the Pearl Fishers' Duet", "La danza", in the middle and finishing off with "Vesti la giubba".

Interspersed are brilliant pop versions of "Nothing Sacred", "That's Amore" (a new sound from Watson), " and "the Best that Love Can Be" with Cleopatra.

Waste no time in making your purchase.

The variety of songs represented here, are in my opinion, some of Russell Watson's finest works. His remake of the classical and pop songs are really great and also the new ones he recorded at this time. Every song on this album are great and I recommend it to anyone!

"Reprise" is Russell's newest album, and probably his best. The cd again has his usual blend of pop and opera. His voice is breath-taking on this, and when I heard track 4 the first time, That's Amore, I laughed out loud because it was so funny! His voice! It was good, but just very funny. Now to find out what I mean you'll have to buy this cd. And it is a worthwhile buy to, with classics such as Vesti La Giubba and Ave Maria. Buy it buy it buy it, is all I can say. It will not disappoint!

For Russell Watson's Reprise goes well beyond being just a very good CD. Of the 3 albums that this singer has released thus far, I would argue that all three of them should end up on a short list of your ten essential Cross-over albums. Reprise ranks at the top.

Three great albums in his short career is a remarkable achievement and their successes only support that this is one of the finest new singers of our generation. The choice cuts off of Reprise have to be " the Pearl Fishers' Duet" and "Core `ngrato". However, the tone set by the first tracks, the Neopolitan classics, are brilliantly sung by Watson in which he displays a new sense of delicacy in his vocals, the orchestra effectively reduced to subtle background color.

"La danza" is one of these classic Watson songs that you get to discover (or rediscover) the talent that he has. Additionally, the pop songs are wonderful bonuses in which you again hear the many voices of Watson - listen to him sing "That's Amore", "Nothing Sacred", "the Best That Love Can Be", and "Bohemian Rhapsody" and you'll swear there are 4 different pop singers singing thes songs.

Watson is amazing!