Customer Reviews

Roberto Alagna - french arias

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
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Roberto Alagna is probably the greatest tenor to come from France since Georges Thill, widely considered to have been the greatest French tenor of the 20th century. This is unquestionably Alagna's best solo album, the equal of his astonishing work in Werther. All of his virtues are amply displayed here: a splendid voice, directness and honesty of expression, superb diction in his native French, intelligence, imagination, complete and utter immersion in character, and the ability to make each word he sings mean something. Throughout the disc we hear nobility and sweetness, elegance and passion, tenderness and pain, even charm and humor. This is not merely a 'stud', but a great artist in the service of music.

Most important of all is Alagna's questing spirit. While some superstar singers barely change or add to their repertory over decades of performing, Alagna is eager to mine the rich lode of French repertory (of which we only know a few nuggets) and bring otherwise unknown or forgotten works to a new public. Some of these arias haven't been recorded in at least 60 and even almost 80 years. In fact, so rarely performed are they that the ROH Orchestra had to borrow the orchestral parts for two arias from the Orchestre de Paris!

Since his career began Alagna's voice has grown in drama and power with little loss to the basic lyric quality of his instrument. He does so well with the more dramatic selections not only because of his great skill as a vocal actor, but also because he actually sings the arias beautifully and lyrically instead of just belting them. He is strongest when he can combine heroism with introspection, as in the arias from `Samson et Dalila', `Le Cid', and especially `La Juive', where he perfectly embodies the inner conflicts of these three very different religious men. Indeed I found the grief and guilt of a father about to lose his daughter in the last absolutely heartwrenching. Still, I hope Alagna waits a long time before doing any of these roles on stage, and limits his appearances in them to small theatres. The best track on the disc is `O Paradis', filled with the genuine wonder of discovery. In the aria from `Joseph', Alagna convinces in the widest range of emotions from nostalgia to rage to the desperate desire for reconciliation, and the aria from `Les Abencerages' is also a dramatic tour-de-force. There is also a truly heroic rendition of `Nature immense' from `La Damnation de Faust'. The glorious paean to friendship from `Iphigenie en Tauride' is both urgent and sensitive, and the farewell to life from `L'Attaque du Moulin' is sung even more beautifully than by some historic tenors.

He also shows that he is quite capable of the light touch, such as in the aria from `Le Roi d'Ys' and especially `Elle ne croyait pas' with its beautiful diminuendi. The aria from `Maitre Pathelin' which opens the disc is a sweet, lovely serenade capped by a splendid high C#. It's a pity that he does not take all of `Je crois entendre encore' as sweetly and headily as he takes certain phrases, but I admit to being extraordinarily picky about the performance of this aria and am only truly satisfied by Gedda.

As with his performances at the Met and elsewhere, Bertrand de Billy proves his skill in bringing out the spirit and elegance of French opera. If his tempi are a trifle slow (and nowhere near as much as those of, say, Michel Plasson) they only aid musical expression. He has been a long time friend and collaborator of Alagna, and their rapport shows here. The orchestra plays very well and London Voices makes a fine choral contribution to the `Samson et Dalila' scene.

If there is any complaint to be made, it is that while Alagna differentiates character superbly, he doesn't differentiate actual musical style much. Over 100 years separate the Gretry and Bruneau arias, and he sings them basically the same way. And there are a few moments where he overdoes the heroism (and volume) a bit, notably in `Anges du paradis' and the Gretry aria. Still, in the context of the disc's overall splendor, these are minor flaws. It's also a shame that the originally announced aria from `Herodiade' is not included. I presume it didn't fit onto the otherwise generously filled (73 minute) disc.

By and large the documentation is also very good. Admirers of French opera who have only heard the rarities on historical labels with minimal documentation will greatly appreciate the full texts and translations included here. There is a nice essay on the French tenor tradition 'which Roberto Alagna inherits' written by noted English critic John Steane, who also provided explanatory notes for each track (some for the rarities could have been slightly more detailed). Although I am glad that Alagna isn't subjected here to the sugary publicity gush that most singers these days get in their CD booklets (so much for him being 'overhyped'!), it's a pity that there is no biographical or career information about him or de Billy.

I really hope that Alagna gets his wish to have some of these and other rare operas recorded in their entirety and staged, but I doubt if the political and economic situation in the opera world will permit it. Even if performances or complete recordings are impossible, Alagna absolutely must record many more solo French albums. A Berlioz disc with both Enee's and Hylas' arias from Les Troyens is essential. Certainly this wonderful stage comedian should also record more comic repertory. And of course, he should continue to bring us many more recordings of arias that haven't been recorded in ages, and even some world premieres. I also seriously hope that he gives us his interpretations of French song repertory as well. Frankly, if he wants to record the Paris phone book, that's fine with me too!

This album is among the best I ever heard. Alagna's beautiful tenor tone is truly amazing throughout the CD and his perfect French diction is very enjoyable. After listening mr. Alagna's French I prefer him to anyone else I've heard singing this repertoire. IMO the loveliest songs are "Je pense à vous" with the easy high C# and the light "Vainement, ma bien-aimée". I think the arias from Le Cid and Samson are a bit too heavy for him, but however, he sings them with the great interpretative power. It's possible that he uses a little too much pianissimo in the Bizet aria, but on the other hand that's where I think his voice is at its best. Nothing can take the fifth star away! This CD will be with me anywhere I go...

Roberto Alagna brings great style and sensitivity to this intriguing collection of famous and lesser-known arias. Hearing Alagna sing in French is truly a blissful experience for any fan of French opera. From the haunting opening aria by Bazin to Pylades' gorgeous hymn to friendship in Gluck's "Iphigenie", Alagna is superb,investing the music with pathos, tenderness, and charm--the collection especially highlights his elegant and delicious French phrasing. A MUST HAVE for fans of Roberto and French opera.

Roberto Alagna outdoes himself by bringing great sensitivity and style to this intriguing collection of famous and lesser-known arias. Hearing Alagna sing in French is truly a blissful experience for any fan of French opera. From the haunting opening aria by Bazin to Pylade's gorgeous hymn to friendship in Gluck's "Iphigenie"--Alagna is superb--bringing richness, pathos, tenderness and passion to the music, and above all in his supremely elegant and delicious French phrasing. A MUST HAVE for all admirers of Roberto and French opera.

Roberto Alagna has the makings of a great French tenor. He has the style and diction down pat. This CD shows off his tenor to great effect. I especially liked the rare selections that were included. There is some wonderful French music on this disc.

Alagna is given great support by conductor Bertrand de Billy and the Royal Opera House Orchestra of Covent Garden. The sound is excellent. This disc was finely produced. On to the review.

Alagna's voice has a scratchy edge to it that gives character to his otherwise rough timbre. His voice is not ugly, but it is not the typical sweet voice of a French tenor. His voice grows on you. His voice also has some dramatic heft to it. He is best in the arias that require some dramatic heft, but not a whole lot. He is totally committed dramatically to the music that he sings. The aria from "Joseph" and the one from "Le Cid" are two great examples. He sings the famous aria from "La Juive" very well. However, on some of the arias, he tends to use too much unnecessary drama. The editorial reviewer was correct in saying that Alagna has a tendency to slip into inappropriate Italian verismo style. Alagna's rendition of the aria from "Samson et Dalila" is not that good. That aria is probably too heavy for his voice. The timbre of his voice takes on an unattractive edge when he sings that aria. Alagna sings the delightful Sérénade from "L'Amant Jaloux" very well with lovely pianissimos. However, it seems that he is a bit rough in his delivery of some of the words. By rough delivery, I mean the use of too much emotion. This charming piece is probably not suited to a relatively heavy voice like his. Also, the exquisite aria from "Le Roi d'Ys" suffers from rough delivery of some of the words. I also wish he had sung the word "vais" in the phrase "Je vais, hélas, mourir!" pianissimo like Nicolai Gedda does on his version of the aria. Alagna's rendition of the beautiful aria from "The Pearl Fishers" is excellent. His pianissimos are to die for! One previous reviewer said that his pianissimos sounded mechanically produced and that some were even unpleasant to the ears. Do not believe that person. Alagna has gorgeous pianissimos that are very naturally produced.

Overall, this is a great recital album that includes some very rare material. It is worth getting.

This CD is primo Alagna. Only his first recital and maybe the Rondine are better. People say he's in decline, but they just need to listen to the Gluck track on this CD. Or the Meyerbeer. Or the Gounod. It's all great. Yay Roberto!

I generally liked this recording because it presents much unfamiliar material (Mehul, Bruneau) combined with Mr. Alagna's excellent diction. However, after I unwrapped the CD, I immediately compared his singing of "Je crois entendre encore" with Jussi Bjorling and found it lacking. Bjorling lets you feel the melancholy of what the character had and lost. He is obviously reliving his memories. The pianissimo at the end is truly haunting. Mr. Alagna's soft notes seem almost mechanically manufactured.and sometimes border on the unpleasant. He was best in those pieces that required more spinto sound (the selections from Samson et Dalila and Le Cid, for example). I would recommend this recording if only for the unfamiliarity of much of the material.