Customer Reviews

Russell Watson · The Voice

5 star:		(275)
4 star:		(33)
3 star:		(14)
2 star:		(12)
1 star:		(103)

 

 

From T. Brannan

My review was somehow replaced by a fellow Russell Watson fan from Federal Way, so I'm re-submitting my review.

What a revelation this album is. Watson is so thoroughly immersed in the Neapolitan idiom that it is hard to believe these songs were recorded by an Englishman. As he matures, he will perfect his sense of phrasing, commitment and sensitivity which he displays even now in each song. Critics and classical buffs should give Watson a chance as he has a bright future ahead of him. I eagerly await all of his future recordings. The VOICE is a CD to keep in your collections.

I remember a music/theatre critic writing an article in a Spokane newspaper many years ago denigrating a colorless personality with an equally dull, colorless and monotonous voice singing songs in a movie called "Pete Kelly's Blues. That dull singer was the late and famous jazz singer, Peggy Lee! Now I read critical reviews of Russell Watson falling way short of what constitutes a classical singer from individuals with supposedly learned backgrounds in classical music. If an expert critic can call Peggy Lee a singer with a dull voice, then I have no faith in every day critics claiming Russell Watson, a boring and limited singer in range. These critical reviews are so commonplace that I believe it really is a matter of personal choice on which voice is great or terrible. It all boils down to what you or I like. I like Russell Watson. That is enough for me. I listen to his CD and cannot hear what the critics hear because I am entranced by his powerful and appealing voice. I recommend this CD to anyone with an open mind who wants to hear a rare and unusual singer with a tremendous future ahead of him.

I couldn't quite think of the right words to describe why I like the VOICE until I read a review from Albuquerque which described exactly the feeling I have when I listen to Russell Watson. The reviewer stated "It has the unique quality of surprise--in the same song it can be soft and intimate or melodic and lively and then suddenly burst loose with amazing power and beauty. It is the last voice that I like the best and that is the most impressive to me, the voice of the operatic arias and soaring melodies, but it is all the more amazing because of the contrast with the "other" voices." I couldn't say it any better. This is a wonderful CD.

Nessun Dorma and Nella fantasia are wonderful arias which would be a pleasure to hear sung by any competent tenor. But this recording isn't sung by just any competent tenor, it's sung by great and upcoming tenor. This CD is very special. Watson has the unique ability to sing romantic songs such as the duet with Higgins in Someone Like You, tenderly and with genuine feeling and then belt out more exhuberent songs with unrivalled power and passion. Regrettable, many people still do not take this great tenor seriously because he is relatively unknown in the United States. But if you will listen to Watson with unbiased ears you will hear a glorious voice.

I know the word, wonderful, is overused but it's the only way to describe this CD. Russell Watson's singing is fantastic. He has such a beautiful voice. I recommend this album most heartedly. I rate it five stars easily.

Watson fans should not get excited about the critical reviews. As someone who never heard of Watson before, I read the reviews for 5-Star ratings. The Voice had so many 5-star reviews that you can surmise that this must be an exceptional recording. For whatever reasons, there are always the 1-Star reviews for every singer that most people will ignore if there are goodly number of 5-Star reviews. Judging by the sales volume of the Voice, people are really in love with this album. I purchased this CD and was not disappointed. I, too, enjoyed this CD thoroughly and will look forward to Watson's future albums. He certainly is a different kind of singer, and a good one, at that.

I am a Russell Watson fan and this is not really a review. I just want to rate this album 5 Stars because of the awful people who are so unjustly critical of his album. He is my favorite singer and this is my favorite album.

I absolutely love this CD and cannot possibly say enough good things about it. His voice is amazingly pure and he is not afraid to apply his talents to different kinds of music, from pop to opera. His range is incredible, alternating between rich and powerful and light and haunting, not only between songs, but even within the same song. It is only unfortunate that he is not getting as much coverage here in the U.S. as I think he deserves. Anyone who criticizes his voice by comparing him to other more famous tenors misses the whole point. Here is a young man who has years to bring his voice to full fruition, although I already find it outstanding, and he brings to his songs a youthful energy and playfulness that appeals to those of us who enjoy music for what it is without needing to be snooty simply because it is "opera". I heard him say in an interview that when he hears someone say they do not like opera, he replies, "Oh really. What kind of opera do you not like?" to which they usually have no response. If you know someone who "doesn't like opera", try playing this CD for them. If this doesn't change their mind, nothing will.

I agree with everything that has been said about this album by the favorable reviews. It is a one-of-a-kind CD. Russell Watson's singing is extraordinary. I particularly loved La donna e mobile and Panis angelicus. Although I preferred Watson's concert tour version of Barcelona and Miserere better than the CD versions, the entire album is still wonderful. Anyone who loves the tenor voice will not want to be without this classic album.

It's been a long time since a singer has caught my attention as Russell Watson has. I first saw Watson in a public television special and have been a fan of his since then. I'm not an expert in music but I can certainly distinguish between a great, good or average voice. If Russell Watson's voice were as inadequate as some of the negative reviews say, I would not have watched the television special or purchased this CD. Many singers can make the transition from Classical to say Broadway stage musicals without sounding uncomfortable or from Rock to pop tunes, but the transition from rock-pop to Classical is unheard of. Russell Watson does this and he may not sing every song in this CD with perfection, but does anyone? Despite any imperfections claimed by the critics, I prefer Watson's version of every song on this CD. Most important for me is that I thoroughly enjoy listening to his magnificent voice and appreciate this great talent. Others may view it differently, but that's their choice. I am eagerly looking forward to all of his future albums and concert tours.