Encore

Russell Watson (Artist), Leonard Bernstein (Artist)

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 1, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Decca
• ASIN: B00006JI9W
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1,526 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #63,287 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Following up on the release of his debut CD, The Voice, Russell Watson is back with Encore, another mix of opera favorites and popular songs. By now Watson has become virtually a household name--he sells out large concert venues and remains on the top-seller charts. On Encore, we find Puccini and Verdi sharing the billing with Lulu and Lionel Ritchie on the CD's 16 tracks, which range from the much-loved Bach-Gounod "Ave Maria" to "Where My Heart Will Take Me," the theme for Enterprise (the latest Star Trek TV series). Indeed, a more fitting title might have been The Voices, since Watson explores opera, sacred works, film, television themes, and pop songs. The orchestral arrangements on tracks such as "Va, Pensiero" may not win him any fans from the opera contingency, but Watson reveals a captivating sound on pop ballads, including "You Are So Beautiful" and "Somewhere." If you enjoyed The Voice, you're certain to want an encore. --Rebecca Agnew

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

62 of 64 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Most talented singer in the world, October 16, 2002

By A Customer

Are the critics listening to the same CD, I'm listening to? Being a fan of Watson, my wife submitted a review for the Encore NZ and now I'm doing it for this US version. She just bought the latest version of Encore as a gift for me. It is fantastic!

I swear Russell Watson comes up with a new voice every time! His new track, " Is Nothing Sacred" is sung with style, in a voice that is definitely pop, clear, not a raspy-type voice as in some of his songs, and, believe me, no critic can complain about this. If they do, it's a malicious person. He has, however, developed his raspy pop voice to the utmost on "I Just Don't Know How I Got By" and "Bohemian Rhapsody" is absolutely out of this world in more ways than one. An imaginative and completely different adaptation of this song. Russell at his best!

His classical arias, "Ave Maria", "E lucevan le stelle", and "0 sole mio" can't be beat! I've heard Italian tenors sing the latter two classics and Russell compares very favorably or better with some of the singers.

His use of two voices in Va pensiero and his duet with Lulu in "The Prayer" is what Watson is all about, a talented, versatile singer that you never get tired listening to.

This guy is the most talented singer in the world! Buy this album if you never want to get tired of listening to the same album.

50 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Even MORE variety than his first - an AMAZING collection!, October 2, 2002

By	Paula Wholey (Phila suburbs, PA, USA) - See all my reviews

Having been tuned into Russell Watson from the very first, we'd been lucky enough to be part of his American debut in Atlantic City, July 2001 - and win passes to meet him backstage! What an EXTRAORDINARY NIGHT! And he proved to be JUST as charming and lovable in person as you might imagine! He performed many new songs that night - like O Sole Mio and The Prayer - which were NOT on his original CD, THE VOICE, so we knew more than a year ago that ENCORE would be FABULOUS when it came out, in late 2001 or early 2002. We'd purchased THE VOICE for more than a dozen friends, and even bought a half dozen copies of the BRITISH release of ENCORE last Christmas (2001) from Amazon UK, long before its release here in the States yesterday (10/1/02). We just loved it and had played it into the ground, but having the UK one didn't stop us from going right out TODAY and buying the AMERICAN version, just released - as it promised 3 MORE CUTS than the UK one, including Russell's much-awaited version of Queen/Freddie Mercury's BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY! Yes, you heard me right! I think Freddie Mercury would be pleased - Russell delivers Rhapsody with his unique style and his own individual touches, but with an obvious affection for the original! And the rest of the album - an absolute delight! Even more varied than THE VOICE - coupling many classic arias, ably delivered and demonstrating the growth and maturity we, his devoted fans, expected to hear develop in his wonderful voice as he learned how to use it to full advantage. He is so much stronger now - holding notes long and fully, with no strain whatsoever. But it is the vocal VARIETY he is capable of, in his pop tunes, that is totally amazing- you can hardly believe it is the same guy from tune to tune! You've never heard anything like HIM! He moves from an old standard like VOLARE or the classic SOMEWHERE, from West Side Story - then suddenly comes at you with AVE MARIA, sung with all the reverence it deserves! Then he switches to one of his wonderful pop duets - with the likes of LULU and LIONEL RITCHIE - he has really learned how to pick the perfect duet partners for the tunes he's chosen! There is so much painful meaning when he sings "IS NOTHING SACRED (anymore, is Forever just another word?), with the sad autobiographical realization that his own marriage crumbled under the weight of his sudden success. Knowing what happened in his personal life last year, and how rarely he gets to see his 2 little girls now, well - hearing him sing that one just brought me to tears! And then - the true test - singing an original, inspirational song, written just for him - as was the title theme of the new Star Trek TV series, ENTERPRISE - called going "Where My Heart Will Take Me" Just put that on when you're tired or feeling a bit down in the dumps, and Russell's ENTERPRISE theme will surge through you and exhilarate you! If you have THE VOICE already, you must go right out and get the US VERSION of ENCORE IMMEDIATELY - 16 cuts of absolute MAGIC! ENJOY! I know you WILL!

47 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Quite impressive on Larry King Show, October 31, 2002

By	B. Edwards - See all my reviews

I saw Russell Watson on the Larry King Show for only about three minutes but he thoroughly impressed me in that short time singing some song in a pop voice, then suddenly switching gears into a powerful operatic tenor voice. Quite impressive.

After listening to this intriguing voice, I came to order Encore and read some of the reviews which are laughable. The favorable reviews are written by fans in love with Russell or people like myself who are amazed by this singer. Russell Watson fans should not get overly excited about the critical reviews. Anyone with common sense will realize that the critical reviews are written by elitists opera buffs or a group of hate-Watson club members. It's unfortunate that the 1 Star ratings tend to downgrade the CD so I guess it's just a matter of more fans writing why they like the album rather than talking about the critics. Anyway, it's easy to dismiss these reviews.

I can't wait to hear Encore based on what I heard on the King show. This guy can sing!