Customer Reviews

100 years of Mariachi

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

My review for this CD brings up the same points as my review for "Flamenco" by Pepe Romero in that in both these cases, you have musicians who have spent most of thier careers in classical music and have tried their hand at a different genre.

And just as the case with Pepe Romero and Flamenco, 100 años of Mariachi gives us wonderful performances... refined, precise, not lacking anything on the surface. No doubt, Domingo sings wonderfully... but will not please "afficionados" who feel the music should have a certain earthiness and rawness of emotion only gained through years and years of specializing and living this type of music only.

Long ago as a teenager living in Mexico, Placido Domingo sang much Mariachi music for pleasure (himself a big fan of the ranchera greats) before he decided to concentrate all his energy on training for a full-time opera career. So this style of music is by no means "unnatural" for him to sing now or is it out of place for him as, say, American Broadway show tunes. However, he also admitted he could not produce the full range of mariachi vocal technique because such would possibly damage his voice for his operas.

Taking all that into consideration, I did enjoy this CD very much. I personally found Domingo's singing style highly refined yet strongly masculine... very much proper for this music. And always showing impeccable good taste and wonderful musicianship. What I always admired about Domingo is no matter what type of music he ventures into, he really tries his best to prepare and "live" the music as an actor does for a role. Don't be dissuaded by those claiming a mere opera singer can't sound convincing in Mariachi, or that he brings "nothing" to this music... as soon as I played this CD and Domingo sang the first phrase of "Paloma Querida", I was sold. Of course, Domingo is not a genuine ranchera specialist. But there are times when one can't help but believe he is based on his performance here.

I highly reccomend this CD for those new to Mariachi music, or for those more concerned with wonderful singing of this music in a general sense. True afficionados will of course prefer the genuine interpreters of yesterday and today and give this one a pass. But given the extremely poor taste of multitudes of singers who tried this music in recent years, I find it hard to believe that Domingo, with his wonderfully refined singing, could be dismissed by anybody.

Mariachi music is operatic in its themes (it is larger than life in its passions) and the musical voice and ranges that it requires. Combining beautiful ballads and Placido Domingo's voice is an amazing combination. I had not been a big Mariachi music lover, but this is simply some of the most romantic music I have ever heard. It is emotion-invoking and gorgeous to hear. What a great concept, and what a great execution.

I love Mariachi music, and I love Placido Domingo, so this is a perfect combination. The CD is beautiful, with a wonderful selection of old favorite Mariachi songs -- especially the Jose Alfredo Jimenez selections.

Placido Domingo who is known as a world-famous Spanish opera tenor shows his roots on this CD. Growing up in Mexico, he clearly developed a sensitivity for this type of music which coupled with his great voice gives us un-equalled renditons of all-time favorites...

The emphasis is on the music, and with a voice unequalled by
typical interprets, this gives us a must-have CD!

The rich country music of Mexico is given a serious treatment here by one of the finest voices ever. Music critic Ramiro Burr called this music the "Heartland music of Mexico," and he is right. Just like country and the cowboy is part of the US, mariachi and charros define the Mexican icon, as expressed eloquently in Burr's "Billboard Guide to Tejano and regional Mexican music," published by Billboard Books.

This is like Jorge Negrete with modern day production! Domingo's interpretations of classic mariachi music is heartfelt and just plain beautiful! And the insert is very informative, you don't have to be into opera to enjoy this one!

I was given a boxed set of cds for Christmas and there just happened to be one Mariachi song by Placido Domingo on it. I was so besotted by it that I had to try and find out more about it. I am a Scottish person who does not understand any Spanish but this music is so catchy and lyrical that one can't help but enjoy it. The fact that Placido Domingo is doing the singing is just the icing on the cake. I will certainly be trying to filnd out more about it. Try it. You'll be just a smitten as I am.

Sometimes, when "classical" musicians crossover into other genres, the results can be a mushy mess of delicate popular songs or folk songs being beat to death through a heavy-handed symphonic filter.

This Cd, however, is a happy exception. It is quite amazing how Placido with his Operatic style, retains a Mariachi flavor. Placido, is in fact, so smooth, that one is inclined to forget his Three Tenors status, and imagine him as rather a street Mariachi. Perhaps Placido's masterful technique comes from his experience as a conductor, as well as, a singer.

I am a fan of Placido Domingo...the Opera & Zarzuela Singer...not the Ranchera singer, not the Broadway song singer, not the ballad singer. Placido is great at what he does, but his style on most popular is monotonous and he really doesn't bring anything to the table. I whole heartedly recommend Jorge Negrete for hard-core rancheras. Even Vicente Fernandez' performance on "Joyas Rancheras" is a much better recording of this genre.

As an admirer or Placido Domingo and a lover of Mariachi, this CD does not disappoint in any way. A beautiful performance.