[.ca] Tenor Arias

The most under-rated tenor of today:
When you hear the seemingly endless "fourth tenor" talk, you rarely hear the name Marcello Giordani. This is both good and bad. The good part is that every artist needs to be appreciated as an individual, not simply as a "second XYZ tenor". Another good aspect is that given the context of this discussion, we probably will not see Giordani making a foray into the glitzy world of pop music. The bad part, though, is that the man and his art are not well known on this side of the Atlantic safe for the recent run of "Eugeny Onegin" at the MET. There are precious few commercial recordings available with him, a notable exception being recently released complete "Jerusalem" under Luisi. So it's a small miracle of sorts that we're able to get this CD, and at an extremely low price. The voice itself never fails to impress. It has a marvelous bronze ring and a well-focused top, with velvety "baritonal" timbre. It pleasantly reminded this listener of young Jose Carreras. This is a voice that's perfect for early Verdian romantic hero roles, as well as the roles of bel-canto repertoire. This disc, therefore, is a showcase for Giordani's skill in these areas since Verdi, Bellini, and Rossini are prominently featured. Do not delay in getting this CD, this is a tenor you have to hear.

Don't pass this one by as just another tenor/aria indulgence:
It took a couple of years to be released but finally it's here and well worth the wait. Giordani's voice embraces fluidly the Italian as well as the French. His flexibility is astounding with no perception of a struggle to attain those notes, high and low. Equally wonderful is Steven Mercurio's always "note-worthy" orchestrations. Mercurio's arrangement of Track 6 and Giordani's excellent vocals, make this a standout on the CD. Another favorite is Bizet's "La fleur..." Giordani's voice really shines in this piece with sweet passion from start to finish. As a whole this CD is full of great music. Every track is a gem. I look forward to future works from both Giordani and Mercurio. Superb CD!

• Asile Hereditaire
• Ah! Mes Amis, Quel Jour De Fete!
• Un Ange, Une Femme Inconnue
• Nel Furor Delle Tempeste
• Per Te Di Vane Lagrime
• Torna, Vezzosa Fillide (Chamber Aria)
• Son Giunto!
• La Fleur Que Tu M'avais Jetee
• La Mia Letizia Infondere
• Quando Le Sere Al Placido
• Ah, Si, Ben Mio, Coll'essere
• Di Quella Pira L'orrendo Foco
• Mamma, Quel Vino E Generoso