Una furtiva lagrima - Juan Diego Florez
Una Furtiva Lagrima - Juan Diego Florez
It would be difficult to find another tenor anywhere who is in such command of the belcanto repertoire.
Juan Diego Florez is a very well trained musician not just an overnight sensation. Voices like his come
around every ten years, if we are lucky. This CD belongs in every record collection of great voices.

Mistaken Composer
While it was a nice recording your listing is incorrect. The correct composer of "Una furtiva lagrima" is Donizetti, not Bellini. Please review your data.

Una Furtiva Lagrima
After hearing the first track ("Allegro io son") on our local station (www.allclassical.org), I immediately bought this album. I was a little nervous that there would only be one good track, but (after listening _many_ times) consider most of the tracks to be "keepers". The title track is very moving, but my personal favorite is "Com'e gentil", for the wonderful match of voice and instrument.

Some of the tracks are a little heavy on the recitative, but the album notes include the translation, which makes it more interesting to listen to.

Juan Over
When it comes to reviewing classical music, I feel a little bit like a hillbilly at the opera. I really like it, but I'm not all that sure what's going on. And like that hillbilly at the opera (there aren't any hillbillies out there, reading this are there -- Mammy? Pappy)? I love classical music, but I can't honestly say I know much about it.

What I DO know is that to my untrained ear, Mr. Florez' voice is incredibly beautiful, a pleasure to revel in. Listening to his "Una furtiva lagrima" seems to transport me to another time and place. His voice is warm and tender and seems to soar effortlessly as he hits one high note after another and is worthy of appreciation by fans of any music style.

If you want an album filled with exquisite singing, this would certainly be a fine place to start.

Florez Continues to Impress
Too often singers arrive on the musical scene, make one recording, catch the glamour star, only to recede into the background once the initial flourish is made. Not so with Peruvian bel canto tenor Juan Diego Florez. The resounding success of his first album of ROSSINI ARIAS made us hold our breath; could this wonderful new true bel canto tenor hold his own on the stage and on further recordings? Well, yes, he can and has. Not only does he possess a clear, focused, high tenor voice seemingly capable of overcoming any hurdles of power or agility, Juan Diego Florez is a stunning stage presence of handsome bearing. AND he can act with both his body and his head and his voice. UNA FURTIVA LAGRIMA shows Florez in firm control of a broader spectrum of emotional material. True, this selection remains in the bel canto repertoire, but then that is also to his credit, as he is not trying to "sing it all". He has the intelligence to know where his vocal lines are most secure and does not give in to the tendency of foraging into repertoire that could damage his young voice. On this recording there is less distraction from his rather rapid vibrato and more emphasis on the total music line. This CD documents not only a fine tenor currently before the public: it also is a good indicator that he will be around for a long time. Excellent recording, well worth its place in your library.