Track Listing

1. Questa O Quella (Act I) [Rigoletto]
2. Parmi Veder le Lagrime... Possente Amor Mi Chia [Rigoletto]
3. La Donna E Mobile (Act III) [Rigoletto]
4. Furtiva Lagrima (Act II, No. 11) [L'Elisir d'Amore]
5. Angelo Casto e Bel [Il Duca d'Alba]
6. Son salvo...A una fonte (Act III, No. 9) [I Puritani]
7. Fra Poco a Me Ricovero [Lucia di Lammermoor]
8. Se Tanto in Ira Agli Uomini [Linda di Chomounix]
9. De' miei bollenti spiriti...O mio rimorso [la Traviata]
10. Spirito Gentil [LA Favorita]

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #171318 in Music
• Released on: 1998-10-20
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .24 pounds

Amazon.com
Though he came to professional singing comparatively late and began to attract the attention of the operatic world only fairly recently, Argentinian tenor Marcelo Alvarez already seems launched on a successful career. On this debut recording of Italian arias, he displays a light, sweet voice; a ringing, easy top; a basically lyrical temperament; and honestly felt, natural expressiveness--only the three familiar arias from Verdi's Rigoletto are a bit fussy and exaggerated. Though the mixed program does not give him much opportunity for sustained characterization, he does match the color and intensity of his voice to the situation. Among the highlights are a beautiful extended scene from Bellini's I puritani with soprano Ying Huang; arias from Donizetti's Linda di Chamonix and La favorita, the latter culminating in a splendid high C; and a lively cabaletta from Verdi's La traviata. The orchestra tends to be too discreet. --Edith Eisler

USA Today
[Alvarez's] voice is rich, flexible and unforced, with a keen relationship to the words and flashes of genuine temperament that one rarely hears in such young artists.

Customer Reviews

A great voice used well.
Mr. Alvarez has a wonderful vocal instrument, and his technique is marvellous. He is true bel canto. Nothing is ever forced or lacking in beauty. Fine diction and flawless Italian pronunction. Even when the voice rises in intensity, the sound remains lustrous and golden. The liner notes indicate that he is a wise steward of his voice as well, choosing his repetoire carefully and planning ahead as to when he will attempt certain things. I look forward to hearing him sing Cavaridossi in a few years. In the meantime, you will not be disappointed by this collection. It is simply great singing.

What is it with the numbers?
I refuse to call this guy the 4th tenor because there are lots of good tenors, always have been. But I do think Marcelo Alvarez is in line to inherit the mantle. Here he puts his agile voice through all the paces. It is a sweet voice, with power-like a velvet glove over a hammer! Never does it sound harsh or forced. I also like that he used "longer cuts" from scenes including duets and ensembles instead of the usual "Greatest Hits" (altho i like those too) But for me the most attractive and appealing element is the absolute joyful quality of his voice, like he is singing for the sheer pleasure of it. Thank you, Marcello, the pleasure is all mine!

An Exciting Tenor with a Wonderful Voice
I bought this disk about a year ago. It was as if I were transported back to the time when tenors had beautiful, dramatic, exciting voices. Think of Corelli, for example. I thought that maybe this was just the disk (nevertheless, a good reason to buy it). However, I recently saw him sing the Duke in Rigoletto at the Met. The elctricity went on whenever he came on stage (unfortunately, Sumi Jo's dismal Gilda turned the elctricity right off whenever he walked off stage). I love Domingo and Pavarotti. But, Domingo does not excell in this reperatory (i.e., Rigoletto) and as Beautiful as Pavarotti sings, he is not really beliveable in the role. Alvarez' singing on this disk is every bit as exciting as his Met performances. If you think there are no great tenors on the horizon, listen to this to change your mind. I can't wait to here more from Alvarez.