Track Listing

1. Caccini/Mercurio: Ave Maria
2. Mascagni: Sancta Maria
3. Gounod: Ave Maria
4. Schubert: Ave Maria
5. Franck: Panis Angelicus
6. Rossini: Cuius animam
7. Verdi: Ingemisco
8. Mozart: Ave verum
9. Wagner: Der Engel
10. Handel: Ombra mai fu
11. Niedermeyer: Pieta signore
12. Rossini: Dominus Deus
13. Schubert/Mercurio: Mille Cherubini in coro
14. Gruber/Mercurio: Silent Night
15. Wade: Adeste Fideles
16. Gloria a Te, Christo Gesu

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #22983 in Music
• Released on: 1999-11-09
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.com
When he was growing up, Andrea Bocelli recalls finding inspiration in a favorite recording of sacred music performed by tenor legend Franco Corelli. Bocelli--who in the meantime has come to inspire millions of fiercely loyal fans himself--returns to the genre as the guiding theme of Sacred Arias, the release of which coincides with the first English-language biography of the singer. These performances are filled with the singer's phenomenally well-known vocal signature: his flair for long, sweetly floating high notes and the gentle sense of cadence he brings to a melody. It's a mistake to compartmentalize Bocelli into a singer of "operatic" versus "popular" styles: in truth his approach is at heart the same. Lack of color and control in his phrasing remains a drawback, but the emotional empathy Bocelli evokes is never in doubt. The arias collected here sample some of the most famous devotional pieces: Schubert's "Ave Maria" and Mozart's transporting "Ave Verum," as well as an arrangement of "Silent Night" in which Bocelli tries out his English. There's also a decidedly odd choice of bedfellows for a program of "sacred" music, such as a song from Wagner's Wesendonck Lieder (whose "angel" is the object of an overpoweringly erotic attraction) and Handel's figurative ode to a tree, "Ombra mai fu." Still, Bocelli sings with an unfeigned directness that is sure to expand his already enormous following even further. --Thomas May

Customer Reviews

Spiritually uplifting
"Sacred Arias" was my first Bocelli CD (it hasn't been my last!). As a pastor, seminary student, and lover of classical music (especially sacred music) I was drawn to it the moment I saw it. And, when I first listened to it, I was not disappointed. I find each of the arias to be tremendously inspiring. But, the "Sancta Maria" brought tears to my eyes when I first heard it. This CD provides me with 62:22 minutes of worship as I listen to each of these beautifully sung praises and prayers that have served as a testimony of faith over time. It is obvious that these pieces are dear to Bocelli's heart because his heart is definitely in his interpretation of them.

A note for reviewer Nicole Kimberly of January 25, 2000. She had asked for the choral music for the "Gloria a te, Christo Gesu." It probably is not available yet. If I am not mistaken, this piece was written specifically for the Roman Catholic Jubilee Celebration of the new milennium, and Bocelli publically debuted this hymn at the start of the Vatican Christmas Service Christmas day, which marked the beginning of the Jubilee Celebration. Bocelli was honored by being selected by the Pope to sing this hymn for that special celebration.

Bocelli sings well here, even if he can't sing opera
I watched the PBS special sometime around the holdays which featured this album of Bocelli's. Hearing the wonderful acoustics in that glorius church took the somewhat well-known songs to an almost ethereal level. It was wonderful to hear other versions of Ave Maria that I haven't heard performed in a long while. Overall, I guess I can't say much more than what the critic Thomas May wrote. Yes, Bocelli doesn't have much color nor much style of phrasing, but he still has that wonderful quality to transport the human spirit to a different level. He can definitely do it with this album, seeing as it contains many smooth tempoed free-flowing art songs and traditional pieces. The focus on this recording was not on arias, and thus no one should be stating that he can't sing these classical pieces because they hate the way he sings opera. I feel that this compilation of sacred songs(even though some are not) is a good one, with a sweet, lulling voice singing them. Bocelli sings well, and if one does like his voice, they will love this CD. People who don't like him shouldn't even bother listening, because all they'll find is something wrong. If they don't like him, why are they even looking at his recordings?... Anyways, I do digress, this is a wonderful CD.

The Tenor Sings Gregorian
This is a very fine album which I enjoy immensely. Andre Bocelli's tenor voice is a pleasure to listen to. He has scored 5 Stars with me. His various versions of "Ave Maria" are splendidly performed. It is a best-loved religious song. "Panis Angelicus" is sung so well, so meaningful, which is the way the song is to be sung. The song is from 1871, when Franck was a resident organist at St. Clotilde in Paris. The work was originally scored for tenor, organ, cello, harp, and double-bass. Mr. Bocelli has done an album worthy to be in anyone's collection, especially if you are a 'music lover.' The material that is covered on the album is directly related to 'The Mass' as it has been sung in the past generations of the Holy Roman Catholic Church, most specifically done in Gregorian Chant. The listener is taken back to a time pre-Vatican II. A most pleasing voice has taken me back to my childhood singing in the choir, as I have sung most of these songs also. And, I was pleasured by these wonderful songs then and now. Another beautiful song is "Pieta, Signore." Someone whom may enjoy this album may also enjoy listening to Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavorotti, and also, Michael Bolton. They all are tenors with beautiful voices. The song "Ave Maria" has also been sung by the three above-mentioned artistes. This album is comparable to the other artistes' rendition's of "Ave Maria" that has been sung also by the above. I would highly recommend this album to any one who appreciates the sound of an excellent tenor such as Andre Bocelli.