Track Listing

1. Vincero, Perdero
2. Buongiorno Principessa
3. Sometimes I Dream
4. Luna Rossa
5. Naturaleza Muerta
6. Nights in White Satin (Notte Di Lucce)
7. Ton Eafto Tou Paidi
8. Non Sara'
9. Hijo De La Luna
10. Night Wants To Forget
11. Canzone Arrabbiata
12. A La Luna De Valencia
13. Vincero, Perdero

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #14069 in Music
• Brand: Sony
• Released on: 2002-09-17
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .24 pounds

Amazon.com
Forget the age of battling boy bands, the era of dueling young tenors is upon us. Hot on the heels of Josh Groban's dizzyingly successful, Ally McBeal-fueled debut comes this first international release from African-born, Greek-raised tenor Mario Frangoulis. There are some clear parallels between Groban's debut and this Frangoulis release, but some distinctive differences as well. While Groban coated his slick, David Foster-molded pop sense with a veneer of classical respectability, Frangoulis has effectively turned the formula inside out. With similar classical training--but a few crucial years of experience on his American rival--Frangoulis treats the classics reverently but not slavishly, with the title track effectively turning an aria from Puccini's Tosca into romantic Europop. Elsewhere, the international flavor is further expanded by three melody-rich songs ("Hijo de la Luna," "La Luna de Valencia," and "Naturaleza Muerta") by Spanish singer-songwriter Jose Maria Cano and a sing-along-ready take on the 1950s Neapolitan chestnut "Luna Rossa."

Like Groban, Frangoulis and producer Steve Woods also plumb the music of la cinema italiana for inspiration, turning Nicola Piovani's bittersweet Life Is Beautiful theme into the ponderous "Buongiorno Principessa," but faring better with a moody, dramatic take on Rota-Wertmuller's "Canzone Arribiata." The obligatory rock-pop cover here is the flamenco-inflected "Nights in White Satin", with Frangoulis joined in a bilingual duet with original Moody Blue Justin Hayward that's surprisingly effective. Less showy perhaps than Groban's debut, but a more nuanced and emotionally satisfying album overall. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews

Mediterranean Magic
Mario Frangoulis' gorgeous voice and the exquisite material chosen for this CD make it an outstanding musical experience. It has glorious melodies, and the warmth and passion of his native Greece, with an international flair. Mario sings in 4 languages, and the songs range from operatic to an upbeat, marvelous rendition of the Neapolitan "Luna Rossa," but the entire CD has a cohesiveness in its mood and quality. The arrangements by Steve Wood and the musicianship throughout are superb, lush and lovely, and well balanced with Mario's powerful voice.

The highlight for me is "Sometimes I Dream," a fantastic interpretation of Puccini's aria from "Tosca," "E lucevan le stelle," to which Mario and Steve have added some music and lyrics, and the result is an utterly fabulous song. Another inspired choice is the Moody Blues hit from decades ago, "Nights in White Satin," which is sung with Justin Hayward, the original Moody Blues member who wrote the song.

Accomplished in many areas, Mario is an actor who has performed everything from Shakespeare to the musical "Grease." He is also a violinist, a winner of the Maria Callas Prize, as well as having had a scholarship to New York's famed Juilliard School of Music, and being the only student of the great opera singer Alfredo Kraus. The packaging of the CD is top notch, with the lyrics in their original language with English translations, and lots of photos of this handsome singer, who is sure to be one of the world's big superstars in the coming years, if he continues this level of excellence. Total playing time is 57'26.

ABSOLUTELY EXQUISITE!!
If you love Andrea Bocelli and Josh Groban (I do), you will LOOOOVE Mario as well. The three styles are different, we're not talking who sounds more like the "opera tenor" here. Who the HELL cares!!! This is just pure enjoyment and soul nurturing. Mario sings in English, Italian, Greek and Spanish; and trust me, you will not CARE that you can't understand a word, Mario transmits so much emotion and energy thru his songs that you will enjoy this music, even if you don't understand what he's singing. He is THAT good! I recommend that you also buy the DVD of his live concert (of the same title). It is simply AWESOME! Way to go, Mario! Oh, and the guy that said that women only like Mario because he's cute, GET OVER YOURSELF, and CLEAN THE WAX INSIDE YOUR EARS - you know NOTHING about good music!!

Splendid and an Extraordinary Debut...Bravo!
To a previous reviewer, Divafan7 from Melbourne, Florida: this is a great debut for a purist to acquire. :-) This debut is remarkable! I am espectially fond of the Frangoulis as the composer on his title track, "Sometimes I Dream." He takes an aria from Tosca, "E Lucevan E Stelle..." and integrates into an English-Aria-English-Aria format and sung the piece astoundingly.

In terms of the themes associated with the music, they're heart-felt slow and at times "mushy". I don't mind that! His take on Naturaleza Muerte and Hijo de la Luna are quite different from, say Brightman's version. Frangoulis' interpretation takes us listeners to a slower, romantic perspective than Brightman's up-tempo version.

"Nights in White Satin" is truly wonderful! The piece commences with beautiful acoutic-Spanish guitars that weaves into Mario's voice singing in Italian. Wonderful bedtime music!

If you're a fan of Josh Groban, Andrea Bocelli, or classical vocal crossover in general and even a purist like myself, give this album a try. I look forward to hearing more about this new tenor and perhaps a recording of Verdi arias in the future?

Great CD, great music! Five stars!!!