Ten Top Tenors. Decca 2 CDs
The recordings do present a good opportunity to compare a number of famous voices, allowing comparisons and contrasts.
It is also interesting to hear how some voices and styles developed over time, as some of the 48 tracks are taken from earlier decades.
Eight of the soloists (backed by famous orchestras and conductors) are still active: Roberto Alagna, Andrea Bocelli, Joseph Calleja, Jose Carreras, Placido Domingo, Juan Diego Florez, Jonas Kaufmann and Rolando Villazon.
Luciano Pavarotti (d. 2007) and Fritz Wunderlich (d. 1966) make up the 10.
The tenors are heard in items from their signature repertoire.
Highlights of CD 1: track 1 is Pavarotti (nickname "King of the High Cs'') singing Nessun dorma, with the London Philharmonic Orchestra under Zubin Mehta.
He also features in three other arias, Kaufman sings the romantic arias from Carmen and Tosca, Villazon sings Handel, Wunderlich sings Mozart, Carreras excels in bel canto, Florez copes with the nine top Cs in Ah! mes amis from La Fille du regiment.
CD 2 entertains with these 10 fine voices in film themes, art song, sacred music, Neapolitan and Sicilian songs, etc.
Look out for fine performances with notable assistance from other musicians: bass-baritone Bryn Terfel with Bocelli, violinist Nicola Benedetti with Calleja, composer Ramfrez plays piano and harpsichord for Carreras in the Kyrie from his Missa Criola.
Verdict: As the cover proclaims, "Collect them all!''.
- Geoff Adams
