1 The Italian Girl in Algiers Lindoro's Cavatina
'In dreams of endless pleasure'
2 Stabat Mater
3 Count Ory Count's Cavatina 'May destiny befriend you'
4 Moses in Egypt Amenophis' & Pharaoh's Duet
'The blow at last has fallen' with Alan Opie, baritone
Mozart
5 Don Giovanni Don Ottavio's Recitative & Aria
'Could I ever believe' - 'Her joy is my joy'
Stravinsky
6 The Rake's Progress Tom Rakewell's Recitative & Aria
'Here I stand' - 'Since it is now my merit'
Donizetti
7 Don Pasquale Ernesto's Prelude & Aria
'Poor lost Ernesto' - 'I shall go, no more returning'
8 The Elixir of Love Nemorino's Romance 'Only one teardrop'
Rossini
9 Ermione Orestes' & Pilades' Recitative & Cavatina
'Palace of horrors!' - 'Ah, how can I hide the flames'
with Alfred Boe
10 The Thieving Magpie Giannetto's Aria
'Darling! Darling, let me embrace you!'
with the Geoffrey Mitchell Choir
11 Armida Trio of Rinaldo, Carlo & Ubaldo
'I lost the will to action'
with tenors Bruce Ford & Dennis O'Neill
Mascagni
12 Our Friend Fritz Cherry Duet 'Suzel, good morning!'
with Janice Watson, soprano
Donizetti
13 Don Pasquale Ernesto's Serenade 'The night is calm'
with Geoffrey Mitchell Choir
London Philharmonic Orchestra - tracks 1-4, 6, 7, 9, 11-13
Philharmonia Orchestra - tracks 5, 8 & 10
David Parry - conductor
Recorded in Blackheath Halls, London
3-7 March 2003 - tracks 1, 11, 12; 24-27 September 2001 - tracks 2-4, 5 & 9; 22-27 August 2000 - track 6; 15, 17, 18;
20 & 21 November 1997 - tracks 7 & 13; 7-11 February 1999 - track 8; 21-23 & 27-28 September 2002 - track 10
Producer - Brian Couzens, Sound engineers - Jonathan Cooper - tracks 1, 6, & 12; Ralph Couzens - other tracks
The Gramophone
‘It is good to see this accomplished singer given the coveted opportunities of a recital disc... a light, well-defined tenor with exceptional ease in the high register and an extensive range... In passage-work his fluency is quite remarkable even in these days when we are becoming used to technical feats which only a few generations ago were thought to have been uniquely the accomplishments of ages past... when I have heard him in the theatre, his light, compact tone has had a shine to it, and, in return, the audience have taken a shine to him.'
Opera Now
‘A much admired British tenor, and a versatile artist. On this release he plays to his strengths in the bel canto repertory, highlighting his delicacy... producing particularly sterling silver tone in the ‘Cujus animam’ from (Rossini’s) Stabat Mater... Engaging contributions too from artists such as Alan Opie, Janice Watson and Alfred Boe, with conductor David Parry showing his competence in this wide range of repertory.’
