CD-Charts Position 1
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Duets

by: Anna Netrebko, Rolando Villazon

Release Date March 19, 2007
I approached this CD with caution given the hype that has surrounded recent appearances of both singers. I must confess that contrary to my expectations I was deeply moved by the singing here which recalls other great operatic couples of the past, Callas and di Stefano, Tebaldi and del Monaco. The recording has rarely been far from my CD player for the past two weeks.

As with the legendary couples from the past, there is something uneven about the two voices. Netrebko's voice is not a warm voice but is beautifully focused, always on the note and has to my ears a dark unjuicy quality. It is a stunning voice. Villazon, by contrast, has a voice that could hardly be described as beautiful the way that Corelli's, Pavarotti's or Domingo's ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

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Cielo e mar

by: Rolando Villazon Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano Giuseppe Verdi Daniele Callegari

Release Date June 02, 2008

Living in Muscat/ Oman, working in abu Dhabi and Dubai/ Emirates, and travelling for business reasons all over the Gulf region, I like to discuss with my Arabian friends and my customers about the music in both cultures, the Western European and North American music, and the Oriental music.

We enjoy to listen to the best musicians and most popular artists of both cultures. We travel to all the places where the world-famous Lebanese singer "Fayrouz" has a performance, and we enjoy to listen to European opera singers. One of our favourites is ROLANDI VILLAZON! He is deeply admired and truly appreciated in the Oriental world, too!


... a portrait of Rolando Villazon:

Rolando Villazón is internationally ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

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Puccini: La Bohème

by: Giacomo Puccini, Bertrand de Billy, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Rolando Villazón

Release Date May 12, 2008

Living in Muscat/ Oman, working in abu Dhabi and Dubai/ Emirates, and travelling for business reasons all over the Gulf region, I like to discuss with my Arabian friends and my customers about the music in both cultures, the Western European and North American music, and the Oriental music.

We enjoy to listen to the best musicians and most popular artists of both cultures. We travel to all the places where the world-famous Lebanese singer "Fayrouz" has a performance, and we enjoy to listen to European opera singers. One of our favourites is ROLANDI VILLAZON! He is deeply admired and truly appreciated in the Oriental world, too!


... a portrait of Rolando Villazon:

Rolando Villazón is internationally ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

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Duets

by: Anna Netrebko, Rolando Villazon

Release Date March 26, 2007
Anna Netrebko and Rolando Villazon, dubbed the 'Golden Couple' pair up for an album of beautiful operatic duets. Both singers possess glorious voices and each selection/scene captures the listener, with even two unfamilar items alongside the standard repertoire. I urge people to rather purchase the limited edition package that contains a bonus DVD, which shows the making of the album, as well as the music video for the Boheme duet, directed by Vincent Patterson.

CD-Charts Position 5
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Italian Opera Arias

from: Virgin Classics

Release Date February 02, 2004
This album is okay, Villazón isn’t that bad a tenor really, but I was left with slight disappointment as to the whole package – I felt that it could have somehow been much better than it was. Maybe the repertoire could have been a bit more suited to his voice. He sings arias from Donizetti, Verdi and Puccini, with two obscure Mascagni arias and one from Cilea’s L’arlesiana. The repertoire is in the main obvious, stock-tenor stuff. Any number of tenor albums feature Federico’s lament, Che gelida manina, etc etc. I had the distinct impression that he could have done much better with a different set.

His voice is quite large, in the same manner of Jose Cura. In fact, the two have a very similar tone, possibly ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 6
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Viva Villazon The Best of Rolando Villazon + DVD

by: Rolando Villazon

Release Date November 12, 2007
This album is okay, Villazón isn’t that bad a tenor really, but I was left with slight disappointment as to the whole package – I felt that it could have somehow been much better than it was. Maybe the repertoire could have been a bit more suited to his voice. He sings arias from Donizetti, Verdi and Puccini, with two obscure Mascagni arias and one from Cilea’s L’arlesiana. The repertoire is in the main obvious, stock-tenor stuff. Any number of tenor albums feature Federico’s lament, Che gelida manina, etc etc. I had the distinct impression that he could have done much better with a different set.

His voice is quite large, in the same manner of Jose Cura. In fact, the two have a very similar tone, possibly ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

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Tristan Und Isolde - Placido Domingo

by: Antonio Pappano

Release Date August 01, 2005
whatever the virtues of this production, and there are some, has everyone (bar one) forgotten Melchior/"Tristanissimo" and do they all prefer the hard-edged tone of Nilsson to Flagstad? As for conductors Furtwängler is still unsurpassed - if only it had been Melchior instead of Suthaus and a younger Flagstad!
Bel canto was very much Wagner's ideal (except where dramatically inappropriate) and he would have loathed the "Bayreuth bark".
I admire Domingo for his sincere attempt - but do rather wonder why he didn't try sooner. Did he not want to antagonise his natural audience/market? Also - and I know this point will bore or annoy many but - correctly and expressively pronounced German is a major ingredient in the FULL experience of all Wagner's mature ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 8
Average Rating:

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VIOLETTA - Arias and Duets from Verdi's La Traviata (

by: Anna Netrebko Rolando Villazon Wiener Philharmoniker

Release Date June 11, 2007
whatever the virtues of this production, and there are some, has everyone (bar one) forgotten Melchior/"Tristanissimo" and do they all prefer the hard-edged tone of Nilsson to Flagstad? As for conductors Furtwängler is still unsurpassed - if only it had been Melchior instead of Suthaus and a younger Flagstad!
Bel canto was very much Wagner's ideal (except where dramatically inappropriate) and he would have loathed the "Bayreuth bark".
I admire Domingo for his sincere attempt - but do rather wonder why he didn't try sooner. Did he not want to antagonise his natural audience/market? Also - and I know this point will bore or annoy many but - correctly and expressively pronounced German is a major ingredient in the FULL experience of all Wagner's mature ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 9
Average Rating:

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Verdi: La Traviata

by: Anna Netrebko Rolando Villazon Wiener Philharmoniker

Release Date November 08, 2005
Incredible and brilliant! You have to take into account this is a contemporary production and in set in modern times - not the 19th century. If you are not prepared for this and expect something traditional then look else where. Willi Decker has done a brilliant job here and made something very special. I can't fault it but I reckon its worth seeing the "Bonus DVD" first as this explains the concept and how the production was made. As ever Anna and Rolando were electric on stage, with also a fine performance by Thomas Hampson. Buy it - you won't regret it.

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

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Berlioz - Choral Works

from: EMI Classics

Release Date February 02, 2004
This is a typically vigorous account of some very unusual pieces from Plasson and his excellent Toulouse Orchestra and a local choir. My only slight quibble is with the designation of some of the versions used. I listened to all the pieces with the New Berlioz Edition (NBE) to hand, and can clarify (hopefully) what is actually on offer. On Disc 1, Chant Sacre is actually the one with orchestra (Versions 1 & 2 are both with piano - see Disc 2). Scene Heroique is the longer version (Version 1). On Disc 2, Chant Sacre is actually Version 1 (again, longer) of the two versions with piano. The performances are fine, although the tenor allows himself a gratuitous top B at the end of the Chant du Chemin de Fer. All together, very recommendable.