Search - Roberto Alagna, Lso, Smith :: Christmas Album

ALAGNA CHRISTMAS ALBUM NOW ON DGG

Operaman! | Chicago, IL United States | 10/24/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is the same album that had been released earlier on EMI. Through some odd licensing situation, all of Alagna's recital CDs have been reissued on DGG. The contents are the same so you will not have to go on a CD hunt to find the deleted EMI version, and if you already own the EMI, you don't have to replace it.



My earlier review stated that I enjoyed Mr. Alagna's Christmas album with some reservations. I bought and then "buried" this CD among the nearly 200 or so holiday CDs I own (both "pops" and classical) that I listen to during the holiday season. I was afraid it would be as tepid and predictable as the other holiday offering Mr. Alagna recorded (B000002RWZ) with the ho-ho-hum contributions of Mr. Hampson and Dame Kiri. I got this one out and gave it a listen, and find it quite lovely and atmospheric. There is a wonderful enthusiasm and joy to Alagna's singing here (including Jingle Bells in Italian and French!). One thing I have to give to Mr. Alagna is his blending the familiar with the less so, and this has been the case with his classical CDs as well. In an age where there is so much sameness and mediocirty in the rapidly diminishing classical CD market, it's a big plus. Give this one a try, and don't bury it in the back of your Christmas CDs like I did!"