Great Operatic Arias Vol. 21

Vocal fanciers have admired Canadian baritone Gerald Finley for quite a while, but he gained stardom with the premiere of John Adams' Dr. Atomic. Here Finley shows off the superb state of his voice in an album of opera arias sung in English. The musicianship and temperament are all there, but Finley lacks the evil intensity needed for Iago's "Mi credo," and moving from Italian to English doesn't help, here or anywhere else. There's a reason that every major opera house has long abandoned opera in translation -- you only have to hear La Traviata in German to concede the point. Boito's powerful, blunt Italian turns into bland poesy in English. The big baritone aria from Tchaikovsky's Iolanta cozies up to Sigmund Romberg. But the British label channdos marches on with their series of full operas in English, helped by a healthy underwrite.

If you can get past the language issue, Finley clearly deserves his international standing. Oppenheimer's most lyrical aria from Dr. Atomic, "Batter my heart," set to Donne's sonnet, could hardly be better. For rarities we get a selection form Euryanthe, Londa di Chamounix, and (rarer still) Turnage's The Silver Tassie -- although modern, this last is quite melodious and touching. Every once in a while a translated text works -- that's the case with Wolfram's Ode to the Evening Star from Tannhauser, which Finley sings feelingly. As a crossover tidbit there's "Some Enchanted Evening," Originally meant for a bass but appealing in Finley's rendition. I find is voice more beautiful than those of is contemporaries in the UK, Christopher Maltman and Simon Keenlyside, but after an hour of arias, one does notice a certainly lack of fire and personality in the delivery. Even so, an enjoyable album.

Here's the program:
Adams, J:
Batter My Heart (from Doctor Atomic)

Bizet:
Votre toast je peux vous le rendre 'Toreador Song' (from Carmen)

You're Most Kind, and in Return I Toast You

Donizetti:
Ambo Nati Questa Valle (from Linda di Chamounix)

In This Valley We Shared Our Childhood

Anne-Marie Gibbons (Maddalena)

Mozart:
La ci darem la mano (from Don Giovanni)

There Will My Arms Enfold You

Lucy Crowe (Zerlina)

Puccini:
Tre sbirri...Una carozza...Presto 'Te Deum' (from Tosca)

Three Agents, Quick As You Can, Now

Matthew Long (Spoletta), Geoffrey Mitchell Choir

Rodgers:
Some Enchanted Evening (from South Pacific)

Turnage:
Oh Bring to Me a Pint of Wine (from The Silver Tassie)

Verdi:
Vanne, la tua meta gia vedo...Credo in un Dio crudel (from Otello)

Take it...Yes, I Believe in God

Wagner:
Verachtet mir die Meister nicht (from Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg)

Do Not Disdain Our Masters Thus

O du, mein holder Abendstern (from Tannhäuser)

Look Down, O Gentle Evening Star

Weber:
Wo berg ich mich? (from Euryanthe)

GERALD FINLEY Has the most beautiful voice I've heard in many years. I listen to his CDs and watch his DVDs every day. The man is amazing. Not only does he possess a golden voice, but his expressive talent is far superior to most opera singers...and he's very handsome as well.. A treat for eyes as well as ears!! OMG, I think I'm in love again and I'm 73 years old!!!!

This is my first review. I am a fan of Gerald Finley. I was not aware that this was opera in English. It is exceptional. While I am not into listening to translations of opera, I was extremely happy I have this CD. It is a must in my library of music.

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 3 reviews  4.7 out of 5 stars