Ramón Vargas: In My Heart - 17th & 18th Century Italian Songs
Those who prefer 17th- and 18th-century music performed in a  "historically correct" manner may balk, but these "old songs and arias"  ("arie antiche") are beautifully presented and sung. It's not that  Ramón Vargas approaches them in a verismo style or that he overexclaims them. Rather, he sings with ardor, generous portamento, and a Romantic, cushioned  voice filled with vibrato and expression. At the same time, Vargas embellishes  the vocal line in very much the style popular and proper 200 and 300 years  ago, and these embellishments are attractive and in excellent taste. But the  voice is the thing, and it's gorgeous and beautifully used. The opening,  earliest song (for instance) is sung sweetly and softly from start to finish--it's hard to recall the last time one heard such sustained elegant, gentle  vocalism from a major tenor. Vargas never overstates his case, and by refusing to do so, sells us these brief, lovely items one at a time. Another winner  from this unique tenor.--Robert Levine