For Lovers Only: The Romantic Pavarotti
These three CDs (one is a bonus, with alternate versions of some arias), containing 35 selections, present Pavarotti in his best voice (every aria here was recorded in or near his prime) and at his most engaging. In the 14 songs, mostly Neapolitan (but a couple simply popular, like "Volare," which was a hit in the 1950s) we find the tenor perfectly in his idiom, with "Turna a Sorriento" and "O sole mio" sung with just the passion and extroversion they need, and "Non Ti Scordar di Me" handled with sensitivity and warmth. The arias are invariably from operas closely identified with Pavarotti: we get superb performances of excerpts fromLa Bohème,L'elisir d'amore("Una furtuva lagrima," sung meltingly),Lucia di Lammermoor(the final scene),Rigoletto,La favorita,La fille du regiment(with its nine high Cs),Tosca, and, of course,Turandot. And in addition, the tenor gives us two Mozart arias and some French arias, all of which exhibit the golden tone, easy top and inherent sunlight-in-the-voice that made him famous. This set is ideal for those who have always wondered what all the fuss was about: it was about gorgeous singing. And sold at this remarkable bargain price, it's irresistible.--Robert Levine