Roberto Alagna ~ Serenades
Like many operatic crossover efforts, this one has its ups and downs,  but at least Robert Alagna is at home with this mixture of popular songs and  more song-like arias, such as Mozart's Serenade fromDon Giovanniand  works by Bizet and Rossini. At times, he stretches his voice to the limits of  his lower range, but the high notes are healthy and beautiful, and his manner  consistently committed and passionate. The modesty and hominess of the acoustic  guitar accompaniments have surprising charm, however limited the tonal palette  may be.--David Patrick Stearns