This disc, taken mainly from CBS complete operas made before his illness (performance dates are not included), reminds us of the remarkable endurance of José Carreras. The singer's vocal obituary has been written many times and his real one seemed for a time near, but Carreras survives. The voice as heard here is not a natural wonder and may never have been as good as some claim to recall, but he communicates passion to today's audience in a way that few others can match. This may not be artistry for the connoisseur, but there's never a lapse in taste. The important thing, though, is that the singing seems to come direct from the heart. It's singing that, despite its faults, is stirring, and the fact that it also has sex appeal doesn't hurt. Indeed, the latter quality helps put across songs one would have thought belonged to the Pinza estate. The choices are a little strange. We get most of the third act of Tosca, but not Recondita Armonia. With Nessun Dorma is the preliminary choral stuff that lasts longer than the aria. From the Chenier final duet we get only the opening tenor statement; when Eva Marton comes in, the sound fades out. But there she is in the very next track, now as Fedora, picking up, it seems, right where she left off.

Copyright © 1993 Record Guide Productions.