José Carreras Sings Zarzuelas. English Chamber Orchestra/ Enrique Ricci Erato 95789-5429

In Nov/Dec 1988 we reviewed the CD reissue of the zarzuela arias Carreras recorded in 1977 with this same orchestra conducted by Antoni Ros-Marba. That was a wonderful set, and his singing was really beautiful. Philips issued it on LP, but the CD came from Koch (Ensayo in Spain). The Erato at hand is a new recording, and the voice has lost a lot of its ease and glow and beautiful overtones. It is harder, and it sounds like he struggles quite a bit to project it. (For example, in track 13 he wobbles terribly.) But it’s still a marvelous voice most of the time, and his expression is if anything stronger. As far as I can tell, there are no duplications these are all pieces he never recorded before. If the Guerrero ‘Canto a la espada’ was on the other disc, it was sung so much slower there that it’s not recognizable as the same music (and is the key different, too?). Mr. Carreras is joined in a few numbers by Isabel Rey. She also sings two arias by herself. She sounds like a little girl such is the innocence of her voice.

This is worth having, since Carreras does zarzuela better than any other major tenor; but if you have the Koch 321948 (still available, I think), that may be enough. It is for me.

Copyright © 1995 Record Guide Productions.