Passion - 13 songs adapted from popular classics - José Carreras (tenor); The English Concert Singers; Angel Orchestra of London/Michael Reed; John Cameron; David Firman - Erato 0630 12596-2 - 50:35 DDD

Hearing Erato's "Passion" I felt uniquely privileged, like a first-nighter at Springtime for Hitler. Remember that TV rugby theme, extracted without anaesthetic from The Planets, and sung by Dame Kiri to saccharine words - and to others by rugger heavies? Or what Song of Norway does to Grieg's Piano Concerto?

Well, here some previously respected lyricists do the same to the Concierto de Aranjuez, Brahms's Fourth, the New World (twice), Mozart's Clarinet Concerto, Beethoven's Pathétique Sonata, Liszt's Liebestraum... quite a long list really. I hope you need never know just how long: unfortunately I do. The arrangements and recording are so soupy this could be Humperdinck (the other one) except for the fractured English - "a lankwidge" as Carreras unsteadily croons to Brahms, "no-one understands." You can admire Carreras, you can like light music, you can stand popularising classics - Fantasia, for example: I do. But cruelty to defenceless compositions is another matter. And that, oh Best Beloved, is how the Reviewer got his hump.

Rating: (1 of 5 stars). Passion - tasteless turn-off

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