[Editor's note: This review originally appeared on the Opera Web site and is re-printed here by the kind permission of the author]

Jose Carreras returned to Chicago, after an eleven year absence, to perform at Orchestra Hall. Carreras was the second of the "Three Tenors" to visit Chicago in a week, following Placido Domingo's benefit concert with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra on May 2. (He and Domingo will join the "third tenor", Luciano Pavarotti, in June on a four-continent tour being promoted as "Three Tenors III"). Carreras recently said, "I enjoy performing with my colleagues as part of The Three Tenors in stadiums around the world. Yet, the opportunity to appear in great concert halls, in a more intimate setting, gives me tremendous personal satisfaction."

In the late 1970's Carreras appeared frequently at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. In an article which appeared in today's issue of the CHICAGO TRIBUNE, John vonRhein, music critic, said, "Those who recall the fine singing Carreras did at Lyric could only shake their heads at this caricature of a song recital. A voice that was already in decline before the onset of the singer's near-fatal illness in 1987 now has lost its velvety nap."

The program billed as "Songs by Opera Composers" featured Carreras performing mostly obscure French and Italian works by Bizet, Massenet, Verdi, and Zandonai. His rendition of Leoncavallo's "Declaration", "Serenade Francaise", and Puccini's "Sole E Amore" were lacking in energy and tonal shading now missing from his voice. He either sang flat-out loud or in a toneless whisper.

The audience was extremely gracious with applause and Carreras reached out to them by forcefully singing "With a Song in My Heart" . An overnight review by Wynne Delacoma of the CHICAGO SUN TIMES said, "The gravity he brought to "With a Song in My Heart" weighted it down. The evening seemed stuck in an atmosphere of heroic, larger-than-life musical drama. von Rhein went on to report, "To my mind the only number Carreras sang really well was Tosti's "A Vucchella" a Pavarotti specialty which Carreras addressed to the audience members seated onstage. The rest would be best forgotten."

I'M NOT A MUSIC CRITIC . . . just a lover of classical music and especially passionate about opera. For me, it was heart warming to see Carreras still out there, looking healthy, giving his all! So, I clapped and clapped in celebration of his having survived his illness and to wish him well in the future! For me personally the evening was intense, moving, healing, and beautiful!