Puccini arias Jose Cura, tenor; Philharmonia Orchestra, Placido Domingo, conductor (Erato)
Serenades: Italian and French songs and ariettas Roberto Alagna, tenor; David and Frederico Alagna, guitars (EMI Classics)
At 35, Placido Domingo’s protege, the Argentine-born Jose Cura, already has had high-profile exposure in major opera houses such as La Scala and Lyric. He wields a big, burnished, mature-sounding tenor with a distinctive timbre and full-throated delivery across more than two octaves that will remind some listeners of the Spanish tenor Miguel Fleta. His debut recording, spanning all of Puccini’s tenor arias, takes the operas in reverse chronological order, beginning with “Turandot” and ending with “Le Villi.”
There is something a bit backward, about Cura’s artistry as well. While the voice is often exciting, there is a one-dimensional quality to his singing, as if he were more interested in showing off his tenore robusto than searching out the dynamic and expressive nuances in the music. More gentleness and reflection (such as he displays so well in Cavaradossi’s “E lucevan le stelle,” from “Tosca”) would help. Part of the problem may be that Cura has yet to sing most of these Puccini roles on stage. In any case, with Domingo on the podium, he finds himself in the most supportive of hands.
The Sicilian-French tenor Roberto Alagna is on safer ground. He brings real charm and sweetness to a recital that encompasses art songs, popular Italian songs and a few ariettas, and is nicely accompanied by his guitar-playing brothers David and Frederico. The naturalness and musicality that impressed everyone at Alagna’s arrival a few years ago are on full display here, and the selection of songs suits him well.
The problem is that Alagna’s somewhat delicate voice has already undergone stress. There are hints of it whenever he begins to sing big. Those who dote on Neapolitan songs like “Core ingrato” and “Torna a Surriento” will devour this album whole. But it raises the worrisome suspicion that Alagna’s vocal instrument may not be able to keep pace with the momentum of his career. His Gounod Romeo next season at Lyric should tell us more.
