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	Encore Russell Watson, Leonard Bernstein, ... Universal International, 2001 average customer review:based on 76 reviews view larger image
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I had never before heard anyone do that, so I made a note of the name of his album "Encore" and a few days later got online to see what he was all about. I found a great many reviewers who raved on about how good Russell Watson is, but I was also intrigued by the vicious remarks made by some online reviewers (though I noted that those negative reviews were largely unsubstantiated with specifics).

I decided to buy it anyway, together with his first album "The Voice." I'm not disappointed in the least. If anything, hearing "Va Pensiero" again rekindled my appreciation of his voice. Now, I am not a great "traditional" opera expert in the least and have never heard an "original" operatic rendition of Va Pensiero, so I can't compare Russell to a traditional "pure" operatic voice. Do I care? NO! I wasn't looking for a traditional operatic tenor when I stumbled across Russell.

I have heard what I consider the beauty and diversity in Russell's voice and I like it. Period. If I like the combination of classical and contemporary voice that Russell brings, so be it. That combination may be heresy to a classical purist, but hey it's what I like, so frankly, I don't give a damn about what the true classical operatic voice should sound like... it's NOT what I'm looking for.

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Superb Second CD

Watson here proves every bit as fascinating as on his first CD, "The Voice". Again he gives us a mix of classical/operatic and pop and it is quite irresistible. The first offering, Va Pensiero, is really stunning, beginning with the soft "pop" voice and then suddenly soaring into the beautiful, powerful tenor that is so unusual. I particularly like the operatic arias such as Che Gelida Manina but the duets with Lulu and Lionel Ritchie are also beautiful. Every number is lovely in its own way and this CD can be played over and over without becoming tiring.

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More of the same please

I had never heard of Russell Watson until the show Enterprise. His voice is superb. I have now heard all of his albums and enjoy each one but believe this is, by far, his greatest. His voice becomes part of the music, joining with his fellow artists' in the duets, and leads to a true appreciation for the new classical music. At the end of the day I want nothing more than to relax, to find peace in a crazy world, thank you Russell Watson for giving that to me.


The Voice Does It Again

If anyone thought Watson's first album, The Voice, was a fluke, I recommend that they llisten to this one. Again there is the intriguing mix of popular and operatic/classical numbers and again there is the amazing tenor voice, which shifts from soft and intimate to soaring and powerful. All the selections are appealing but my favorites are Che Gelida Manina, Celeste Aida,The Magic of Love (with Lionel Richie), The Prayer (with Lulu), Mattinata, and Ave Maria. There is not a bad one on the whole CD, though, and the two added ones are beautiful..Highly recommended--do not miss this voice!

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Outstanding Tenor

This is an outstanding album and an outstanding tenor voice. I have listened to a lot of tenors over time and this voice is unique in its natural beauty and power. I can listen to the selections on this (and the previous ) album over and over and never tire of them. It may be a "crossover" voice in the sense that Watson successfully sings both pop and classical songs, but it has an electric quality that sets it apart from virtually any other tenor I have heard whether purely "operatic" or not. I cannot fathom what CD the authors of previous critical comments have been listening to but it must not be the same one I hear.

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10



Tracks
Va pensiero - Russell Watson, | Volare - Russell Watson, Modugna | The Prayer - Russell Watson, Foster, David [1] | O Sole Mio - Russell Watson, Di Capua | Ave Maria - Russell Watson, Schubert, Franz | Mattinata - Russell Watson, Leoncevallo | Pelagia's Song (Captain Corelli's Mandolin) - Russell Watson, Wartbeck | You Are So Beautiful - Russell Watson, Preston, Billy | Somewhere - Russell Watson, Bernstein, Leonard | Che Gelida Manina - Russell Watson, Puccini, Giacomo | Che Gelida Manina - Russell Watson, | E Lucevan le stelle - Russell Watson, | Catch the Tears - Russell Watson, Warren, Diane | Lost in the Snow - Russell Watson, Esposito | Celeste, Aida - Russell Watson, | Where My Heart Will Take Me (Theme from Enterprise) - Russell Watson, Warren, Diane

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