Track Listing

1. Nella Fantasia
2. Amor Ti Vieta
3. Pelagia's Song (Captain Corelli's Mandolin)
4. Caruso
5. Miserere
6. Panis Angelicus
7. Non Ti Scordar Di Me
8. La Donna E Mobile
9. Saylon Dola
10. Someone Like You
11. Bridge Over Troubled Waters
12. Vienna
13. Funiculi
14. Barcelona (With Shaun Ryder)
15. Nessun Dorma! [From Turandot]

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #37447 in Music
• Released on: 2001-04-17
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .23 pounds

Album Description
Full length LP from the British tenor that shot straight to the top of the UK classical charts. Features many beautiful renditions of classical & e-z listening standards, plus a version of 'Nessun Dorma', which Watson often sings before high-profile English soccer matches.

Amazon.com
Russell Watson's story is a classic rags-to-riches fairy tale: The former welder, after years of singing in pubs and clubs, traveled from Salford, his hometown, to London. He turned up unannounced at the Decca offices and was promptly signed up by one of the most important classical labels in the world. Vocal coaching followed, as did a number of successful live appearances supporting Cliff Richard. Now, we have this recital CD, which explores a wide range of musical styles. Watson's Italian is a little ponderous in tracks such as "Amor Ti Vieta," but this is more than offset by his captivating and utterly natural-sounding tenor voice. The inevitable popular arias are here, namely "La Donna è Mobile" and "Nessun Dorma," sung with a refreshing and youthful vitality. Pop tracks, including Ultravox's classic 1980s hit "Vienna" and a witty cover version of "Barcelona" sung with former Happy Mondays frontman Shaun Ryder, sit comfortably on the disc. Watson performs them with integrity, not simply paying lip service to the music of his generation. Watson has the potential to do for classical music what Jamie Oliver has done for cookery, and there are few people who won't find this debut CD appealing. --Rebecca Agnew