Composer: Osvaldo Farrés, Carlos Gardel, José Alfredo Jiménez, Augustin Lara, Ernesto Lecuona, Gerardo Hernan Matos Rodriguez, Quirino Mendoza y Cortés, Consuelo Velázquez
Performer: Roberto Alagna
Orchestra: Paris Symphonic Orchestra
Conductor: Yvan Cassar
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Deutsche Grammophon
Catalogue: 4764603
Release: 2011
Size: 336 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: cover
01. Lara: Piensa en mi
02. Farrés: Quizas, Quizas, Quizas
03. Almaran: Historia de un amorLila Downs03:49
04. Matos Rodriguez: La Cumparsita
05. Larrea Carricarte Carm: Dos cruces
06. Mendoza Y Cortes: Cielito Lindo
07. Traditional: La Llorona
08. Velazquez: Besame mucho como si fuera
09. Jiménez: Ella
10. Esperanza
11. Méndez Sosa: Paloma Negra
12. Gardel: El día que me quieras
13. Gardel: Por una cabeza
14. Lecuona: Siboney
15. Scollo: Cu ti lu dissi
Roberto Alagna’s background is Sicilian and French, but he can trace his ancestry to Spain and Argentina, and he remembers being familiar with many of these Spanish-language songs from South and Central America as a child. His easy fluency with the idioms and his affinity for the passionate style of the songs certainly testifies to a natural connection with this music, and fans of these traditional and early to mid-20th century quintessentially Latin songs are likely to be delighted with the presentation and performances. Alagna brings an unabashed delight to the music and sounds like he is having absolutely the time of his life. He also brings to it a technically impeccable musicianship, but he is so invested in the material that there is no dichotomy between classical and popular sensibilities. Alagna’s conviction and musicality and the inviting openness of his sound make even overly familiar songs like Cielito lindo and Bésame mucho completely compelling. The accompaniments, expertly arranged by Yvan Cassar, use an assortment of instruments appropriate to the songs’ various genres, and many tracks are also accompanied by strings. The engineers try some interesting techniques, like starting El día que me quieras, which is accompanied only by upright piano and accordion, with the sound of a needle dropping onto a scratchy, distant-sounding LP, and the effect is undeniably atmospheric. Apart from that kind of special effect, Deutsche Grammophon’s sound is immaculate and well-balanced.