Alessandro Safina

1	Only You (Luna) 4:33
2	Insieme A Te (Together With You)
3	Arrivederci America
4	La Sete Di Vivere (Thirst for Life) 5:11
5	Il Mirto and La Rosa (Myrtle and Roses) 5:25
6	'Stu Bbene (Feeling Fine) 4:21
7	Aria E Memoria (Breath and Memory) 4:24
8	Siena 4:23
9	Sarò con Te (I Will Be With You) 3:37
10	Il Profumo del Cielo (Blue Heaven) 4:33
11	Ehyeh 5:27
12	Diva Mea 4:31

Barnes & Noble

Tenor Alessandro Safina has an operatic background, but don't be misled: Much like hit albums from Russell Watson and Andrea Bocelli, this self-tilted debut is a pop affair through and through. But Safina's operatic talents are nevertheless evident right from the start. A native of Siena, Safina has a full and resonant voice, and a when he sings out opera-style with his impeccable Tuscan Italian, the effect can be impressive indeed. But evidently Safina's calling is elsewhere -- in the sensuous realm of classical-flavored pop that Italian singers pull off so well. And that's exactly what we get here: impassioned Italian ballads ("La sete da vivere," "Insieme a te") and quasi-operatic Latin pop (like "Il mirto & la rosa," which would almost be at home on one of the Gypsy Kings' more atmospheric albums), all abundantly supported by a contingent of studio musicians, including a string orchestra and chorus. Safina's debut may stretch the bounds of "classical crossover" to a new limit and represent the next entry in the parade of pop-crooning tenors, but it is a solid achievement. A separate release of the album sung in Spanish is also available. EJ Johnson

All Music Guide

The charismatic opera singer relies on a sweeping collection of amazingly passionate tunes to bring out his emotional depth, which is convincing and exciting even if you must know Italian to understand (thankfully the liner notes feature translations!). Unlike a lot of genre performers who seem removed from the general audience, Safina tries to find a happy medium between that and pop. The opening track "Only You (Luna)" features a cool, methodical drum groove and sweeping orchestral atmospheres, plus a haunting female vocal echoing in English in certain spots. As the tune builds in intensity, the groove kicks up, creating a little R&B flavor. "Insieme A Te (Together With You)" is a gentle ballad featuring a slower groove but still a bit of a pop sheen. Most of the tunes follow this pattern, his powerful voice caressed by the dramatic David Foster-like production of Romano Musammara. All good since it makes him more palatable to pop fans who would probably just assume he's singing about love. The disc also features two bonus instrumental tracks, "Ehyeh" (which blends atmosphere with a loping flamenco guitar riff) and "Diva Mea," whose new agey piano musings are accompanied by the occasional vocal touches of the same voice which haunts the opening track. Jonathan Widran