Ariasby Anonymous

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February 12, 2007: Well, not exactly my first. The very first time I heard him sing was on Sarah Brightman's "Time to say Good-Bye" album. I was immediately struck by the timbre and richness of his voice. My first impression was this is truly a quality baritone that I'm hearing. Then he sang a high A and I realized here was a genuine dramatic tenor in the making. On this record he is singing under the direction of his mentor, Placido Domingo and the results could not be better. Basically a catalogue of Puccini's greatest arias for tenor, this album covers the overtly lyrical in "Che gelida manina" from La boheme to the heavily dramatic in "Nessun Dorma" from Turandot. Cura's dark, alomst heavy instrument is ideally suited to the selections from Turandot, Tosca, and La Fanciulla de West. His voice is perhaps too heavy for La boheme and Gianni Schicchi, the higher tessitura of those pieces not sitting perfectly well for him. This small consideration aside, if you have been waiting an heir to Domingo's operatic repertoire, look no further. Since this album's release Cura has proved himself to be a great interpreter of Cavaradossi, Otello, Canio, Manrico and Samson on stage and also has made quite an impact as an orchestral and operatic conductor. You won't be dissapointed!