Reprise [Import]

1	Santa Lucia 4:00
2	Immenso Sogno 3:10
3	Tutto Sei Per Me 4:33
4	Core 'ngrato 2:00
5	The Pearl Fishers' Duet (Bizet) 5:02
6	Granada 4:03
7	Torna a Surriento 4:46
8	La Danza (Rossini) 3:18
9	All Or Nothing 4:06
10	The Living Years 2:34
11	Did You Ever 6:45
12	Vesti la Giubba (Leoncavallo) 2:46
13	Recondita Armonia (Puccini) 6:38

Barnes & Noble

We've already had Encore from Russell Watson, the popular tenor whose meteoric rise began with his first album, The Voice. So what should come next? Reprise, of course! The title fits. Offering the by-now familiar mixture of light pop and well-known classics, Reprise capitalizes on a formula that has brought Watson an enormous international following. Neapolitan favorites like "Santa Lucia" and "Torna a Surriento" join with pop songs such as a breathy "All or Nothing" and the anthemic "The Living Years," while chestnuts from the opera stage -- an overdubbed duet from Bizet's The Pearl Fishers, Leoncavallo's "Vesti la giubba," and Puccini's "Recondita armonia" -- fill out the assortment. Once again, Watson enlists the orchestrating talents of Nick Dodd (whose work can be heard on such cinematic blockbusters as Independence Day and others), lending to several of the tracks a lush, epic feel worthy of a John Williams soundtrack. As for "the voice" itself, it continues to impress and grow richer. No longer a boyish newcomer, this naturally gifted singer is settling in to stardom in style. EJ Johnson

All Music Guide

Although classical crossover artists are not unique, few are truly adept at handling the subtleties of pop music, as they simply bend their quasi-operatic voices to fit into the confines of a pop melody. It's a bit like watching a seven-foot basketball star exit his limo, and then fold his body into a little sports car -- he may be able to get into the auto, but it's not necessarily a comfortable fit. Russell Watson is the rare exception who is comfortable in both settings, as listening to him is like listening to two distinct people; there is the powerful tenor who can handle the rigorous demands of operatic solos, and there is the suave Europop singer who can deftly navigate the intricacies of a popular song. Unlike his contemporaries, Watson has the unique ability to actually change his voice in order to fit the style of music he is performing. An example of this morphing technique can be heard on the first two tracks of Reprise, his third solo disc. Opening with Cottrau's "Santa Lucia," Watson's well-supported tenor sounds like a younger, less-excitable Mario Lanza as he gives a warm reading to this Italian favorite. Then, as if a multi-CD player were set on shuffle mode, a breathy and slightly husky voice enters in on "Immenso Sogno," a European-style pop ballad that Watson sings in a hushed tone devoid of any classical technique. The difference is immediate and effective, and allows Watson to successfully live in two separate musical worlds that embrace his talents. However, there are drawbacks on each side of the fence. Although his tenor is getting stronger, he will most likely not be able to obtain the majestic richness and depth of a true master like Pavarotti, but that's just fine, as his capable work can still be admired and enjoyed. On the pop music side, Watson doesn't always select the best English-language songs to cover, as evidenced by the inclusion of Mike + the Mechanics' "The Living Years," in which the listless arrangement and repetitive structure simply do not mesh with the balance of the disc. In addition to that misstep, there is not much on Reprise that is different from its two predecessors, except for the fact that Watson's voice is improving. Basically, it adds up to a pleasant listen that will continue to charm audiences of both pop and classical music. Aaron Latham