What do you think of Michael Bolton's My Secret Passion: The Arias album?!
Question: I have recently discovered this recording, and have found a respect for Michael Bolton I never had, wow, what great album, any one else agree? I especially like him singing Nessun Dorma, Vesti La Guibba, (and Ave Maria with Placido Domingo not on this album, but still great). Any other suggestions of great classical "must listen" pieces of music? Doesn't have to be arias, just some of your favorite pieces of music, composers, or whatever you would recommend to someone who doesn't know too much about classical music but want to become more familiar with it.....thanks!
Answers: I have recently discovered this recording, and have found a respect for Michael Bolton I never had, wow, what great album, any one else agree? I especially like him singing Nessun Dorma, Vesti La Guibba, (and Ave Maria with Placido Domingo not on this album, but still great). Any other suggestions of great classical "must listen" pieces of music? Doesn't have to be arias, just some of your favorite pieces of music, composers, or whatever you would recommend to someone who doesn't know too much about classical music but want to become more familiar with it.....thanks!
I'm not an expert either, but my favorite Aria is:
E Lucevan Le Stelle (Tosca) from Puccini, sang by Carreras
Others:
Una Furtiva Lagrima (L'elisir d'amore) from Donizetti, sang by Domingo
Vesti La Giubba (Pagliacci) from Leoncavallo, sang by Domingo
Other Light Classical:
Scheherazade by Rimsky-Korsakov (my favorite)
Andre Rieu with his own orchestra Strauss & Co.
There are many more, but I cannot remember them at this time.
are you kidding? Michael Bolton is a no talent *ss clown. Havnt you seen Office Space?
You know, a friend of mine played a Youtube clip of Boltons Vesti la Guibba for me the other day. I had started working on the aria, and she suggested I watch it (we are both opera singers, by the way). Now, technically speaking, his performance is a hot mess. That being said, he does give a compelling performance. Though not classically trained, he does sing this aria from the heart. He clearly knows what he is singing about and manages to render a very moving performance despite his clear lack of classical training.
I am really of two minds about this sort of performance. On the one hand, it makes me a bit sad when people think of artists like Charlotte Church and Josh Groban (and even pop opera albums like Bolton's) as Opera. I know entirely too many singers who are more talented, if perhaps not so 'pretty' or well marketed as they are. On the other hand, it does expose the music to a large population that might not otherwise hear it. It might be somewhat distasteful at times, but I still can't see people listening to Opera, no matter who is singing it, as all bad.
As far as suggestions for things to listen to, try tracking down other recordings of those arias. Try a Pavarotti recording of Nessun Dorma. He has also recorded Vesti, very compellingly, but I like a heavier voice in that role, personally. Try to find a recording of someone like John Vickers.
Why would you want Michael Bolton singing these works when you could have say... Luciano Pavarotti?
I think this question belongs in 'Pop' or 'Rock'. Michael Bolton is a musical abortion and if his life depended upon it, he would still sound like Muzak in performing anything legitimate.
Just because someone falls into a hole does not mean people will rescue him, especially if his voice is so annoying.