The Three Tenors- In Concert 1994 [VHS]

So sad Careras is retiring
Dear Amazon and Warner Music Please reissue this album in the new BluRay format. With the passing of the great Luciano and the retirement of Jose, like the Beatles a reunion will perhaps never come by. Let us relive the moments of joy in LA with the remastered BluRay of this concert.

O sole trio
Glancing at the Amazon review above, I thought for a moment that I had the wrong item--but the thumbnail is right: the other reviews are right. I understand why purists are--at the very least--ambivalent about projects like this. It's at least as much show-biz as art. But then again, one of the first things they teach you about Opera in music appreciation class is that it was originally a popular art form, and if three of the greatest tenors of the latter 20th century could help re-popularize the genre once more, well, it's all to the good, right? Well, maybe, maybe not. The Three Tenors were a brand name while they lasted and mygosh all those spin-offs: 3 Irish Tenors, 2 Mo' Tenors, 3 Terrors (yes, they existed!), to say nothing of the soprano ensembles. You're almost tempted to say they created a monster. But there were just so many good moments. Of course, Pavarotti's "Nessun Dorma" has justifiably become a popular classic, but Domingo's "No Puede Ser" and Carreras' "Granada" are almost as memorable. And when the three join forces on a reprise of "Nessun Dorma," well, you forget the gimmicky nature of it all and just enjoy three beautiful voices blending beautifully. Carreras' begins the program with "Lamento di Federico," and he's just shaky enough that you wonder if his return to performing after having beaten leukemia wasn't perhaps a bit premature. But he gets progressively stronger and more assured as the evening wears on. You come to share in his sense of triumph. I remember at the time that this concert was first broadcast on PBS, a co-worker of mine--an otherwise tough-talking dame in her 60s--declared herself to be a "Domingo gal." And you can see why. His easy going masculinity and dashing looks clearly make him the hearthrob of the program. His voice has always struck me as being deeper and richer than most tenors, and I'm not surprised that he is taking on baritone roles in his later career. Of the "Three Tenors," he's really the only one who could likely pull off such a move. His much vaunted ambition and adventureness is evident even in this limited a program. He tackles pieces in German, French and English with a bit more ease than Carreras (while Pavarotti only seldom ventures from standard Italian repertoire). In some ways though, the two Spaniards seem almost deferential to Pavarotti, the sole Italian and therefore (at least by some definitions) more of the heir to the operatic tradition. He was, in some ways, the most imperious, while being somewhat indifferent, it seemed, to his personal appearance. It may seem petty to wonder why he didn't bother to trim his beard, but it did appear almost defiantly unkempt. Nothing ragged about his vocals here, however. It's hard to imagine a more gorgeous instrument. Newcomers to the world of opera could watch this broadcast in 1991 and experience firsthand how distinctive these singers were, what each could bring to a given piece--be it an operatic aria or a Neapolitan (or Spanish) song. They could also experience the emotion and the HUMOR that was characteristic of great singers' concerts. All in all, a good intro to the genre. And a brilliant commercial move--not that there's anything wrong with that.

Tracks
Tracks: 1. Opening Credits 2. Il lamento di Federico (E la solita storia) (José Carreras) 3. Ô paradis (Plácido Domingo) 4. Recondita armonia (Luciano Pavarotti) 5. Dein ist mein ganzes Herz (Plácido Domingo) 6. Rondine al nido (Luciano Pavarotti) 7. Core 'ngrato (José Carreras) 8. Verdi - I vestri siciliani (Sinfonia) 9. Torna a Surriento (Luciano Pavarotti) 10. Granada (José Carreras) 11. No puede ser (Plácido Domingo) 12. L'improvviso - Andrea Chénier (José Carreras) 13. E lucevan le stelle (Plácido Domingo) 14. Nessun dorma! (Luciano Pavarotti) 15. Finale Medley (Luciano Pavarotti, José Carreras, Plácido Domingo) 16. Encore: 'O sole mio (Luciano Pavarotti, José Carreras, Plácido Domingo)

Three Tenors At Their Best
Millions of people around the world know their names, some worship the ground they walk on...Pavarotti...Domingo...Carreras. Alone, any of the three is a wonder to behold, but together, they are at the top of their game. In this, the first of several world-reknown concerts, they amaze the audience with their wonderful voices, and entertain by playing off of each other on songs like "O Sole Mio". Opera purists apparently think this was nothing more than a cash cow for the performers, but there is a reason that, to this day, this concert's accompanying album is still listed in the Guiness Book of Records as the best-selling classical album of all time. Other concerts may have had more glitz and glamour, but the first showcases the Three Tenors at their best, both together and individually. Once you hear Nessun Dorma, done by either Pavarotti by himself or by all three, you will understand why it is one of the most-beloved arias of all time, and was made popular as a theme for World Cup soccer (and more recently used by Paul Potts to win Britain's Got Talent). Overall, this is, by far, one of the greatest classical shows you will ever see or hear, and is just as wonderful to enjoy now as it was nearly 2 decades ago.

Timeless and Perfect
If you didn't see this when it aired originally, you MUST get a copy if you love the classics, and especially now that Pavarotti is singing for the angles and will never grace a stage again. This is a must buy; I own both the video and the CD. It makes me cry it's so beautiful.