Anna Netrebko & Rolando Villazón: Duets

Starry duets find both singers in fine voice and...in stylish form...the voices match well in terms of volume, and Netrebko's brightness seems reduced in wattage sufficiently to distribute the lightning more evenly...There is...lovely singing by Villazón, who in the 'Lucia' duet phrases his verse of 'Verrano a te' with a breadth matched by the grace of his beautifully lightened tone. The French excerpts got well, the 'Manon' being particularly well characterised...Netrebko is her best self in the Tchaikovsky duet...and a most attractive self, too.

...they're both just fine artists, utterly in their prime, with healthy, attractive voices, and they sing well together...this CD gives great pleasure...Both singers are in rapturous voice, their phrasing sensitive and sincere...it's a magical performance...Very exciting indeed. The Duke and Gilda are roles made for them. She sounds sweet and vulnerable and he sounds as though he believes what he's singing at the moment...it's a true pleasure to hear singing and communicating of this calibre.

...two of the finest young singers around today.

Villazon's voice has real power, and just because he and Netrebko look like convincing star-crossed lovers doesn't mean they aren't superb singers, too.

Here the two glorious voices match each other well in style and phrasing...

Dramatically, they spark off each other with passion and energy, and the different qualities of their respective voices give point and focus to each other's sound.

...there's something undeniably special here. Netrebko and Villazón deliver...sheer charisma...they are highly listenable...

Stunning artistry, Villazón especially. Unrestrained engineering: voice close ups, off-stage ambience, etc.

...will doubtless become a classic in duet collections...