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This tenor is undoubtedly the king of the high Cs at the moment, having had some memorable successes in the early 19th-century repertoire. Here Florez pays tribute to Rubini (the great bel canto tenor from that era) with a programme of arias by Rossini, Bellini and Donizett. The singer's reputation in Rossini is well established, and he sings this part

of the material with clear diction and signature high-voltage top notes, culminating in an electric volley of notes at the end of the Guglielmo Tell aria, Corriam! Voliam!. Florez is also comfortable in the Donizetti aria, with clear phrasing and complete security around the notes. In the Bellini arias he is technically successful, but his rather bright tone is somewhat lacking in colour for this apparently simple but quite demanding music. www.deccaclassics.com

COLMAN MORRISSEY

Download tracks:Ma un Solo Conforto, Corriam! Voliam!