It gives you entirely different feelings when these Neapolitan songs, conventionally sung by Italian tenors, are sung by Dmitri Hvorostovsky. What makes the difference, apart from the burnished, warm-toned, and simply gorgeous baritone, is the powerful and deeply heartfelt rendering that evokes fresh emotions as well as enriches exuberant lyricism. Although Mr. Hvorostovsky sees this repertoire as a crossover for him, he possesses everything in his department to make memorable interpretations of the songs. The rich voice has an impeccably wide vocal range (up to A-flat as demonstrated in this album) with the consistent superb quality, all well focused, across the entire register. The exceptionally beautiful legatos of his, together with the ability of eloquent phrasing and shaping, make the songs all the more heart-throbbing. The poignant moments in "Passione", "Voce'e notte", "Dicitencello vuie" carried out in various dynamic shadings reach the emotional level that could break your heart. The climax in "Torna a Surriento", "Core 'ngrato", "'O sole mio" are filled with ardent, fully unleashed, passion. These are passionate Neapolitan songs sung with hot blooded passion. I don't understand why some people would nitpick something like Hvorostovsky's Neapolitan diction, when the voice and the singing alone are already powerful enough to give one a heart attack.
