Amazon.co.uk Review
Following on from his
Something Wonderful CD, Bryn Terfel has done a bit of a repeat performance with this recording, even doubling up on some numbers. He's certainly an improvement on other opera singers who attempt to sing this repertoire, but there always remains the lack of true engagement that comes with not having actually ever sung any of the roles. This doesn't apply to all the numbers. "On the Street Where You Live", for example, is such a standard number in itself that it can withstand it. The same goes for "Oh What a Beautiful Morning" and "You'll Never Walk Alone", but "How to Handle a Woman" doesn't stand up to rolling Rs, over-enunciation or over-acting, to say nothing of "There is Nothing Like a Dame" or "Get Me to the Church on Time", complete with cockney accent. However, that said, Terfel has lots of oomph and personality which comes across enough to make this a valid recording, were it not for the production which is rather disturbing with Terfel sounding like he is singing from the wings. Paul Daniels provides a lively accompaniment with the English Northern Philharmonia. The Chorus of Opera North is surprising sloppy most of the time. --
Antonia Couling