I booked this ticket a while ago, deciding that I really wanted to see Josep Carreras, but I had no idea what the programme would be.
To summarise, I'd give Josep an 8/10, but the programme - well, it was Christmas at the Royal Albert Hall with Jose Carreras and the Vienna Boys Choir (who also score at least 8/10) - no more than 4/10, if that.
The programme was unrelently Middle England, with Classic FM adverts prominent in the programme. Playlist below.
Mind you, I enjoyed it tremendously! When Josep first sung, I thought, 'oh no, I've paid all this money to hear one of my favourite singers and his voice has gone...'. But he warmed up and sounded, generally, lovely. I say 'generally' because I was not impressed with his top - or lack of it, the straining to get some top notes (which wasn't helped by the faces he pulled as he strained!). But top notes aside, I loved listening to his voice! And I think he may have had a cold.
I was a bit thrown by the use of amplification. Okay, the Albert Hall is enormous, but from where I was sitting he really didn't need a microphone, especially as he let rip on some spectacular fortes. A really gorgeous voice, although far past his prime. I couldn't help thinking that he's aged somewhat, but when he smiled...ooh, what a smile! Shame I didn't manage to capture one photo of him smiling!
As I walked out for the interval I overheard someone saying that they were disappointed he hadn't spoken to the audience. I guessed - hoped - that that would happen in the second half. But he didn't. I wasn't frightfully upset. He manages to convey sufficient charisma through singing alone.
I wondered how many of the people in the audience had been to Andrea Bocelli or are planning to see Russell Watson. It would be interesting to know their reactions, because although Bocelli and Watson are at the age to be at the peak of their careers, and Carreras is well past his best, I would be very surprised if the aforementioned bar-room crooners could perform a fraction as well as Carreras. There again, some people favour barroom crooners over a properly trained, supremely talented operatic tenor in full throttle.
Before I went out, I had, with mock-disdain, commented that, no doubt, there would be loads of fanatical adoring fans. Well, there were a good few, including quite a number queuing up to give him presents (it was his 58th birthday on Sunday). Much to the contempt of the obnoxious family in front of me, of course...!
The Vienna Boys Choir were delightful, and the orchestra - the City of London Sinfonia were very good.
I did notice an odd acoustic effect. I was sat in Stalls Left (block H) at about 90 degrees to the stage. The percussion was on the extreme left of the stage (as looked at from the audience), but I was entirely thrown as their sound appeared to come from the right.
Judex from Mors et Vita - Gounod : Orchestra
Adeste Fideles: Jose Carreras & Vienna Boys' Choir
Tu scendi dalle stelle - Ligouri: JC
Ave Maria - Arcadelt: VBC
Mille cherubino in coro - Schubert: JC
Panis Angelicus - Franck: JC & VBC
Intermezzo from Goyescas - Granados: Orchestra
La virgen lava pa�ales - Traditional: JC
Cancion h�ngara from Alma de Dios - Serrano: JC
Joy to the World: VBC
Es wird scho glei dumpa: VBC
Il est ne le divin enfant: VBC
Leise rieselt der Schnee - Ebel: VBC
The First Noel: VBC
Pueri concinite - von Herbeck: VBC
Firenze Sogna - Cesarini: JC
Na sera'e maggio - Cioffi: JC
Silenzio cantatore - Lama: JC
Che t'aggia di! - Nardella: JC
Overture from Die Fledermaus - J Strauss: Orchestra
I'll Be Home for Christmas - Gannon, Ram & Kent: JC
White Christmas - Berlin: JC
Encores included Core 'ngrato and Santa Lucia
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