CD of the week April

21 – 25 April 2008
Annalisa Kerrigan – Ireland
ABC Classics 4766485

The immortal melodies of Ireland have never sounded more haunting and evocative than in these beautiful arrangements for soprano Annalisa Kerrigan. Following on from her classical bestseller, Waiting on an Angel, on this album Kerrigan presents popular Irish folksongs, accompanied by harp, Irish fiddle and even tin whistle. Tracks include Galway Bay, Peggy Gordon, Ballinderry, The Last Rose of Summer and many more.

14 – 18 April 2008
Rolando Villazón – Cielo e Mar
DG 4777224

The album is Villazón’s personal homage to his illustrious predecessors in the lyric-dramatic repertoire – great tenors such as Bergonzi, Caruso and Domingo.
The soaring title track from Ponchielli’s La Gioconda inspired Villazón to become a singer. It also features less familiar masterpieces by Boito, Cilea alongside little-known Donizetti arias and rarities by Gomes, Mercadante and Pietri.