Donizetti: Più che non m'ama un angelo

“The famous nine Cs, as Tonio sings Qual destino, are reached early on, each scaled without peril. There are twinges of slight vocal strain elsewhere. Even so the CD remains, as the title says, a Bel Canto Spectacular, with the trademark Flórez blaze of a voice burning up seven Donizetti opera scenes, two Rossini and one Bellini. It’s a wonderful technical display. But like direct exposure to the sun, a voice of this intensity needs to be rationed. How wise of Flórez and his managers, therefore, to match his blowtorch with the gentler timbres of other singers: Anna Netrebko...Patrizia Ciofi...Danielo Barcellona...[and] Placido Domingo.” The Times, 20th June 2008 ****