Una Furtiva Lagrima: Arias

"The conductor Riccardo Chailly challenged Flórez back in the spring to take on some of the heavier Bellini roles and he singled out I Puritani which he believed Flórez 'could do beautifully'. Well, here as if to answer his suggestion (and coincidentally with Chailly's fine Milan orchestra in attendance), is the this splendid young Peruvian tenor singing just that. And many other delights as well. He is definitely one of the brightest stars of the lyric firmament and a joy to watch and hear."
- Editor's Choice (Gramophone September 2003)

Cannes Classical Award Winner 2004: Songs and Vocal Recitals 19/20th century

Sales of Rossini arias (DECCA 470 024-2) have confirmed Juan Diego Flórez' status as a rising star at the highest level of international opera.

Following the success of Rossini Arias the new album features works by the other two great Bel Canto composers Bellini and Donizetti.

While Rossini is loved largely for the virile acrobatics of his vocal writing, Bellini is popular for long, elegant melodies, and Donizetti for his use of Bel Canto style to achieve dramatic effect.

The new album includes well-loved Italian opera favourites. Key tracks such as the achingly beautiful title track Una Furtiva Lagrima from Donizetti's popular L'Elisir D'Amore are ideal for radio play and TV performance and will be central to taking Juan Diego Flórez to a new level of popularity and building on the sales of Rossini Arias. The exuberant aria Ah!…Mes Amis… from Donizetti's La Fille Du Regiment with it's famous series of 9 top Cs played a significant role in the career of Luciano Pavarotti and is seen as an important bench-mark for any tenor. Juan Diego Flórez regularly sings this aria in concert to great acclaim (and includes the complete role of Tonio in his stage repertoire).

Whilst the repertoire of this second recital disc is again taken from Bel Canto operas it does include more popular and well known arias and, therefore, more 'hit' potential than the Rossini Arias recording.

At the same time as being more popular the arias on this disc still represent Juan Diego in his central repertoire and include several roles in his forthcoming stage schedule such as La Fille Du Regiment, I Puritani and La Sonnambula.