VERDI: Songs

Dennis O'Neill, tenor / Ingrid Surgenor, piano

VERDI: Romanza (1838 & 1845); Ave Maria; Stornello; Ad una srella; Il Poveretto; La seduzione; Chi I bei di m'adduce ancora; L'esule; Brindisi.

Naxos 8.557778 (57 mins)

Most of these songs are early Verdi but are well worth making their acquaintance. They have more often been taken up by sopranos, the music too often taking a tenor up high and calling upon the heroic style which Dennis O'Neill is happy tackling.

Often enjoyed in opera in UK and abroad, he is the most Italianate of British tenors. O'Neill copes well with the high tessitura and this makes a welcome supplement to the familiar arias with orchestra recitals. Well recorded by Collins in the 1990s it is good to have it back in the catalogue.