Massenet & Gounod - Arias (2005)

"We can be thankful to Virgin for not following up Villazón's obligatory first release, "Italian Opera Arias", with another heaping helping of spaghetti. Here, Villazón is heard in some of the very fine solo arias that originate within the French Romantic tradition. Of course, Villazón's delivery and approach remain solidly Italian even in French literature, even down to incorporating a bit of the Caruso-like "sob" into his singing. Villazón's performance throughout the CD is quite consistent, as is the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France in its role as accompanist, guided steadily, and with heart, by conductor Evelino Pidò. If Rolando Villazón keeps making recordings as good as this one is, perhaps someday he will make audiences forget Pavarotti and Domingo in the same manner that they once made the world forget singers like Alfred Piccaver and Giacomo Lauri-Volpi." (Uncle Dave Lewis, Allmusic)