¡Mexico! - Rolando Villazón
Consuelo VELAZQUEZ (1916 - 2005) Besame mucho como si fuera
(arranged by Efrain Oscher) [5:30]
Maria GREVER (1894 - 1951) Despedida (Farewell) (arranged by
Efrain Oscher) [4:09]
Alfonso Esparza OTEO (1894 - 1950) Dime que si (arranged by
Efrain Oscher) [3:53]
Tomás Méndez SOSA (1927 - 1995) Cucurrucucú
(Dicen que por las noches) (Arranged by Gonzalo Grau) [5:09]
Tata NACHO (1894 - 1968) Intima (arranged by Gonzalo Grau) [2:52]
Daniel CATÁN (b.1949) Comprendo (arrangement for voice
and guitar) [3:29]
Agustin LARA (1900 - 1970) Veracruz (Yo nací con la luna)
(arranged by Gonzalo Grau) [3:07]
Maria GREVER (1894 - 1951) Te quiero dijiste, tomando (arranged
by Daniel Catán & Gonzalo Grau) [5:29]
Alberto DOMINGUEZ (1911 - 1975) Perfidia (Nadie comprende) (arranged
by Efrain Oscher) [4:33]
Agustin LARA (1900 - 1970) Noche de Ronda que triste pasa (arranged
by Efrain Oscher) [4:16]
Roberto CANTORAL (b.1935) El reloj no marques (arranged by Daniel
Catán) [3:06]
Alfonso Esparza OTEO (1894 - 1950) Un viejo amor (arranged by
Gonzalo Grau) [4:00]
Agustin LARA (1900 - 1970) Solamente una vez ame en la vida
(arranged by Efrain Oscher) [4:04]
Jorge del MORAL (1900 - 1941) Besos robados [3:55]
Manuel M. PONCE (1882 - 1948) Estrellita (arranged by Alfonso
Montes) [3:03]
MEDLEY: Cielito Lindo and La Cucuracha [9:52]
Rolando Villazón (tenor)
Bolívar Soloists: (Efrain Oscher, Juan Manuel González, Pablo
Bercellini, Rhodri Clarke) with Juan Lucas Aisemberg, Gabriel León,
César Nigro, Conny Sommer, Peter Kuhnsch), Nigel Shore, Eduardo Calzada,
Francisco Flores,
rec. March 2010, Teldex Studio, Berlin. DDD
Hard cover prestige edition: 000289 477 9012 9 GH
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 4779234 [61:35]
Villazón smooches it up in well-judged style for his seemingly large
heart-throb following. The photos play charmingly to this constituency though
the one inside has a disorientating touch of Blackadder about it. He is joined
by a tapestry of instrumentalists who add relish. Villazón is great
with dynamic variation and the sentimental aspect is tastefully caressed.
He does however show a hint of vocal strain under sustained pressure.
Besame mucho has a life-enhancing swing while Despedida starts
reserved but soon develops a Puccinian passion. The Cucurrucucú
is just irresistible with those ringing Ay-ay-ay-ays. Intima
is sleepily amorous with Puccinian outbursts. Veracruz is more popular
in a ‘Down Mexico Way’ style. It is knowing and studded with latino
frills and furbelows - drum-kit ostinato and chipper percussion. The wistful
Te quiero is as much of a charmer as El reloj and in these Villazon’s
easy seductive charm reaps rewards. Noche de ronda imports the mystery
of the jungle. Un Viejo amor infiltrates a Schoenbergian complexity
into the received Mexican manner - all to the good.Solamente una vez
has some simply glorious flute playing from Efrain Oscher. Besos robadas
sounds devotional but soon rises to dramatic heights. Ponce’s hit Estrellita
is very smoothly and seductively done. The final medley includes Cielito
Lindo which goes with a smile and a flash of the teeth. It reminds me
of the treatments on that now long gone LP my father had with its cover depicting
a looming circle of Mexican frilly-shirted and super-hatted guitarists playing
a range of guitars from small up to “double-bass”. The ensemble
join in the singing at climactic points and their exuberant whoops bring things
to a close.
The notes are by Jorge Volpi and Villazon himself. No texts. These songs are
the counterpart to the Neapolitan songs taken up by Italy’s great tenors;
all credit to Villazon and DG for ringing the changes. While I have glancing
criticism associated with the natural wear and tear on Villazon’s voice
this disc has a vibrancy and grip that makes it well worth hearing.
Rob Barnett
Villazón smooches it up in vibrant and gripping style.