Sacred Songs

In February 2002, Plácido Domingo spent some time in the recording studio. The result is Sacred Songs, a 16-track disc of music which spans three centuries. There are a few favourites here, such as the Bach/Gounod Ave Maria and "Ombra mai fu" from Handel's opera Serse. But it's not all familiar--Sacred Songs has plenty of surprises too. The collection opens with an arrangement of the much loved Intermezzo from Mascagni's Cavalleria rusticana where Domingo is joined by the Norwegian soprano Sissel. She appears on one other track but her breathy voice is no match for the great tenor. Next up is a setting of the Kyrie by the Italian composer Paolo Rustichelli (b. 1953) which almost takes the disc into pop territory with its synthesizers and guitar solo. Plácido Domingo Jr turns up as the composer of another Ave Maria setting, preceded by his father's cringing rendition of "Climb Ev'ry Mountain". The Coro Sinfonico di Milano Giuseppe Verdi, which makes three appearances, is not on good form so the rendition of Franck's "Panis angelicus", where a cello replaces the chorus, is even more welcome. A mixed bag overall but definitely one for Domingo devotees.