RUSSELL WATSON ... LA VOCE Australia 10th June and New Zealand 6th June 2011
The EPK video link for LA VOCERussell's interview and song samples
LA VOCE TRACK LIST
1. Parla Piu Piano 
2. E Sara Cosi
3. Be My Love
4. Arrivederci Roma
5. Io Che Non Vivo Senza Te
6. La Vita Senza Te
7. Concerto D'autumn
8. Intermezzo
9. Love Story
10. Solo Con Te
11. Adagio
12. Parlami D'amore Mariu
13. Someone To Remember
All the lyrics for the songs on LA VOCE can be seen on this page........
5th January 2012.
LA VOCE is at no...46 on the Amazon Opera & Vocal classical chart
2nd December .
Great news this week, LA VOCE has gone back into the Official Classical chart at no..31.
it is also back on the Amazon Classical chart at No..40.
16th September.
For the last 2 weeks La Voce has not been in the Official Classical chart or the Cassic fm chart,
hopefully it will soon make a re entry.
28th August.
LA VOCE is up on the Classic fm chart, this week it is again a re-entry at no...32 after dropping out last week.
27th August.
Lots of good reviews on Amazon can be read here ....
13th August
.After going out of the Classic fm chart last week LA VOCE re entered this week at no...40 and Parla Pui Piano was played.
Listen again is on this link (Russell on just after the news).
8th August.
On the Official Classical chart LA VOCE stays at no...29 for a second week ,unlike on the classic fm chart
where it has gone out of the top 40 .
18th July.
This week on the Official Classical chart LA VOCE is at no..24
23rd June.
FANTASTIC NEWS TODAY...Russell is No..1 on the Australian Classical chart.
This has been put on Russell's Facebook page...
"La Voce" is No.1 on the Australian Classical Album Charts!!
by Russell Watson on Thursday, June 23, 2011 at 3:49am
Congratulations to Russell Watson whose recent album, "La Voce", has jumped to the top spot of the Australian Classical album charts, earning him an amazing number 1 album down under!
Russell
is extremely happy with this fantastic news and would like to thank all
of his Australian fans who've purchased "La Voce"!
Thank you guys and well done Russell!.
......................................................................................
CONGRATULATIONS RUSSELL
21st June.
LA VOCE entered the Official Australian Album chart at No...49 this week
19th June.
Russell sings 3 of the songs in English on the Australian version of LA VOCE , Speak Softly
You Don't Have to Say You Love Me and Love Story.
The track list is on this link for itunes.
1...Speak Softly
2...E sarà così
3...Be My Love
4...Arrivederci Roma
5...You Don't Have to Say You Love Me
6...La vita senza te
7...Concerto d'autunno
8...Intermezzo
9...Love Story
10...Solo con te
11...Adagio
12...Parlami d'amore mariù
13...Someone to Remember Me
Total: 13 Songs
REVIEW
Album Review
Despite the success of Paul Potts, Alfie Boe, and Bryn Terfel, the People's Tenor, Russell Watson, remains the U.K.'s most popular homegrown male opera singer. His down-to-earth appeal and impressive but commercial vocal abilities still resonate with mainstream audiences who would have previously found the genre too inaccessible. Following his Michael Bublé-esque jazz-pop reinvention on 2008's People Get Ready, the Salford-born vocalist returns to his signature sound with his eighth studio album, La Voce. But whereas his more recent operatic output has incorporated contemporary pop material, this Mike Hedges-produced collection of 13 tracks is a more traditional affair, featuring interpretations of iconic classical pieces, film themes, and '50s and '60s standards. Backed by the Roma Sinfionetta, Ennio Morricone's orchestra of choice, and small mixed chorus Coro, Watson proves he hasn't lost his vibrant and commanding vocal presence on stirring renditions of Nino Rota's "Parla Piu Piano (Love Theme from the Godfather)," Mario Lanza's "Be My Love," and "Io Che Non Vivo Senza Te," the Italian original of Dusty Springfield's "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me." Indeed, Watson seems to have spent the time away brushing up on his language skills, with his phrasing on the likes of "E Sara Cosi" and "Parlami D'amore Mariu" far clearer and more convincing than was evident on his previous classical album, Outside In. Featuring just one purely operatic number, an adaptation of "Intermezzo" from Pietro Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana, La Voce will do little to silence the classical purists who have questioned his musical credentials ever since his 2000 debut, The Voice. But for those who hold no such preconceived reservations, its tasteful arrangements, varied choice of songs (including "Someone to Remember Me" a rare original composition penned by Wayne Hector and Steve Robson [Westlife]), and rich and powerful vocals provide a consistently impressive back to basics return to form. ~ Jon O'Brien, Rovi
16th June.
The advert for LA VOCE in Australia on Youtube.
15th June.
More good news for La Voce ,it is at No..5 on this Asia chart for China & Korea.
New to the charts this week is Russell Watson's "La Voce",
The top 10 albums for the week of 06/03/2011 - 06/09/2011 were:
1. Cyndi Wang - Sticky, 19.8%
2. Yen-J - Not Alone, 9.96%
3. A-Fu Teng - Yuan Lai Ru Ci!!, 3.97%
4. Emil Chau - Diva, 3.02%
5. Russell Watson - La Voce, 2.79%
8th June.
Fantastic news that The New Zealand Official chart have LA VOCE as a new entry at No...6 on the Album top 40 .
LA VOCE is at No..1 on this New Zealand online store.
6th June.
LA VOCE has gone up yet again on the Official Classical chart to No...8
2nd June.
Sony Taiwan..
30th May.
More good news this week , LA VOCE has gone up another 3 places on the Official Classical Chart to No..11
23rd May.
Good news this week, LA VOCE has gone UP on the Official Classical chart this week to No..15 , this is in contrast to Classic fm where it went down to No..22
13th May.
A big disappointment that LA VOCE never won the Classic Fm Album of the Year at the Classic Brit awards, even though it is STILL the best album in the Classical chart .
12th May.
LA VOCE is still in the top 20 of the Official charts ,at no 14.
25th April.
La Voce is at no..11 on this weeks Official Classical chart
12th April.
This week on the Official Classical chart LA VOCE is at no..9
CLASSICAL ARTIST ALBUMS TOP 40 - 16th April 2011
No..9 20 weeks in chart
LA VOCE
RUSSELL WATSON
(EPIC)
4th April,
Great to see La Voce going back up the Official Classical chart to no..7 this week
28th March.
LA VOCE goes down to no..11 on the Official Classical Chart but has 18 weeks in the top 10.
8th March
.La Voce is at No..7 on the Japanese HMV pre Order chart and also doing well on the
HMV Classical chart in Hong Kong at No..5 .
6th March
Great news this week, LA VOCE has gone UP yet again on the Official Classical chart,it is now at no...4 .
28th Feb.
On the Official Classical chart LA VOCE has moved Up a place to no..5.
18th Feb.
A good review of LA VOCE from The Korea JoongAng Daily .
JoongAng Daily
[NEW RELEASES] Russell Watson
February 18, 2011
After
overcoming a life-threatening tumor in his pituitary gland twice in the
last five years, Russell Watson has been reborn with his latest album
“La Voce,” which is full of gravitas and passion.
The album is his first since his battle with cancer.
As
the title of the album suggests, it has an Italian flavor, and many
selections are sung in Italian, including the grandiose first song,
“Parla Piu Piano,” the love theme of the movie, “The Godfather.”
The
Salford-born tenor expresses his genuine love for life in “Adagio” and
for romance in “E Sara Cosi.” The delightful song “Arriverderci Roma”
takes listeners on an emotional journey to the
heart of Italy.
The
delicately and tastefully arranged album is elevated by the Roma
Sinfonietta, Ennio Morricone’s orchestra, and has a cinematic feel.
The 45-year-old tenor demonstrates his rich musical talents
throughout the collection and is able to convey warmth, sadness and all
sorts of feelings. Removal of the tumor that had plagued
him since 2005 has changed his voice for the better, leaving him with a deeper and richer sound.
Watson
said that “La Voce,” his ninth album, is “the product of my life to
date, the defining record of my life so far.” It is his genuine love for
life that brings light to his voice.
Russell Watson “Russel Watson La Voce”
Label: Epic
Genre: Classical crossover
By Yoo Sun-young
14th Feb.
La Voce is at no..5 for a second week on the Official Classical chart, making it 12 weeks in the top 10.
12th Feb.
LA VOCE is No..2 in the chart in the new March issue of theClassic Fm magazine .
5th Feb.
This is a very good review of LA VOCE from Itunes .
scroll down on the link and there is a list of Russell's top albums and songs , La Voce at no..2
LA VOCE
Album Review
Despite the success of Paul Potts, Alfie Boe, and Bryn Terfel, the People's Tenor, Russell Watson, remains the U.K.'s
most popular homegrown male opera singer. His down-to-earth appeal and impressive but commercial vocal abilities still resonate with mainstream audiences who would have previously found the genre too inaccessible. Following his Michael Bublé-esque jazz-pop reinvention on 2008's People Get Ready, the Salford-born vocalist returns to his signature sound with his eighth studio album, La Voce. But whereas his more recent operatic output has incorporated contemporary pop material, this Mike Hedges-produced collection of 13 tracks is a more traditional affair, featuring interpretations of iconic classical pieces, film themes, and '50s and '60s standards. Backed by the Roma Sinfionetta, Ennio Morricone's orchestra of choice, and small mixed chorus Coro, Watson proves he hasn't lost his vibrant and commanding vocal presence on stirring renditions of Nino Rota's "Parla Piu Piano (Love Theme from the Godfather)," Mario Lanza's "Be My Love," and "Io Che Non Vivo Senza Te," the Italian original of Dusty Springfield's "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me." Indeed, Watson seems to have spent the time away brushing up on his language skills, with his phrasing on the likes of "E Sara Cosi" and "Parlami D'amore Mariu" far clearer and more convincing than was evident on his previous classical album, Outside In. Featuring just one purely operatic number, an adaptation of "Intermezzo" from Pietro Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana, La Voce will do little to silence the classical purists who have questioned his musical credentials ever since his 2000 debut, The Voice. But for those who hold no such preconceived reservations, its tasteful arrangements, varied choice of songs (including "Someone to Remember Me" a rare original composition penned by Wayne Hector and Steve Robson [Westlife]), and rich and powerful vocals provide a consistently impressive back to basics return to form. ~ Jon O'Brien, Rovi
2nd February.
La Voce remains at no..4 for another week. Russell is the only artist to break the dominance of Andre Rieu.
19th Jan
La Voce remains at no..2 on the Classic fm chart for another week but on the Official Classical chart it has been pushed down to no..3 by yet another album from Andre Rieu.
10th Dec.
Review of LA VOCE from the Korea Times.
Russell Watson
‘La Voce’
(SONY MUSIC)
Ten years since the release of his debut album “The Voice,” Russell Watson returns with “La Voce,” which of course, means “the voice” in Italian.
The British tenor has reportedly suffered from health problems, but shows that he has recovered with finesse in his new recording. Russell’s smooth and silvery voice and tempered style has a streak of Jose Carreras, particularly even more given the strong Italian character of the album.
The opener, “Parla Piu Piano” (which many may recognize as the love theme from the film “The Godfather”) is “La Voce’s” winning track, with emotion and depth.
The track list includes only one opera number, an adaptation of the Intermezzo from “Cavalleria Rusticana.” Other classical adaptations includes the Albinoni-inspired “Adagio” and the rather ill-fitting “E Sara Cosi,” which is better known as the 18th of Rachmaninov’s Paganini Variations.
Two-and-a-half out of four stars.
— LEE HYO-WON
9th Jan.
Classic Fm Chart of the Year for 2010 ,Russell in 3rd place with LA VOCE.
WELL DONE RUSSELL
The Official Classic FM Chart of the Year
2010 was an exciting
year for classical music. It was dominated by the music of Strauss,
which reached a whole new audience thanks to violinist, conductor and
showman,
André Rieu – he smashed chart records for the year,
remaining at number one for the longest, and having six albums in the
top 10 at one point.
Other strong performers in the year include Russell Watson, Craig Ogden and The Central Band of the Royal Air Force.
1 FOREVER VIENNA, ANDRE RIEU
2 MOONLIGHT SERENADE, ANDRE RIEU & JOHANN STRAUSS OR
3 LA VOCE, RUSSELL WATSON4 REACH FOR THE SKIES, CENTRAL BAND OF THE RAF
5 THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION, KATHERINE JENKINS
6 THE CLASSICAL ALBUM 2011, VARIOUS ARTISTS
7 TENOR, ROLANDO VILLAZON
8 NOEL, PRIESTS
9 DREAMING, ANDRE RIEU
10 NESSUN DORMA - OPERA'S GREATEST STARS, VARIOUS ARTISTS
5th Jan.
La Voce is at no..9 on the itunes Classical chart for downloads .
iTunes Store Top 10 Classical Albums
UK
.1 The 50 Greatest Pieces of Classical Music
London Philharmonic Orchestra & David Parry
The 50 Greatest Pieces of Classical Music
2. The Most Relaxing Classical Music in the Universe
Various Artists
3. Believe (Platinum Edition)
Katherine Jenkins
4. The Best of Andrea Bocelli
Andrea Bocelli
5. New Year's Concert 2011
Franz Welser-Moest & Wiener Philharmoniker
6. 101 Classical Hits
Various Artists
7. Russell Watson: The Platinum Collection
Russell Watson
8. Escala
Escala
9. La Voce
Russell Watson
19th Dec.
La Voce stays at No..2 on the Official Classical chart for another week and on the Official Album Chart La Voce stays at no..27 for a 2nd week
19th Dec.
INDIE LONDON.co.uk have picked LA VOCE as one of the best albums of 2010.
Russell Watson – La Voce
What
we said: Russell Watson emphatically underlines his position as
Britain’s finest tenor with the release of La Voce (or ‘the voice’),
which is as celebratory as it is to be celebrated
. The album marks
Watson’s first since the Salford born tenor finished radiotherapy for
the pituitary tumor that saw him undergoing emergency surgery… the
second he suffered in a short space of time…
La Voce is as much a
celebration of Watson’s immense talents as it is the music he has
chosen which is, in every way possible, to be cherished and celebrated
by those lucky enough to own it.
Best tracks: Parla Piu Piano, E Sara Cosi, Arriverderci Roma, Io Che Non Vivo (Senza Te), La Vita Senza Te, Intermezzo, Adagio
18th Dec.
La Voce stays at no..2 on the Classic Fm chart for a 3rd week and Parla Piu Piano was played .
17th Dec.
A good review for LA VOCE from AllGigs.co.uk
ALL GIGS.co.uk
Review Date:
14/12/2010
La Voce - Russell Watson Album Review
Album Review
My first, and quite honestly only, experience of Russell Watson is his opening theme for Star Trek: Enterprise, "Where My Heart Will Take Me" which he recorded in 2001 for the US TV show. Diane Warren wrote the song and I liked it so much that I listened to it time and again when watching Star Trek. I was excited when I heard that Watson would be singing the song live at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in 2002, I watched it and enjoyed it. However that seems a very long time ago now and the only other time that I heard anything about Watson in the interim was that he once again sang "Where My Heart Will Take Me" in 2007 for something to do with the launch of the Space Shuttle Endeavour, which I thought was very fitting, and of course when he hit the headlines more recently with news of him fighting brain cancer, which he has now reportedly recovered from thankfully.
Strangely I also heard that Slash from Guns and Roses asked Watson to be the lead singer in his band Velvet Revolver. Unsurprisingly perhaps Watson turned him down. Well he is a classically trained tenor isn't he, not a rock singer?! Might have been interesting though!
Watson debuted in 2001 with an album entitled "The Voice", now in 2010 he has released with his latest album entitled "La Voce (The Return of The Voice)". So I put the CD in to my CD player and it was at this point that I found out something interesting... Watson sings the majority of his songs in another language; hell I don't even know what language it is! Italian I imagine. But I do not understand it. There are two tracks performed in English though: "Be My Love" and "Someone To Remember Me" as well as "Io Che Non Vivo (Senza Te)" which might sound familiar as it is "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me"
So I did a little bit of research and found that despite my previous comment of him being a classically trained tenor, he actually isn't, classically trained, I mean. This makes no difference whatsoever to me, I'm not a trained reviewer but I do okay, and besides for me, at least, training, or lack of training, makes little difference to my appreciation of someone's voice or vocal talent. Apparently some critics have said that Watson's untrained tenor voice is not up to operatic standards. Hogwash, it sounds fine to me.
I really enjoyed this album, despite the language difficulties, Watson's voice is strong and clear, he sings expertly as far as I can tell and it's a wonderful crossover between popular songs and operatic singing.
Don't be put off by a perceived language barrier, jump in and enjoy it.
Kevin Stanley
13th Dec.
On the Official Album Chart LA VOCE is now at no...27 , but on the Official SCOTTISH Album Chart ,LA VOCE is at
no...24
and on the Official Classical Chart LA VOCE is at no...2 for the third week which is great news,
4th Dec.
LA VOCE entered the Classic fm chart this week at no..2 and Parla Pui Piano was played .
Russell also has The Ultimate Collection at No..18 and Encore at no..21
Congratulations Russell ,well done.
2nd December.
A review of LA VOCE from BBC music....
BBC Review
"An attractive ninth album from the returning British tenor."
Adrian Edwards 2010-12-02
In the 10 years since the release of Russell Watson’s first album, The Voice, the tenor’s name has regularly been in the headlines – sadly, most recently over a life-threatening tumor. Now recovered, he here makes a welcome return to the recording studio for his ninth long-player.
Watson’s voice is now stronger, and he has a richness and vibrancy throughout his range. This is heard at its best in the first song, Parla Piu Piano (Love Theme from The Godfather), with words set in Italian. As the album’s title suggests, many of the tracks are sung in Italian, or have an Italian connection. Watson adapts his voice to suit the different styles – in this respect his adaptability is reminiscent of José Carreras.
Much ink has been spilled as to Watson’s credentials as an opera singer, and tellingly he includes just one operatic number here, an adaptation of the Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana. Other adaptations from the classics include Adagio, taken from what once was called Albinoni’s Adagio, and E Sara Cosi, a melody better known as the 18th of Rachmaninov’s Paganini Variations; the latter, though, does not adapt well to a vocal.
Be My Love he sings in English, after Mario Lanza; though Lanza, one feels, would have gone for a retake on that final note. Watson’s quieter singing provides particular pleasure in the thoughtful Adagio, and is effective too in the gentle Io Che Non Vivo (Senza Te), to the melody of Dusty Springfield’s You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me. Across these tastefully and attractively arranged songs (Arrivederci Roma is another highlight), Russell receives immaculate support from The Roma Sinfonietta and Coro, a small mixed chorus. The production values, too, are top-notch, which all makes for a very attractive package indeed.
30th Nov.
The Official Site has confirmed that Russell is at no..2 on the Classical Album Chart.
30-11-2010
Russell would like to thank everyone who bought 'La Voce'. In it's first week it smashed into the Classical Charts at
number 2 and also registered at number 13 in the official UK Album Charts.
This is a fantastic result for Russell's comeback album and testament to much hard work, an album full of stunning
records and some of the most brilliant fans around.
Thank you guys and well done Russell!
30th Nov.
From MUSIC NEWS.com.
MUSIC NEWS.com
RUSSELL WATSON RETURNS TO THE CHARTS
30 Nov 2010 // by: newsdesk
After five years of absence due to serious illness, talented British tenor and national treasure Russell Watson will makes a welcome return to the official UK album chart.
His ninth album, 'La Voce' is number one in the classical charts and 13 in the main chart.
Recorded
in June 2010 with the Roma Sinfonietta - Ennio Morricone's orchestra of
choice ' and produced by Mike Hedges, on 'La Voce' Russell's voice has
never sounded better.
The album has been a fixture of the Amazon pre-order chart since the announcement of its release.
Stronger,
more driven and powerful, his renditions of Pino Donaggio's Io Che Non
Vivo (Senza Te), Mario Lanza's Arrivederci Roma and Parla Piu Piano (the
theme from The Godfather)
are
as impressive as you'd expect from a man singing with, literally, a new
lease of life after overcoming two life-threatening brain tumours.
29th Nov. LA VOCE REVIEW
RTE .ie /ten/music
Music Feature
Russell Watson
Monday 29 November 2010
The return of Russell Watson after battling cancer is one of 2010's rare good news stories, and his new collection, 'La Voce', does all the things a comeback album should.
Recorded in Rome and powered by a celebration of life, it's an eclectic mix of everything from Mario Lanza favourites to the theme from 'The Godfather' to the original Italian version of the Dusty Springfield classic 'You Don't Have to Say You Love Me'. The tenor tells Harry Guerin about the music, moving on and living in the moment.
Harry Guerin: I know everyone you asks you the same question: How are you?
Russell Watson: I'm much better now, a lot stronger. I'm just enjoying life at the moment, enjoying my career as well, which is taking off nicely again. [I'm] Enjoying being with the people that matter to me and maybe just getting a bit more out of life as well than ever before.
Has recovering from illness made you more patient or allowed you to look at the stress of life in a different way?
RW: I think so, yeah. When you've been through turmoil in your life it puts a different perspective on life overall. I'm probably not as intense now as I was a few years ago as a result. It's like when people say to me, 'What are your ambitions? Where do you see yourself in four or five years?' I've got to be honest, I struggle with that concept of thinking so far ahead these days because probably as far away forward as I go is about a week or two. I'm not over-focussed on the future, more the moment.
Listening to your new album, 'La Voce', it struck me that it's so full of life; you're belting it out for everything you have.
RW: Aw, thank you. There's a real sense of that. I recorded it with Ennio Morricone's orchestra, the Roma Sinfonietta. When I walked into the room I got this real sense of, I don't know, it was like, 'Wow'. I had such appreciation for where I was and what I was doing. I remember the day very clearly; the first song we did was the theme from 'The Godfather'. When the orchestra struck up playing I remember thinking, 'God, I'm so lucky to still be doing this after all I've been through. I'm so lucky to still be here.
I'm so lucky to be still making records, still selling concert tickets and still singing after the events of the past few years'. That realisation hit home and I think as a result of that that emotion is encapsulated throughout the record. Someone who's not just singing words off a hymn sheet, so to speak, but who's actually singing for their lives, basically. There's a real sense of joy in the music, I think.
It sounds like the orchestra is willing you on: 'Come on man, you're back!'
RW: I'm glad you spotted that because that's the benefit of working in the same room with the orchestra. There's a real sense of connection between the voice and the orchestra. That connection is a rare commodity these days because most records now seem to be made in a studio in a sanitised environment where the music is made in Bristol, the drums are played in Bradford, the guitar's played in London and then somebody stands in a studio when it's all done and mixed and they sing the vocals over the top of it. It's not a particularly organic way of making music. With this record in particular there's a real sense, a real organic sense, that you feel the music is happening at that moment in time.
It's old school.
RW: That's the flavour my producer Mike Hedges really tried to get. There's no computer trickery on there - what you hear is what I delivered. It's not like a lot of the kids now: they go in the studio and they sing and they go through the process and all the jiggery pokery that goes on to make them sound wonderful and perfectly in tune, so they almost sound robotic in some senses. There's none of that. It's completely free, it's completely organic and if there are a couple of notes that dip under the scale they were left for, y'know, artistic reasons.
But that should be the beauty of a record: it's not meant to be a clinical thing.
RW: No, it's not, but that's what I think in many respects has happened to modern music. Making records has become a clinical process: 'How well can we tune this, how well can we polish this, how well can we refine this, how much can we make this sound as perfect as it possibly can?' And, y'know, I get that, but in many respects it doesn't [work]. You listen to an old Nat King Cole record and then you listen to - no names mentioned - a modern recording of a pop [song] and I guarantee you that the one you'll listen to and go, 'Oh wow, that's lovely' will be Nat King Cole. You very seldom listen to music now and go, 'Oh wow, that's lovely. That's beautiful'. It's more like, 'Oh, that's nice. That's good. I like that tune, that's catchy'. That's what we say now but very few people listen to modern music these days and go, 'Oh, that's lovely. What a beautiful piece of music. Aren't the strings fantastic?' Because it's so clinical now it can only be, 'Well, that's a nice tune'.
The story of what happened to you and how you've come back from it is an inspiration for other people. With serious illness, whether it's a loved one or the person themselves, there is an element of being in a tunnel where the only thing you can see is the illness.
RW: The thing is once you've been through that of course you never forget it, but by the same rule I think there comes a point in your life where you naturally start to feel like, 'I'm moving on'. And I guess for me as somebody that's in the public eye, the first thing that people generally want to talk about is, your health. It was three years ago now and I seem to be doing very well with my health and fitness, and certainly with the singing. I've just got to the point now where I want to draw a line under it - these are the experiences I took from that awful point in time, that dark tunnel, but I've come out the other end. And, it's actually quite sunny today.
'La Voce' is out now on Sony.
29th Nov.
According to the Official Classical chart Russell is at No..2 with LA VOCE and at No..13 on the Official Album Chart
CONGRATULATIONS RUSSELL
29th Nov. From the DAILY EXPRESS
12.15am
Russell Watson broke down in tears of joy
Monday November 29,2010
By Daily Express reporter
SINGER
Russell Watson broke down in tears of joy as he celebrated his return
to the top of the charts after nearly dying from a brain tumour.
Speaking
exclusively to Day & Night after being presented with a surprise
gold disc on Terry Wogan’s Radio 2 show for his new album La Voce,
Russell,
who was with his girlfriend Louise, 21, was emotional.
“Just
seeing the gold disc made everything come rushing back. I just started
to well up but then had to go and sing. It was difficult getting the
words out.”
Russell, 43, has overcome two brain tumours in the past five years and says his battle was tough.“It
is like being a boxer who is knocked down then picks himself up off the
canvas and goes on to win the fight against all the odds,” he says.
28th Nov.
Fabulous
news this morning, Russell has just been told by Terry Wogan on his
show that LA VOCE has gone to no..1 on the Classical chart,
and he presented him with a GOLD DISC as well.
WELL DONE RUSSELL CONGRATULATIONS.
26th Nov.
Review from the Daily Record.
RUSSELL WATSON La Voce ***
Another Christmas present for many as the tenor is back from a near-deadly tumour to give us powerful versions of tracks like the theme from The Godfather.
25th Nov.
REVIEWS FOR LA VOCE
From ...INDY LONDON THE SUN THE EXPRESS
24th Nov.
At HMV Russell is no..2 on their Bestsellers list .
Taken at Trafford Centre
and on their online Classical chart La Voce is no..2..
19th Nov.
Another good Review for La Voce from the Daily Express.
Russell Watson: La Voce
(Epic)
He’s such a lovely guy and he has been through so much that it would be tempting to bump up the stars on this even if it wasn’t great. Luckily it is. Recording with the legendary Ennio Morricone’s orchestra in Rome, the song choices are inspired, ranging from the theme to The Godfather to Dusty Springfield’s You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me, sung in the original Italian.
Producer Mike Hedges has captured it all perfectly and as for the voice: it really has never been better. SG
19th Nov.
Another review for LA VOCE, this one fromThe Independant , skimping a bit on the praise though.
18th Nov.
A FANTASTIC review of LA VOCE from Indie London.com
Review by Jack Foley
product
IndieLondon Rating: 5 out of 5
Russell Watson - La Voce
RUSSELL Watson emphatically underlines his position as Britain’s finest tenor with the release of La Voce (or ‘the voice’), which is as celebratory as it is to be celebrated.
The album marks Watson’s first since the Salford born tenor finished radiotherapy for the pituitary tumor that saw him undergoing emergency surgery… the second he suffered in a short space of time.
Incredibly, though, it also marks a new era for his voice. For, he went from a V8 to a V12 voice once the tumor – which had been growing for 10 to 15 years in his nasal cavity – was removed.
The fresh impetus it gave him made him want to tackle some of the greatest classical crossover tracks in history, as well as some personal favourites… and the highlights fly thick and fast.
Make no mistake, this is an incredibly assured and stylish collection of well-known favourites, which not only showcase a tremendous and rejuvenated vocalist, but also the talents of the Roma Sinfonietta, Ennio Morricone’s orchestra of choice.
With such grand backing, it’s little wonder that the album takes on an epic, cinematic sweep with many of the tracks well known from use on soundtracks. It also ensures that the album retains a distinctly Italian flavour throughout.
And what better way to open proceedings than with Watson’s take on Parla Piu Piano (the love theme from The Godfather), which is evocative of such rich emotion and such stirring imagery. Yet, for all of its history, Watson gives it a new lease of life and opens the album’s account with one of its definitive moments.
He seldom puts a foot wrong during the remaining 13 selections. E Sara Cosi is a breathtakingly romantic follow-up, beautifully sung and expertly composed, while the romanticism continues with the towering Be My Love – delivered in English. It almost catches you off-guard.
Arriverderci Roma is playful, especially musically with its beats, and evocative of the Eternal City, Intermezzo beautiful yet somehow tragic (and awe-inspiring in this form), and Adagio utterly mesmerising.
Each selection is a classic already, but given fresh perspective and equal reverence by Watson, who brings gravitas, sophistication, passion, warmth, sadness and life to each one of them. Put together with Roma Sinfonietta, it’s a match made in heaven.
So, as previously stated… La Voce is as much a celebration of Watson’s immense talents as it is the music he has chosen which is, in every way possible, to be cherished and celebrated by those lucky enough to own it.
18th Nov.
Good news in the charts, LA VOCE is at no..1 on an a few pre order charts & no ..2 on others.
The chart lists can be seen here.....
18th Nov.
Russell on QVC shopping Channel ....16th November
Russell Watson singing live on QVC
Russell WatsonClassical superstar Russell Watson graced the QVC studios last night with live renditions of just some of the songs from his latest album 'La Voce'
In case you missed it, or if you just want to watch them again, we've got a few videos of Russell in action, including a rendition of 'Io Che Non Vivo Senza Te' the original Italian version of a tune you might recognise from Dusty Springfield...
on theYou Tube links below
Io Che Non Vivo Senza Te
Parla Pui Piano
Be My Love
YOUTUBE VIDEO
Russell on video announcing his CD launch and Facebook competition.
PLAY.com VIDEO
Video on PLAY.Com , Russell advertising his 'LA VOCE ' CD launch
