MusicWeb International critic Michael Cookson names John Osborn’s A Tribute to Gilbert Duprez a Recording of the Month!
“I am a devotee of French Grand Opera, so A Tribute to Gilbert Duprez by American tenor John Osborn certainly set the pulse racing. … Osborn’s album contains nine arias taken from seven operas written by renowned composers Verdi, Donizetti, Berlioz and Rossini. All the arias are from roles that Duprez premièred, except for the Arnold aria from Rossini’s Guillaume Tell. He did sing the role at the Italian première. I find these are well chosen arias highly rewarding, especially as the programme is a mix of arias from operas that are occasionally encountered to rarities virtually never performed. … Osborn is very much at home in this repertoire. …
Singing with spellbinding expression…Osborn demonstrates lovely urgent slides to his top register achieving such brilliant high Cs. … Gloriously sung, it is a moving performance which feels especially well projected. … Securely directed by the experienced Constantine, Orbelian the Kaunas City Symphony Orchestra hardly put a foot wrong. They play with vitality and commitment. Recorded in studio conditions on the stage of Kaunas Philharmonic, Lithuania, the sound is first-class, especially clear and lifelike, maintaining an excellent balance between voices and orchestra. … Owing to the considerable scope of Duprez roles I hope Delos consider a second volume. This quite outstanding new Delos recording, A Tribute to Gilbert Duprez should win French Grand Opera and tenor John Osborn many new admirers.”
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