The Three Tenors

Since the Three Tenors first became superstars in the early '90s, a trio of tenors has become a standard vocal ensemble formation. The Tenors, however, expanded on that idea to form a quartet, originally comprised of Victor Micallef, Clifton Murray, Remigio Pereira, and Fraser Walters.

The most devoted fans of the Three Tenors (José Carreras, Plácido Domingo, and Luciano Pavarotti) may already have the music included in this album of greatest hits taken from their concerts in Rome (1990), Los Angeles (1994), and Paris (1998), but for listeners new to the singers, this disc makes a good introduction. The repertoire is weighted toward the Latinate, featuring primarily popular song and opera excerpts from Italy, Spain, and Latin America, but also included are songs from The Merry Widow, Carousel, Singin' in the Rain, and West Side Story. Most of the music has a strongly Romantic, emotionally charged, lyrical feeling that's enhanced by the lush orchestral arrangements.

Bland, incurious and passionless, this documentary about the great tenor Luciano Pavarotti is like a promotional video licensed by a team of copyright lawyers – and about as challenging as a Three Tenors gig at Wembley stadium. Pavarotti’s glorious voice all but drowns in a 114-minute montage of obsequious syrup…

When you put together three brilliant Tenor voices with natural Irish charm, singing spinetingling Classical, Folk, Irish, Gaelic and Pop favourites in stacked threepart harmonies, then mix them up with quick witted banter, you have The Celtic Tenors. The charismatic, globetrotting trio are the most successful classical crossover artists ever to have come out of Ireland. They just sing songs they love, and they most certainly don't take themselves too seriously. It's all about the music, the harmonies and the fun. Three unique solo voices, but when called upon one tenor sound The Celtic Tenors will also perform The Irish Songbook on their Australian tour with such classics as Finnegan's Wake, In The Gloaming, Song For Ireland, Danny Boy, The Dutchman, Caledonia, You Raise Me Up and many more favourites. With a polished international reputation and over a million album sales worldwide, The Celtic Tenors offer something truly unique. The skill, range and ability of worldclass tenors combined with the personality and fun of genuine Irish performers.

Lyricist Don Black and composer John Barry, together and apart, have a vast award-winning film-score CV, most notably several James Bond films and BORN FREE. The playful Australian pop-opera group The Ten Tenors take a whack at this most vaunted repertoire, to stunning effect. Recorded with the London Session Orchestra at Abbey Road Studio (under the direction of Nicholas Dodd) and produced by John Barry himself, the Tens cover 12 Barry/Black songs, including several James Bond numbers, the theme from GLADIATOR, and three never-before-released compositions.