The Promise (2008)

Before listening to this cd, I had heard very little of Il Divo. I expected the lovely harmonies and powerful voices, but I was pleasantly surprised with the song choices and interpretations. I really enjoyed this cd. It was just the kind of relaxation I wanted. I was particularly impressed with their soft, beautiful rendition of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah and with the powerful classic, Amazing Grace. This is the perfect cd to pop in while your relaxing in the bath. Their vocals will not disappoint.
 
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I received this cd for review from one2onenetwork. I have been an Il Divo fan since the begining and am very dissapointed with this album. I found the songs hard to diferentiate from each other.Iwas bored throughout the album and could not even find one "stand out" song. Iwill not be purchasing this for anyone I know.
 
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I enjoyed "The Promise" by Il Divo. The strength of the voices of these amazingly gorgeous men carries the music into the place that gives me the "goose bumps" I love to feel when listening to a perfectly carried note. My favorite track was "La Luna" , followed by "Angelina" . The way the name was sung was enough to make me want to change my name from Sherri to Angelina. The harmony this group of men (did I mention they are gorgeous?) possesses is such a gift to them and to those of us blessed with listening . I must admit though that I suffered one disappointment .Amazing Grace is such a beautiful song and a perfect opportunity for harmony to move those who are listening and I did not feel that justice was done to this time honored song . The strength of their voices was certainly there , but I found it somewhat lacking in , for lack of a better word , emotion. It seemed that whenever the group has performed this song "live" they have the ability to make it blend into perfection , but somehow they did not manage the same when it was recorded for the album. There are no regrets in having this album in my collection and I look forward to their next one!
 
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I enjoyed "The Promise" by Il Divo. The strength of the voices of these amazingly gorgeous men carries the music into the place that gives me the "goose bumps" I love to feel when listening to a perfectly carried note. My favorite track was "La Luna" , followed by "Angelina" . The way the name was sung was enough to make me want to change my name from Sherri to Angelina. The harmony this group of men (did I mention they are gorgeous?) possesses is such a gift to them and to those of us blessed with listening . I must admit though that I suffered one disappointment .Amazing Grace is such a beautiful song and a perfect opportunity for harmony to move those who are listening and I did not feel that justice was done to this time honored song . The strength of their voices was certainly there , but I found it somewhat lacking in , for lack of a better word , emotion. It seemed that whenever the group has performed this song "live" they have the ability to make it blend into perfection , but somehow they did not manage the same when it was recorded for the album. There are no regrets in having this album in my collection and I look forward to their next one!
 
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I enjoyed "The Promise" by Il Divo. The strength of the voices of these amazingly gorgeous men carries the music into the place that gives me the "goose bumps" I love to feel when listening to a perfectly carried note. My favorite track was "La Luna" , followed by "Angelina" . The way the name was sung was enough to make me want to change my name from Sherri to Angelina. The harmony this group of men (did I mention they are gorgeous?) possesses is such a gift to them and to those of us blessed with listening . I must admit though that I suffered one disappointment .Amazing Grace is such a beautiful song and a perfect opportunity for harmony to move those who are listening and I did not feel that justice was done to this time honored song . The strength of their voices was certainly there , but I found it somewhat lacking in , for lack of a better word , emotion. It seemed that whenever the group has performed this song "live" they have the ability to make it blend into perfection , but somehow they did not manage the same when it was recorded for the album .Incidentally, Amazing Grace is sang in English. There are no regrets in having this album in my collection and I look forward to their next one!
 
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This was my first time hearing Il Divo, and I dove into “The Promise” CD headfirst, and with great expectations. Perhaps I set the bar too high, because I was sorely disappointed. The music is beautiful, but alarmingly soporific and tedious. The singers have wonderfully clear and resonant voices and take great care and precision in delivering every note perfectly, to the effect that the passion is never allowed to seep through. One of the few bright spots in this album was L’Alba del Mondo, an Italian adaptation of Ennio Morricone’s “I Knew I Loved You (Deborah’s Theme).” The addition of some more familiar renditions, such as “Hallelujah” and “Amazing Grace” make it more bearable but are not enough to overcome the dreary, one-note atmosphere that plagues the album. I will check out Il Divo’s previous works with optimism, but sadly, this is one promise that is never delivered.
 
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The best way I can describe the sound of Il Divo is soaring passion. These four beautiful operatic voices blend to create powerful music and graceful elegance. "Angelina", "Adagio", they all create a relaxing, rich ambience which surrounds you and takes you in, a break from a world which can be chaotic. The real test for me was the cover of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah. There is a wonderful rendition by Jeff Buckley and my favorite version is Leonard's, but, Il Divo managed to wow me with a soft and gorgeous rendition. I love the beauty of Italian and Spanish so that is a plus for me. This is the type of cd I want to just get lost in and allow it to inspire and enrich my soul and my heart. Bravo, Il Divo!
 
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IL Divo doesn't disappoint with their latest cd "The Promise".I'm so moved by the beautiful vocals & their rendition of Amazing Grace leaves my soul filled.I honestly recommend "The Promise" to everyone...you will not be disappointed!
 
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I love Il Divo's sound and their music, and although this isn't their best work, it is still amazing. There were two things overall that I did not care for. First, I had to adjust the volume constantly throughout the CD; as the volume varies greatly. Second, most of the songs are arranged the same: they start very softly and build to an almost harsh climax. Particularly, I was not overly fond of Track 1, La Fuerza Mayor - starts so slowly the words come out sounding a little harsh; Track 3, Adagio - It seems as though the orchestration and the vocals are in conflict; and Track 8, Va Todo Al Ganador - Abba's music doesn't translate well into this style. However, there were many things that I enjoyed. Track 2, La Promessa, is beautiful. The orchestration is very pleasing, and their voices are powerful, yet tender. Track 5, L'Alba Del Mondo, is a wonderful showcase of the talent of this group. Track 7, Angelina, has very Spanish instrumentals and is lovely. Track 11, Amazing Grace, is incredible. The solo on the first verse is amazing, and the bagpipes are a wonderful twist on this classic. Overall, this is another amazing CD by Il Divo.
 
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I just received my Il Divo album The Promise and I am very happy with it. It is compiled of fresh, new music that will be sure to please any Il Divo fan. I love the range of their voices and this was a pleasant treat! It doesn't sound like their typical albums which is a nice change, so many singers put out a ton of songs that all sound alike. In addition to their vocals, they have some great background music. You can FEEL the music, not just hear it. If you are a fan of II Divo, like me, I think you will be very pleased! I especially like the Adagio, Enamorado, Angelina, and my favorite on the CD is Amazing Grace!!
 
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Prior to receiving this CD, I was only minimally aware of Il Divo, the princes of popera. I had seen them on television several times, and knew that they had amazing voices and harmonies. When I first listened to this, I was blown away. These songs truly showcase Il Divo's incredible harmonies. The instrumentals are expertly arranged. The melodies are deceptively simple, yet compelling. Each song is full of pleasant surprises in harmonies, melodies and dynamics. If you listen, and emerge yourself in the music, you will not only be interested, you will also be lost in the music. With the exception of Amazing Grace, the songs are in Spanish. Regardless if you understand the words, the music emotes the sentiment of the song in a way that makes it easy to understand the message of the music. Songs such as "La Luna", Angelina and Amazing Grace really showcase the power, range and precision of Il Divo's voices.
 
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I listen to classical opera, but am in no way a connoisseur. I had heard of Il Divo, but had not purchased their music in the past. Il Divo has an amazing way of melding four voices together in an operatic quartet on this album. Hearing these romantic ballads in Spanish was beautiful, and allowed me to focus on the actual music and voice range of the four singers. This has to be one of the best renditions of Amazing Grace that I have ever heard, amplified by the beautiful background music and the crispness of the voices (Note that Amazing Grace is the only song in English on the album). I will likely purchase additional Il Divo albums in the future after listening to The Promise. Overall, I think Il Divo is many steps ahead of Josh Groban, but not quite at the original Three Tenors. This album is easy to listen to and would make great background music at a wine tasting or similar party, as well as, everyday listening for the classical opera lover.
 
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This is the first time I have heard of this group and I was pleasantly surprised. I love hearing a good blend of bass and tenor voices and Il Divo delivered. They each have a gorgeous voice that gets even better in a tight harmony. My favorite songs are La Promesa, Hallelujah and Amazing Grace. This will be a wonderful addition to my playlist favorites!
 
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These 4 lads from different countries have a rare and precious gift and that is the power to touch individuals very soul's through song. THE PROMISE was my 1st experience with IL Divo and I was mesmerized by each and every song! My body was covered in goosebumps and by the middle of their rendition of "Amazing Grace" tears flowed freely down my face! How beautiful, how moving! This CD would make the perfect holiday gift for someone you love.
 
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I don't usually listen to music in Spanish - but I really like this Il Divo cd. The singer has a rich, deep voice like Josh Groban and is very soothing. Music in the background could be a little richer. The Spanish version of The Winner Takes It All from Mama Mia left me not so enthralled, possibly because the words really speak to me in English and make the song even better. In Spanish, I'm just listening to nice music. I think this will make a really nice gift for my Peruvian sister-in-law.
 
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Music > Classical CDs