Tu e il tuo mare

It seems that the reports of Luciano Pavarotti's professional demise were premature. To the contrary, TI ADORO, his first solo studio album in 15 years, emphatically proclaims that the old master has quite a bit of life left in him. The legendary tenor dusts off the cobwebs and works through a program of new songs, many written specifically for him, with verve, panache, and a palpable feeling of joy. He's in excellent voice throughout, with his customary golden tone and ringing notes securely in place.

Right from the start, in the soaring opening track "Il Canto," he puts his would-be successors on notice that he's still the king of tenors and not about to relinquish his throne. Kudos to Michele Centonze for providing the singer with lush, romantic ballads such as "Domani Verra," "Stella," and "Tu E Il Tuo Mare" that are ideally suited to the maestro's majestic voice and affirm his status as the foremost exponent of classic Italianate vocal style. The album closes with Pavarotti's bravura rendition of Lucio Dalla's grandly dramatic "Caruso" that features the searing fretwork of another legend, guitarist Jeff Beck. It's a fitting exclamation point by an artist who still sets the standard by which all others are measured.