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Two things quickly become clear about Russell Watson, an excellent if slightly unpolished tenor: He has an outstanding voice, and he has studied with commendable care the recordings of Luciano Pavarotti, not to imitate but to learn. He speaks English like a member of the British working class, but he sings Italian (give or take one or two little grammatical slips) like a native of Naples. The Italian is one sign of Pavarotti's influence. So are the little quaver he throws in at the climax of "O sole mio," his stylish treatment of "Torna a Surriento" and "Mattinata," and his choice of Pavarotti's opera favorites, "E lucevan le stelle" and "Nessun dorma." But he has a stylistic versatility that practically defines "crossover"--he sings rock, Gounod's "Ave Maria," and Italian pop songs "Caruso" and "Volare" (the best recording since composer Domenico Modugno's long ago). The live show from New Zealand includes two guest stars, Faye Tozer (of the British pop group Steps) and young New Zealander Hayley Westenra, plus a children's chorus. --Joe McLellan
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