Il Divo Albums (5)
What The Critics Say
Opera-pop group Il Divo don't stray from their blueprint on their fourth proper album, The Promise, which isn't greatly different in feel or form from its predecessors -- it still consists of stately, dramatic Euro-pop covers of soft rock classics balanced by a couple of made-to-order tunes. Previously, they sang songs that were hits the world over -- "Nights in White Satin," "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman," "All by Myself" -- and here they rely on "The Power of Love," ABBA's "The Winner Takes All," and Charles Aznavour's "She," which wind up skewing this toward the group's Euro roots. Ultimately, fans can choose to listen to this or to the other Il Divo albums, because The Promise offers more of the same. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Continuing their string of overtly sentimental albums, the multinational Il Divo released their fourth (including The Christmas Collection) full-length, Siempre, which contains more of the same Latinized versions of pop songs, as well as some originals (written by their producers). All four Divos sound professional and emotional, especially Spanish baritone Carlos Marin, who seems on the verge of tears every time he opens his mouth. The arrangements for the songs (including West Side Story's "Somewhere" -- the only one that's in English -- and the Italian version of the Moody Blues' "Nights in White Satin," among others) are always very clean, with soft acoustic guitars and pianos backed by subtle yet swelling strings, adding to the romanticized idea and portrayal of the group. To be fair, all four are very talented vocalists, and they manage to make Bryan Adams' "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman" sound even more profound and sensitive when they sing it in Spanish, and their phrasing on both "Without You" (originally made famous by Harry Nilsson) and Lucio Dalla's "Caruso" (with some of the lyrics cut out, despite the fact they're all listed in the album booklet) is excellent, drawn out to pull as much emotion as possible from each of the songs. Siempre is exactly what you would expect from Il Divo, so if you want more of what they've already given, it should be a satisfying record. ~ Marisa Brown, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Unbearably handsome opera-pop quartet Il Divo deliver another amorous collection of European housecleaning ballads with Ancora, an album so riddled with Cupid's arrows that it requires its own storage unit. Once again, David Miller, Sébastien Izambard, Urs Buhler, and Carlos Marin bring the love in Spanish, English, and Italian, emoting over classical and opera standards, as well as some notable contemporary compositions. They fawn over Celine Dion -- who can barely contain her own affections -- on "Isabel," and make Mariah Carey's "Hero" sound like the rolling of credits over a Jerry Bruckheimer action/tragedy blockbuster, all the while maintaining the perfect pitch and impeccable showmanship that are their stock-in-trade. Fans who flocked to Il Divo's self-titled debut and 2005 Christmas Collection need no reassurances that their boys are in top form, as a recent appearance on Oprah brought the quartet into the homes of millions of potential converts, but in this age of manufactured goods over artisan rusticity, it's hard not to look at Ancora as the classical crossover equivalent of a bistro-style TV dinner. ~ James Christopher Monger, All Music Guide
'The Christmas Collection'
Release Date 10/25/2005
Tracks 10
Label Sony
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Simon Cowell's "man band" creation Il Divo bring their perfect hair and immaculate throats into the crowded holiday genre with the creatively titled Christmas Collection, a heavily decorated box of yuletide favorites that dutifully showcases each tenor's captivating voice. There's not much difference between this offering and the myriad of similarly themed releases from contemporaries like Celtic Tenors, Josh Groban, and Charlotte Church, but it's a pleasant enough deviation from your parents' Mannheim Steamroller record. ~ James Christopher Monger, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
International classical crossover quartet Il Divo didn't start out in the garage practicing their exceptionally fluid tenors among the din of outraged neighbors and summer construction crews; rather, they were hunted by producers for two years like wild game in their native lands and herded into the studio, where they were sculpted into a machine of such smoldering European romanticism that the world would have no choice but to rip their very hearts out upon first listen. Sound overly dramatic? You bet, which is why Il Divo's self-titled debut depends entirely on one's opinion of Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On." Extremely wealthy producers Per Magnusson and David Krueger (Backstreet Boys), along with Steve Mac (Charlotte Church) have created the Three Tenors -- in this case four -- for the next generation, and if the first single, a cover of Toni Braxton's "Unbreak My Heart," is any indication, all involved should see their stock rise. American tenor David Miller, French heartthrob Sébastien Izambard, Swiss tenor Urs Buhler, and Spanish baritone Carlos Marin tackle standards like "My Way" and "Unchained Melody" with an expert precision and pomp -- the latter is sung in Italian -- that aptly conveys their obvious talents. An achingly beautiful arrangement of "Gabriel's Oboe" -- known here as "Nella Fantasia" -- from Ennio Morricone's score for The Mission is sweeping and grand, but there is no denying the sheer Monkees/Menudo/American Idol consumerism of the whole venture -- this is Idol "Grinch" Simon Cowell's baby. Il Divo may only last long enough to rid the world of a few billion dollars -- probably on one tour alone -- but there's no doubt that the hands that hold the strings above them are already in the war room planning their next kill. ~ James Christopher Monger, All Music Guide
