Il Divo CD

Il Divo: Carlos Marin, David Miller , Sebastien Izambard, Urs Buhler (vocals).
Additional personnel: Mathias Venge (guitar, programming); Esbjörn Öhrwall, Fridrik Karlsson (guitar); Jannika Gustafsson (violin); Gavyn Wright (strings); Jan Bengtsson (flute); Bengt Rosengren (oboe); Maj Widding (bassoon); Hans Larsson, Rolf Nyqvist (French horn); Per Magnusson (piano, keyboards); Dave Arch, Kristoffer Nergårdh (piano); Steve Mac (keyboards, synthesizer); Andy Hill (keyboards); Tomas Lindberg (bass instrument); Chris Laws (drums); Frank Ricotti, Karl Thorsson (percussion); Josef Larossi, David Krueger, Andreas "Quiz" Romdhane (programming); Emil Heiling, Anders Von Hofsten, Maria Diephuis, Linda Norrgård (background vocals).
Ensemble: Stockholm Session Strings.
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
IL DIVO gives the classical/pop crossover a twist, via a quartet of singers whose vocal chops and model-like looks make them four times the heartthrob threat of predecessor Andrea Bocelli. Masterminded by AMERICAN IDOL's Simon Cowell, Il Divo resonates with an international appeal, thanks to the disparate backgrounds of Sebastien Izambard (France), Urs Buhler (Switzerland), Carlos Marin (Spain), and David Miller (United States). Further solidifying the pop quotient is the involvement of Britney Spears/Backstreet Boys producers Per Magnusson and David Krueger.
Lush orchestral arrangements are applied to Spanish-language readings of Toni Braxton's "Unbreak My Heart (Regresa a Mi)" and Frank Sinatra's signature "My Way (A Mi Manera)," enhancing the romantic sweep of the originals. Although much of Il Divo's repertoire is performed in Spanish or Italian, the group also offers up the English-language tunes "Mama," "The Man You Love," and "Every Time I Look at You," which features swelling strings and light piano. As a bonus, the album includes a hidden track--an Italian version of "Unchained Melody," which is tailor-made for Il Divo's bold, dramatic phrasing.