International Record Review

'Collectors of bel canto operas on disc will know that Ford can sail through ornate divisions with seeming ease (or that is the impression conveyed). He does so frequently here, always successfully, pausing in correct places, as a result of which the music gains. Variety of utterance is another quality, so a dark lower register complements a lighter shade in another passage... He has worthy support from the other singers, the orchestra and David Parry.'
1 Handel's Messiah Recitative & Aria
'Comfort ye my people'
2 'Ev'ry valley shall be exalted'
3 Mozart's Così fan tutte
Ferrando's Aria 'Her beauty's a wonder'
4 Mozart's The Clemency of Titus
Titus's Aria 'If this empire..'
5 Mozart's Così fan tutte
Ferrando's Recitative & Cavatina 'All my thoughts...'
- 'Betrayed me... Abused me...'
6 Mozart's The Clemency of Titus
Titus's Aria 'The true sublime enjoyment'
7 Rossini's Armida Trio of Rinaldo, Carlo & Ubaldo
'I lost the will to action'
with Barry Banks (PMF Scholar) & Dennis O'Neill, tenors
8 Rossini's The Barber of Seville
Count's Canzone 'My poor heart is so full of emotion'
9 Rossini's Petite Messe solennelle Aria 'Lord God almighty'
10 Rossini's Otello Otello & Iago's Duet
'It is certain. She wrote this letter' with Paul Nilon, tenor
11 Berlioz' Benvenuto Cellini Cellini's Romance
'One hour to wait now' - 'My life to art I dedicated'
12 Rossini's Zelmira Antenore's Aria
'What is this, companions?'
with Toby Stafford-Allen, baritone (PMF Scholar) & Geoffrey Mitchell Choir
13 Meyerbeer‘s The Crusader in Egypt Adrian's Prayer 'Death's unrelenting call' with Geoffrey Mitchell Choir
14 Handel's Messiah Aria: 'Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion.'
15 Tauber's Old Chelsea 'My heart and I' & 'We are in love with you'
16 Rodgers' Oklahoma! Oh, what a beautiful mornin''

London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by David Parry

Recorded in Blackheath Halls, London - 3-6 March 2003
Producer - Brian Couzens, Sound engineer - Ralph Couzens, Assistant engineer - Matthew Walker


CHAN 3100
Great Operatic Arias - Bruce Ford 2