In The Hands Of Love - Vittorio Grigolo

...of 10 was a soloist in the Sistine chapel choir, Vittorio Grigolo has the voice of an angel. With an impressive repertoire under his belt, including many appearances in Mozart, Rossini and Verdi opera's as well as singing Tosca with Pavarotti at the Royal Opera House at 12, he has now turned his attention to a contemporary solo album. For anybody who thought opera wasn't their "thing" think again. His voice is absolutely flawless, exceptionally ...
...this CD - they'll fall in love and be lost to you forever!).

The track entitled "In the Hands of Love" which is the title track is glorious. Slow to start, building through to the chorus where he implores you to leave tomorrow in "the hands of love" citing revolution and hero's and the fight for freedom - but also asking whether fighting fire with fire is the right way? The violin playing through this piece and ... more

An Italian opera singer who before the tender age of 10 was a soloist in the Sistine chapel choir, Vittorio Grigolo has the voice of an angel. With an impressive repertoire under his belt, including many appearances in Mozart, Rossini and Verdi opera's as well as singing Tosca with Pavarotti at the Royal Opera House at 12, he has now turned his attention to a contemporary solo album. For anybody who thought opera wasn't their "thing" think again. His voice is absolutely flawless, exceptionally expressive and would soften even the hardest heart. Singing his own versions (in Italian) of Keane's "Bedshapen", Daniel Bedingfield's "If your not the one" he also mesmerises you with the beautiful "Maria" from West Side Story Vittorio takes the songs and makes them his own.

Whilst I admit that my Italian is non existent, I defy anybody to not be so thoroughly taken by "Magia De Amor" (the magic of love?), building up and then coming down with his voice, the playing behind him is exceptional also, rounding off and complimenting the songs and Vittorio's voice perfectly.

(And just for the men - don't leave your women alone with this CD - they'll fall in love and be lost to you forever!).

The track entitled "In the Hands of Love" which is the title track is glorious. Slow to start, building through to the chorus where he implores you to leave tomorrow in "the hands of love" citing revolution and hero's and the fight for freedom - but also asking whether fighting fire with fire is the right way? The violin playing through this piece and his voice rising through the chorus will have the hairs on the back of your neck stand up and goose bumps develop on your arms! For me that is how good music should affect you - make you think, stir emotions and soothe the soul.

The mixture of English and Italian sits well in this CD and you can enjoy it the whole way through. He is a shining example of what an opera singer can achieve with his voice and the emotions and feelings that he can extract from all those who listen to him. There have been many opera singers who tried the pop/opera crossover and many many have failed miserably, or even just achieved a passing "okay". Vittorio blows them out of the water, and not just because he's cute to look at.

The track "All in love is fair - is a Stevie Wonder song sung in Italian. Covered by many this song stood out a lot for me because it shows the range of his voice and what you can do with sound alone. "Fuerte" has a very Spanish feel about it with the guitar in the background and I defy you not to feel the need to move your body, even if it's just to sway to it whilst doing your chores on Sunday morning!

I am a long standing rock fan, with many other genre's thrown in, but never an opera fan. However, I was in a restaurant a few weeks ago and heard this playing. I have NEVER asked what a CD playing is, but I insisted that the waitress find out for me, and I am SO glad I did.

Enjoy it - let it stir you, let it have your heart racing in your chest, and then let it soothe you after a bad day. Have it on your music player on the way home and by the time he's sung the first sentence you will forget your bad day.

Highly and thoroughly recommended.

If I had one criticism it would be the song he does with the singer from Pussycat Dolls - he really didn't need to do that when he had one other collaboration with Hayley Westerna which was beautiful, this track really doesn't stand up well. 

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