VOICE OF THE VIOLIN - JOSHUA BELL
After the huge success of his 2003 album “Romance of the Violin,” affable violinist Bell returns with a second disc of beloved classical melodies arranged for violin and orchestra. This time the focus is on operatic and vocal selections, including Rachmaninoff’s “Vocalise,” Tchaikovsky’s “None but the Lonely Heart” and Strauss’ “Morgen,” the last of which features a guest appearance by opera’s current It girl, soprano Anna Netrebko. It’s a pleasant enough excursion, and Bell’s Stradivarius sings as serenely as ever even when the arrangements lapse into questionable taste, such as when a chorus joins Bell on Schubert’s “Ave Maria.” This is the lightest of fare, but like its predecessor, it is sure to find many fans. Billboard
