The latest CD release reviewed

NICOLE CABELL - SOPRANO
Arias by Puccini, Guonod, Donizetti, Gershwin, etc. London Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Andrew Davis Decca 475 761 ****

This is the debut disc of Nicole Cabell, a young American soprano, winner of the Cardiff Singer of the World competition in 2005. Since then she has received rave reviews from both critics and public. From this disc her voice comes across as a lyric soprano of great potential, which is still undergoing development. Her middle register is bright, fluid and liquid, and she has a thrilling top that can be a little hard at times. On this disc Cabell sounds more at home in the French rather than the Italian repertoire, and her singing of Entre l'amour et le devoir (from Benvenuto Cellini) is thrilling. Cabell will need to be careful of her choice of roles over the next few years, however, in order to allow what is already a lovely lyric voice to develop further. www.deccaclassics.com

Download tracks: Entre l'amour et le devoir, Summertime