Negative Positive
Title: NOTHING MORE THAN PLEASANT
Review: I have a few tapes with Dorothy Kirsten singing two of her most famous operatic roles: 'Mimi' in "La Boheme" and the title role in "Madama Butterfly." Both are beautifully performed. This crossover album is certainly not as pathetic as the travesties produced for the great Joan Sutherland (Noel Coward songs) or Jessye Norman (Michel Legrand songs). Actually Kirsten's voice is perfectly fine. In fact, in the CD's liner notes, we're told that she started her career as a pop singer on the radio and this makes perfect sense. She has the sweet sound and lack of interpretive skills of a big band singer. The legendary Gershwin and Kern songs are simply sung pleasantly. Nothing more! The so-called "tropical love songs" are just a bit embarrassing, but then I cannot think of anyone besides Xavier Cugat who should perform them.
Is the review positive or negative? 