In throes of lovesickness, he’s still quite the charmer

Placido Domingo: “Italia, Ti Amo”

Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra. Eugene Kohn, conductor. (Deutsche Grammophon)

***

LOVESICKNESS, longing, disappointment and heartbreak are the subjects of most of these 16 songs by 20th century Italian composers, which the veteran 65-year-old star tenor delivers with his signature intensity. Most memorable are Tosti’s “Non t’amo piu” and Salvatore Cardillo’s “Core ‘ngrato,” perhaps most cherishable the touching but uncomplaining -- rare on this disc -- “Mandulinate ‘e sera” by Virgilio Panzuti. The meat of Domingo’s voice may be somewhat diminished, but the singer’s charm remains.

Daniel Cariaga