Album: Russell Watson, La Voce (Epic)

La Voce represents the King of the Popera Singers' first resumption of a largely classical – well, Italian, at least – repertoire since overcoming brain cancer.

But while there are thoughtful versions of Albinoni's "Adagio" and "Intermezzo", he still goes for the crowd-pleasing flourish, rolling the lines of "Parla Piu Piano" (the Godfather theme) round his mouth like a vintage port, and indulging stentorian vibrato on "Be My Love". But his heart clearly resides in Italy: "Arrivederci Roma" sounds so natural, an easy fit for the People's Tenor, while his tender treatment of "Io Che Non Vivo (Senza Te)" – the original version of "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me" – avoids tempting excesses.

DOWNLOAD THIS Intermezzo; Adagio; Arrivederci Roma