The 3 Tenors in Concert 1994

Plácido Domingo, José Carreras, and the late Luciano Pavarotti were the most famous operatic tenors of their time (the seemingly indefatigable Domingo remains so), but they became even better known through their joint concerts, which were something of a cultural phenomenon between their first appearance together in Rome in 1990 and Pavarotti's retirement in 2005. The 3 Tenors in Concert 1994 captures their second performance—held at L.A.'s Dodgers Stadium in conjunction with the World Cup—accompanied by the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Opera Chorus under the baton of Zubin Mehta. The operatic excerpts are mostly obvious warhorses (“Nessun Dorma!” from Turandot, “La Donna È Mobile” from Rigoletto, “Vesti la Giubba” from Pagliacci), which are outnumbered by national favorites (including “Santa Lucia” and “Granada”) and pop songs (like “With a Song in My Heart” and “Funiculì, Funiculà”), with some chosen to appeal specifically to the Hollywood glitterati (such as “My Way” and “Singin' in the Rain,” which attendees Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly enthusiastically applaud). But the selections are intended to appeal to general audiences overall, as opposed to opera lovers, and the crowd responds with gusto. An earlier bestseller on both CD and VHS, this is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 and stereo, with DVD extras including an hour-long behind-the-scenes documentary. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)