Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti, Jose Carreras, Zubin Mehta, James Levine - The Best of the 3 Tenors (2003)

The most devoted fans of the Three Tenors (José Carreras, Plácido Domingo, and Luciano Pavarotti) may already have the music included in this album of greatest hits taken from their concerts in Rome (1990), Los Angeles (1994), and Paris (1998), but for listeners new to the singers, this disc makes a good introduction. The repertoire is weighted toward the Latinate, featuring primarily popular song and opera excerpts from Italy, Spain, and Latin America, but also included are songs from The Merry Widow, Carousel, Singin' in the Rain, and West Side Story. Most of the music has a strongly Romantic, emotionally charged, lyrical feeling that's enhanced by the lush orchestral arrangements. James Levine and Zubin Mehta provide the accompaniment, leading Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Orchestra del Teatro dell'Opera di Roma, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Los Angeles Music Center Opera Chorus, and Orchestre de Paris. The sound is excellent and detailed even though the concerts were recorded live. The enthusiasm of the audience is evident throughout, and they frequently break into spontaneous applause.