IL DIVO (CD)

International classical crossover quartet Il Divo didn't start out in the garage practicing their exceptionally fluid tenors among the din of outraged neighbors and summer construction crews; rather, they were hunted by producers for two years like wild game in their native lands and herded into the studio, where they were sculpted into a machine of such smoldering European romanticism that the world would have no choice but to rip their very hearts out upon first listen. Sound overly dramatic? You bet, which is why Il Divo's self-titled debut depends entirely on one's opinion of Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On." Extremely wealthy producers Per Magnusson and David Krueger (Backstreet Boys), along with Steve Mac (Charlotte Church) have created the Three Tenors -- in this case four -- for the next generation, and if the first single, a cover of Toni Braxton's "Unbreak My Heart," is any indication, all involved should see their stock rise. American tenor David Miller, French heartthrob Sebastien Izambard, Swiss tenor Urs Buhler, and Spanish baritone Carlos Marin tackle standards like "My Way" and "Unchained Melody" with an expert precision and pomp -- the latter is sung in Italian -- that aptly conveys their obvious talents. An achingly beautiful arrangement of "Gabriel's Oboe" -- known here as "Nella Fantasia" -- from Ennio Morricone's score for The Mission is sweeping and grand, but there is no denying the sheer Monkees/Menudo/American Idol consumerism of the whole venture -- this is Idol "Grinch" Simon Cowell's baby. Il Divo may only last long enough to rid the world of a few billion dollars -- probably on one tour alone -- but there's no doubt that the hands that hold the strings above them are already in the war room planning their next kill. ~ James Christopher Monger, Rovi