This recording opens on a high, with Saimir Pirgu’s opening cry “O inferno!” from Simon Boccanegra. He is taking no prisoners. All at once there is much to be excited by as you hear a muscular, athletic tone coming from a handsome, young Albanian tenor. Maybe we’ve discovered the natural successor to Jonas Kaufmann?

Upon further listening though, the initial enthusiasm fades. The album serves up a main course of meaty Verdi arias, with side dishes of Donizetti, Cilea, Gounod, Massenet, Strauss and Puccini. It’s a mixed bag. Quite simply, Pirgu – occasionally capable of divine sounds – consistently over-sings and often doesn’t seem to be in complete control of his instrument.

The famous Che Gelida Manina, seems stilted and Pirgu doesn’t create enough light and shade for a love-stricken hero. The first two lines of Salut! Demeure chaste et pure create a delicious sense of bel canto legato, but Pirgu can’t seem to sustain it as the aria continues.There are moments of glorious beauty, however, like the aria from Cilea’s L’Arlesiana, which Pirgu sings with simplicity and gravitas. It’s the highlight of the disc.

It can’t be denied that Pirgu has an astonishingly beautiful voice, but pressure and...