In the Garden

Editorial Reviews
J. Parker, MD July 10, 2001
What a gift!

Larry Grubb, M.Div, May 3, 2001
As a pastoral counselor, this music creates respit and quiet to those who come to me for help.

Album Description
These imaginative stylings to old familiar hymns are a refreshing complement to your listening library. Enjoy this music at the office, at home or in the car. For the person who's grown up with these hymns, these adaptations are presented with warm familiarity and inspiration. For those who are unfamiliar with these traditional hymns, this music is a relaxing and calming spot in the 'hurry' of life around you. These reflective selections are nice while studying, working, or if you're just wanting music for your own quiet time.

In the Garden

The King and I (1956 Film Soundtrack)
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • FINALLY, KEER AND NIXON BOTH SING
  • The King and I--a distinguished, beautiful score laced with tenderness and sorrow
  • A fine King and I soundtrack reissue
  • great album
  • a classic
 The King and I (1956 Film Soundtrack)
Deborah Kerr , Yul Brynner , Marni Nixon , Rita Moreno , and Alfred Newman
Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Movie SoundtracksMovie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
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Traditional Vocal PopTraditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B00005A7XC
Release Date: 2001-03-13

Tracks:

  1. Main Title - 20th Century-Fox Orchestra/Alfred Newman
  2. I Whistle A Happy Tune - Marni Nixon/Rex Thompson
  3. My Lord And Master - Rita Moreno
  4. The March Of The Siamese Children - 20th Century-Fox Orchestra/Alfred Newman
  5. Anna And The Royal Wives - 20th Century-Fox Orchestra/Alfred Newman
  6. Hello, Young Lovers - Marni Nixon
  7. A Puzzlement - Yul Brynner
  8. Getting To Know You - Deborah Kerr/Marni Nixon
  9. Garden Rendezvous - 20th Century-Fox Orchestra/Alfred Newman
  10. We Kiss In A Shadow - Leona Gordon/Reuben Fuentes
  11. I Have Dreamed - Leona Gordon/Reuben Fuentes
  12. Shall I Tell You What I Think Of You? - Deborah Kerr/Marni Nixon
  13. Something Wonderful - Terry Saunders
  14. Prayer To Buddha - Yul Brynner
  15. Waltz Of Anna And Sir Edward - 20th Century-Fox Orchestra/Alfred Newman
  16. The Small House Of Uncle Thomas - Rita Moreno
  17. Song Of The King - Yul Brynner/Marni Nixon
  18. Shall We Dance? - Deborah Kerr/Marni Nixon/Yul Brynner
  19. The Letter - 20th Century-Fox Orchestra/Alfred Newman
  20. Something Wonderful (Finale) - Chorus/Alfred Newman
  21. Overture (LP Version) - 20th Century-Fox Orchestra/Alfred Newman

Amazon.com essential recording

Compared with the Broadway cast recording, the 1956 soundtrack to the film version of The King and I wins hands down. Yul Brynner is the king (literally and figuratively) in both formats (how could anyone else own such a role?), but the movie's score has better sonics, Brynner's voice is stronger, and the tunes are more memorable (thanks to Alfred Newman's conducting and Ken Darby's scoring) than on any of the various cast recordings. Marni Nixon sings the role of Anna (played onscreen by Deborah Kerr), Brynner delivers his hallmark performance, and the best-loved tunes--"Hello, Young Lovers," "Getting to Know You," and "I Whistle a Happy Tune" are the versions we'll always remember. A classic. --James Hendrickson

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars FINALLY, KEER AND NIXON BOTH SING.......2007-05-26

WHAT A COMPLETE JOY TO HEAR MARNI NIXON AND
DEBORAH KERR BOTH SING. TRULY A COLLECTORS
ITEM WITH ALL THE NOSTALGIA, OUTSHINES ALL
OTHER ATTEMPTS TO RE-MASTER THIS MAGNIFICANT
MUSIC.

5 out of 5 stars The King and I--a distinguished, beautiful score laced with tenderness and sorrow.......2007-04-08

The King And I soundtrack is presented magnificently on this excellent 76 minute CD. This CD offers us much music and vocals that were cut from the film as well as material that never made it to the record album release of the soundtrack back in 1956. We get stunning performances by giants including Yul Brynner, Terry Saunders and Marni Nixon. This CD is so complete and generous with it's treatment of the soundtrack that it must be considered as the definitive soundtrack edition of the music from The King And I.

The CD starts off with the music for the "main title" of the film; and this also serves as an appetizer to whet out appetites for what's to come. "I Whistle A Happy Tune" gives us Marni Nixon singing the vocals for Deborah Kerr; the melody is infectiously catchy; this song is one of the highlights of the CD. "My Lord And Master," performed by Leona Gordon who sang the vocals for Rita Moreno, is another masterpiece with a softness to it that belies the pain Rita's character Tuptim feels because she is separated from her one true love. "The March Of The Siamese Children" is performed by the 20th Century Fox Orchestra to perfection without a single superfluous note; the melody infuses this number with an Asian flavor as well.

Other gems on this CD--and that would, quite honestly, include every single track--include "Hello, Young Lovers" sung by Marni Nixon as Deborah Kerr's character Anna Leonowens laments a love gone awry back in England; the touching and heartrending "We Kiss In A Shadow;" Terry Saunders as Lady Thiang performing "Something Wonderful" with exceptional sensitivity and "Shall We Dance?" which is performed by Deborah Kerr, Marni Nixon and Yul Brynner. As you listen to numbers like "Shall We Dance?" that calls for Anna, played by Deborah Kerr, to speak and then sing, you will have a hard time discerning where Deborah Kerr leaves off speaking and Marni Nixon starts singing. It's THAT good.

As long as I include the words "Something Wonderful" when writing this review I must add that the extras you get are stupendous. As I stated above, the CD boasts much that the record album soundtrack never included. Indeed, we get music that didn't even make it to the final cut of the movie! I loved the beautiful and sensitive rendition of "The Small House Of Uncle Thomas" which was previously unreleased and "Shall I Tell You What I Think Of You" is a marvelous song--cut from the final edited edition of the film--that highlights Anna's contempt for the King's backward ways.

The CD package offers more still. Along with the CD comes a generous 32 page booklet with an extensive essay by Charles L. Granata that tells the history of both the stage play and the making of the stage play into a major motion picture at Fox. In addition, you get the song credits and there are rarely seen photographs as well.

The quality of the sound shines like solid gold. These performances reflect great sensitivity to the emotions each character felt. It is a special treat to listen to Yul Brynner's songs; he infuses each song and even every word with just the right emotions so that the listener experiences exactly what his character feels at every turn.

This CD is one of the very few that truly remind me of the old MGM logo which boasted of having "more stars than there are in the heavens." Indeed, five stars are nowhere near enough for this treasure. I highly recommend this CD for people who truly loved and appreciated The King And I both in its several onstage productions as well as on the big screen; and fans of show tunes will delight in this CD soundtrack with its' diamonds scattered broadly in all directions.

5 out of 5 stars A fine King and I soundtrack reissue.......2007-02-10

Of the three recent EMI-Angel R&H film soundtrack reissues, I find that this reissue of the King & I soundtrack is the best-executed. The King and I shows a new maturing of the R&H element and this superb 1956 film adaptation more than certainly does it justice. The superb soundtrack presented here includes the complete score, along with some of Alfred Newman's underscoring, and boasts splendid performances by Marni Nixon and Yul Brynner. And of course the orchestra is sumptuous and properly lush, enveloping us in sweltering renditions of some of Rodgers' most heartfelt melodies.

I won't reiterate the critic-proof performances here. Other reviewers have covered them elsewhere. Nixon as a voice-dubber is in her element as Anna, and portrays her characterfully. Brynner is in his element as the King, as firm, commanding and authoritative as we've always known him to be. This performance shows him at his best, ripe, fresh and mature. Leona Gordon and Reuben Fuentes shine as the star-crossed lovers Tuptim and Lun Tha, bringing a melancholic quality to their brief numbers. It's really a treat to hear their renditions of the omitted songs My Lord and Master and I Have Dreamed. Rita Moreno as the real Tuptim acquits herself well when narrating the Uncle Tom's Cabin ballet sequence, presented for the first time on an official soundtrack recording. It's good to also hear Terry Saunders as Lady Thiang, in a heartfelt, humane and imploring rendition of Something Wonderful, and she is the icing on the cake of this superb soundtrack recording.

This EMI-Angel R&H soundtrack offers an extra benefit in addition to the extra musical sequences. Unlike the companion CDs of Oklahoma and Carousel, it presents the extra material from the original unmixed studio vault masters, except for the Prayer to Buddha and the Uncle Tom's Cabin ballet. This means that this reissue is blessedly free of the extraneous sound effects that plague the Oklahoma and Carousel CDs. I know that the sound effects and little snippets of dialogue drown out the music, but at least these reissues are a start in presenting comprehensive R&H soundtracks worthy of their films. What a pity that none of these R&H soundtrack reissues aren't 2-CD sets, otherwise we would have been able to hear the underscore.

In short, this is a superb presentation of a fine R&H film soundtrack.

5 out of 5 stars great album.......2006-07-15

Great songs for kids to learn to sing along, instead of bubble gum fluff.

5 out of 5 stars a classic.......2006-06-05

A true musical theater classic. Wonderful melodies that will last for years to come.
Other classics not to forget about are:
Mary Poppins
My Fair Lady
The Wizard of Oz
Chitty Chitty Bang Band
The first Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
The Sound of Music
Oliver
West Side Story
Fiddler on the Roof
Singing in the Rain
The Wiz
Little Mermaid
Aladdin
Beauty and the Beast
Grease
The King and I
Oklahoma
The Music Man
South Pacific

My Voice Students are always asking me for recommendations so I though I'd post it for all! We can't forget about these great musicals!
Claude Debussy: The Composer as Pianist
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Revelatory.
  • A primary source for interpreting Debussy
 Claude Debussy: The Composer as Pianist

Manufacturer: Pierian
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

WaltzesWaltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music
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  5. Prokofiev Plays Prokofiev

ASIN: B00005IC03
Release Date: 2000-09-26

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Revelatory........2004-01-27

Debussy lived into the age of recording, but the primary documents of his playing are his Welte-Mignon piano rolls. The Welte-Mignon contraption was a mechanical "player" which you set before a regular piano. It differed from the familiar player piano in that it could reproduce not only dynamics but touch and pedal technique. Mahler also recorded some of his pieces in this way. The problem with these things is their extreme fussiness. There's a problem with getting them to play at the intended speeds. You don't know, for example, how fast or slow Debussy intended, say, "La cathedrale engloutie" simply by looking at the roll. Also, apparently Welte-Mignon players were fitted to the individual piano. However, Pierian has used the talents of an engineer, Kenneth Caswell, who has devoted decades to the innards of the player, and the results have won the imprimatur of Harold Schoenberg himself, formerly a severe critic of modern Welte-Mignon reproduction. That's good enough for me.

All that said, I consider this one of the ten most important releases in the history of recording, even though I don't know what the other nine would be. Debussy is one of the master composers of keyboard music, along with Scarlatti, Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Brahms, Schumann, Liszt, Bartok, Ravel, and Prokofiev. So the recording is the equivalent of having Bach play the Goldbergs for you. Does Debussy differ from benchmark performances, like Gieseking? Not to take anything away from Gieseking, but, yes, he does. I can describe it as an extreme inwardness, as if the composer were communing with himself. The fingerwork isn't as sure as some, but the outstanding feature of the playing is its outstanding singing or, considering the composer's subtle temperament, humming. I can't imagine anybody interested in Debussy's piano music passing up this CD.

We also get Debussy's acoustic recordings as Mary Garden's accompanist in the Ariettes oubliees and in an extract from Pelleas. These to me have more problems than the rolls, mainly because the sound is so crude, but I make that judgment precisely because I have the rolls. Without Caswell's dedication, I'd have been extremely grateful for the acoustic recordings.

5 out of 5 stars A primary source for interpreting Debussy.......2002-07-02

This is an album of Debussy's piano works played by Debussy himself. Most of the pieces are from rolls recorded by Debussy and played on Ken Caswell's beautifully and carefully restored Welte reproducing piano. There are also four acoustic recordings of Debussy vocal works, with Debussy playing piano.

The Welte reproducing piano records and plays back many aspects of piano playing (dynamics and touch) at remarkably high fidelity for the time. Thus these piano rolls are primary documents showing how Debussy intended his works to be played. While these recordings to not have the fidelity of modern acoustic recordings, it is possible to detect pedaling, tempo and dynamics. This recording has been the basis of scholarly research, such as the essay by Cecilia Denoyer in the book "Debussy in Performance", edited by James Briscoe.

The acoustic recordings of the vocal works are of much lower fidelity, but do give a sense of Debussy's feel of the piano.

If you are studying Debussy's piano works and want to know how to interpret his notation, this album is for you. If you just want to listen to Debussy's piano works, a modern recording may be more musically pleasing, but you may still enjoy hearing the pieces as they were played by the master himself.
The Ultimate Puccini Collection
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Correction to the entry by "sergiocqh"
  • Fantastic!
  • HATE OPERA? THIS ONE WILL CHANGE YOUR MIND
  • "Ultimate" only if you like your opera "al fresco"!
  • Wonderful Performance but Average Recording Quality
 The Ultimate Puccini Collection
Giacomo Puccini , Herbert von Karajan , Riccardo Chailly , Stephen Barlow , Tullio Serafin , Lorin Maazel , Sir Edward Downes , Giuseppe Patane , Zubin Mehta , Alberto Erede , John Mauceri , Plácido Domingo , José Carreras , Kiri Te Kanawa , John Alldis Choir , Luciano Pavarotti , London Philharmonic Orchestra , Bologna Community Theater Orchestra , Ettore Bastianini , Carlo Bergonzi , Renato Cesari , Fernando Corena , Cesare Siepi , Renata Tebaldi , Gianna D'Angelo , Saint Cecilia Academy Orchestra , Franco Corelli , Alfredo Mariotti , Regine Crespin , Royal Opera House Orchestra Covent Garden , London Symphony Orchestra , Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Orchestra , Rome Opera House Orchestra , Pilar Lorengar , Berlin Philharmonic Brass Ensemble , Mirella Freni , Rolando Panerai , Jussi Bjorling , Leontyne Price , and Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

All Works by PucciniAll Works by Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
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ItalianItalian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
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Crespin, RegineCrespin, Regine | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
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Nilsson, BirgitNilsson, Birgit | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Price, LeontynePrice, Leontyne | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Sutherland, JoanSutherland, Joan | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
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  3. Puccini Without Words
  4. Puccini: Great Opera Arias
  5. The #1 Opera Album

ASIN: B000007OU1
Release Date: 1998-06-09

Tracks:

  1. Turnadot: Nessun Dorma!
  2. Gianni Schicchi: O Mio Babbino Caro
  3. Manon Lescaut: Donna Non Vidi Mai
  4. La Boheme: Musetta's Waltz Song
  5. Tosca: Recondita Armonia
  6. Madame Butterfly: Un Bel Di
  7. TOSCA: E Lucevan Le Stelle
  8. La rondine: Il Sogno Di Doretta
  9. La Boheme: Che Gelida Manina
  10. La Boheme: Si, Mi Chiamano Mini
  11. La Boheme: O Soave Fanciulla - Love Duet, Act I
  12. Ch'ella mi creda libero
  13. TOSCA: Ah, Quegli Occhi...Qual'occhio Al Mondo - Love Duet, Act I
  14. TOSCA: Vissi D'Arte
  15. Madame Butterfly: Vogliatemi Bene - Love Duet, Act I
  16. La Boheme: Donde Lieta Usci
  17. Turandot: Signore, Ascolta!
  18. Turandot: In Questa Reggia

Amazon.com essential recording

Ordinarily, it pays to be wary of collections such as these, which often promise a lot but deliver a mishmash of disconnected excerpts. This disc, however, is something of an exception: you really do get just about all of Puccini's best arias, which is possible, because he didn't write so many operas that choosing the best moments becomes a matter of the producer's personal taste. Also, Puccini's operas are so popular that every major label has excellent complete recordings of all of them, so in making this compilation it was possible to cast from strength: all the singers here are fine. In fact, the only proviso that needs to be made before you rush out and add this disc to your collection is that it's wrong to assume that all of Puccini's best tunes lie in his arias. The opening 10 minutes of any one of his operas will tell you that's not true. So by all means enjoy this disc--then start sampling the operas complete. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Correction to the entry by "sergiocqh".......2005-11-08

"Quando m'en vo" is not omitted from this CD; it is just called "Musetta's waltz song." It is the same aria.

5 out of 5 stars Fantastic!.......2003-10-14

This is one of the first opera CDs I ever got. It's wonderful for just about any body;from the newbies like me or the opera fanatics. I especially like 'In Questa Reggia'. Buy it now!!

5 out of 5 stars HATE OPERA? THIS ONE WILL CHANGE YOUR MIND.......2003-09-04

The Ultimate Puccini Collection features some of Puccini's most arias and will appeal to even the most ardent operaphobes.

A great listening experience featuring some of the greatest opera performers of all time.

3 out of 5 stars "Ultimate" only if you like your opera "al fresco"!.......2002-06-13

The music is without question, among the most beautiful ever written. But the quality of the fidelity tells me that many of the selections were recorded live in concert in outdoor venues. I wish that was clear to me before I bought the disc. So, is the music the ultimate? YES! Is the recording the ultimate? NO!

4 out of 5 stars Wonderful Performance but Average Recording Quality.......2002-02-18

I love opera! I love Puccini! Not only is the vocalism important to me, but the quality of the recording as well. I enjoy my hi-tech sound system. I like to feel as if I am sitting in the front row of the first balcony when I listen to opera. This CD is excellent! The vocalists were well chosen. The technical performances are eloquent and emotional, as Puccini should be. However, the quality of the recording is not very good. No matter how you adjust your sound system, the recording is a bit tinny and as a result, the emotional high points of the arias are not as vibrant as they could be if the recording were of better quality. I would recommend this CD to anyone who loves Puccini and who is not as finicky as I!
Midnight In The Garden Of Good And Evil: Music From And Inspired By The Motion Picture
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • A must hear for everyone
  • A Great Great Soundtrack Album
  • Best Jazz Vocal Ever and a Good Album
  • Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil Soundtrack
  • Good and Evil is Mostly Good!
 Midnight In The Garden Of Good And Evil: Music From And Inspired By The Motion Picture
k.d. Lang , Joe Williams , and Paula Cole
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000002NJF
Release Date: 1997-11-18

Tracks:

  1. Skylark - K. D. Lang
  2. Too Marvelous For Words - Joe Williams
  3. Autumn Leaves - Paula Cole
  4. Fools Rush In (Where Angels Fear To Tread) - Rosemary Clooney
  5. Dream - Brad Mehldau
  6. Days Of Wine And Roses - Cassandra Wilson
  7. That Old Black Magic - Kevin Spacey
  8. Come Rain Or Come Shine - Alison Eastwood
  9. Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive - Clint Eastwood
  10. This Time The Dream's On Me - Alison Krauss
  11. Laura - Kevin Mahogany
  12. Midnight Sun - Diana Krall
  13. I'm An Old Cowhand (From The Rio Grande) - Joshua Redman
  14. I Wanna Be Around - Tony Bennett

Amazon.com

This Clint Eastwood vanity-project was one of the biggest box office disappointments of 1997, despite a masterful performance by Kevin Spacey, Eastwood's typically subtle direction and, to these ears anyway, one of the most satisfying collections of songs gathered in service of a film in many a year. It didn't hurt that they were all penned by the late, great Johnny Mercer (a native of Savannah, GA, the film's locale and most crucial, underrated element) and with the exception of Tony Bennett's "I Wanna Be Around" and Sinatra's classic "Summer Wind," were rendered by an all-star team of jazz players (Charlie Haden, Michael Brecker, Joshua Redman, Kevin Eubanks, Christian McBride among them) and an impressive line-up of vocalists including k.d. lang, Paula Cole, Joe Williams, Rosemary Clooney, Cassandra Wilson, Alison Krauss, Diana Krall, and Kevin Mahogany. Eastwood has long been a jazz devotee and, in recent years, eager proselytizer; this album plays like a love letter to one of his most beloved musicians and composers. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars A must hear for everyone.......2007-05-20

I have several of these CDs in my collection. I keep one in the car, one in the home system and one for traveling.

It is, by far, the best soundtrack I have ever encountered...

5 out of 5 stars A Great Great Soundtrack Album.......2007-02-24

If you could buy only one CD this year, I have NO IDEA what it should be. Maybe you should get a second job, you deadbeat. But if you buy two CDs (without having to work in a salt mine, or sell Uncle Bob, piece by piece, for experiments), it should be two soundtracks: Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil and L.A. Confidential.

Dark, ethereal, and moody, these albums have an incredible presence, and hold together on their own as great albums, able to stand apart and peer out from beneath the long, great shadows cast by their respective, impressive film counterparts.

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is a Johnny Mercer 'songbook' as done by mostly modern artists, including Clint Eastwood, Midnight's director. This, of course, proves that Mr. Eastwood is a great ... director.

Actor Kevin Spacey fairs better, pulling off "That Old Black Magic" without a hitch. Tony Bennett's "I Wanna Be Around" and Rosemary Clooney's "Fools Rush In" = Fabulous. But the stand-outs are Alison Krauss and k.d. lang. Krauss' "This Time the Dream's On Me" is absolutely, ... well, ... dreamy. "Skylark" as sung by Bobby Darin, is one of the great Croon Tunes, but when done here by k.d. lang, Darin gets the spanking he so richly deserves. lang's full, resonant voice fills the song with a warm, rich majesty.

Majesty, my friends.
It's good to be the king. And this album is king.
Worth the price of admission itself.

My suggestion: get both CDs, dim the lights, pour yourself a beverage or four, and listen to these two albums back to back.

Repeat as necessary.

4 out of 5 stars Best Jazz Vocal Ever and a Good Album.......2007-01-28

Alison Krauss's version of "This Time the Dreams on Me" unexpectly sets a new standard for female Jazz vocals. Simplely amazing that Ms. Krauss could blow away this old standard, none of the twang of her usual recordings, just amazing.

Otherwise a nice selction of jazz vocals.

5 out of 5 stars Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil Soundtrack.......2007-01-17

A very beautiful album of Johnny Mercer music

4 out of 5 stars Good and Evil is Mostly Good!.......2007-01-05

Very pleased with the music on this DVD. Only reservation is that I expected it to be a little closer to the actual score from the movie.
Once in a Red Moon
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • This deserves prime place in any music collection!
  • Soothing
  • one of my favorite albums ever
  • The Best so Far
  • Very good, just not their best.
 Once in a Red Moon
Secret Garden
Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000060O30
Release Date: 2002-03-26

Tracks:

  1. Awakening
  2. You Raise Me Up
  3. Silent Wings
  4. Greenwaves
  5. Invitation
  6. Duo
  7. Belonging
  8. Gates Of Dawn
  9. The Promise
  10. Fairytale
  11. Once In A Red Moon
  12. Elegie

Amazon.com

A mature and at times moving work, Once in a Red Moon fortifies Secret Garden's stature as a marquee New Age act. The duo of Irish violinist Fionnuala Sherry and pianist-composer Rolf Lovland here refine their specialty of making classical/contemporary/Celtic mini-epics in small orchestral and choral settings. Moreover, each piece elicits reflection, celebration, or atonement with the divine. Red Moon's mood of melancholy is stronger than usual--"Invitation" and "Fairytale" are the disc's only propulsive tracks--though there's an undercurrent of lamentation and reverence. Highlights include the gospel-fueled, Josh Groban-like "You Raise Me Up," sung by Brian Kennedy (Riverdance) and fittingly conducted by Steven Mercurio (musical director for Andrea Bocelli). And a riveting, slow-building plea for peace, "Elegie," features the voices of Anuna and a forceful, concluding piano chord--a composite of 66 C chords submitted by fans worldwide in response to an online invitation from the group. --Terry Wood

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars This deserves prime place in any music collection!.......2007-02-10

Every time a new Secret Garden album comes along, it sounds just that bit more special than the last, and I expect the bubble to break and everyone will be talking about them. However, to date they still seem to be low key and little heard of. Maybe this wonderful album will be the one to turn that around!
The mix of Norwegian classical orchestration with the most beautiful and evocative in Celtic music, makes for a sublimely uplifting and relaxing experience. This is not just chill out music, but music to inspire.
The collaborators, particularly Brian Kennedy and Karen Matheson add a wonderful extra element which lets the music really breathe, and means the listener will never get bored with the CD - you'll be able to listen to this over and over and over again, making this the best value CD you will buy this year.

5 out of 5 stars Soothing.......2007-01-03

This music will speak to your soul. I have listened to Secret Garden for years. I watched a movie and the composer's music seemed to just speak to my soul. Listening to this music will totally relax you. I have since ordered all of his music.

5 out of 5 stars one of my favorite albums ever.......2006-11-03

"Once In a Red Moon" is a beautiful album, probably my favorite by Secret Garden. I especially love "Greenwaves" and the original version of "You Raise Me Up", but the other ten tracks are also wonderful. This music is beautiful, soothing, and artistically done. Also, it's easy to listen to over and over - I have listened to it so many times, but I'm not tired of it yet.

5 out of 5 stars The Best so Far.......2005-12-04

I have Songs from..., White Stones, and Dawn of a New Century. I love all three, but I believe Once in a Red Moon is the best so far. I was concerned about there being three vocals, but the music is so good that they are written to that they don't distract from the others. I liked the first three releases so much that I was surprised that they could come out with one better, but I believe they did. They have such a beautiful rich sound, that I listen to them over and over and worry about getting tierd of it, but I don't. I can't say that about many artists. If you like the first three releases, don't miss this one.

4 out of 5 stars Very good, just not their best........2004-09-20

Speaking as an avid Secret Garden fan, I must regretfully say that I had some problems with this album. First and foremost: WAY too many vocal tracks. In their first albums, Secret Garden was an almost exclusively instrumental group. It was nice to leave some interpretation up to the listener, and be enveloped in pure musical bliss (especially in the album White Stones). This is not to say that there weren't some memorable tracks in Red Moon, quite to the contrary. I just found myself skipping ahead to the "good" stuff. Also, I found the chord progressions in "You Raise Me Up" to be unmistakenly similar to Bette Midler's "Wind Beneath My Wings." Try listening to the song and insert the other lyrics, you'll laugh. Please don't misunderstand me; this is a very decent album, with some very beautiful moments ("Duo", "Elegie", and "Belonging" to name a few), and I would recommend this album to any fan of the group. This album simply isn't their best.
House of Flying Daggers
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Beautiful score
  • A gorgeous film score
  • GREAT MUSIC.
  • Never Gets Boring
  • Great !!
 House of Flying Daggers
Shigeru Umebayashi
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. Hero
  2. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000 Film)
  3. Memoirs of a Geisha
  4. House of Flying Daggers
  5. The Last Samurai

ASIN: B0006HC0R8
Release Date: 2004-11-30

Tracks:

  1. Opening title
  2. Beauty Song (Jia Ren Qu)
  3. The Echo Game
  4. The Peonyhouse
  5. Battle in the Forest
  6. Taking her hand
  7. Leo's Eyes
  8. Lovers - Flower Garden
  9. No way out
  10. Lovers
  11. Farewell No. 1
  12. Bamboo Forest
  13. Ambush in 10 directions (Shi Mian Mai Fu)
  14. Leo's Theme
  15. Mei and Leo
  16. The House of Flying Daggers
  17. Lovers (Mei and Jin)
  18. Farewell No. 2
  19. Until the end
  20. Lovers (Title Song)

Amazon.com

The films of director Zhang Yimou have a panoramic sweep to them that deftly creates a fantastical vision of ancient Chinese culture for the screen. Yimou's eye for color and sense of drama demands a score that conveys the emotion, tradition and action of his movies. Here Shigeru Umebayashi tells each part of the story with a mix of traditional flute, drums, string instruments and, to a lesser degree, orchestra and moody-sounding synthesizers. The lilting melody of "Lovers" is particularly effective, simmering with a passion that leaves no doubt about the tone of the scene; it comes back to dramatic effect at other times in the film as well--the soundtrack closes with a soaring version of it by soprano Kathleen Battle. Similar to but not as heavy as Tan Dun's occasionally overbearing work on Yimou's film Hero, Umebayashi leans toward the subtle for this love story, and the film is better for it. - Tad Hendrickson

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Beautiful score.......2006-11-13

I truly enjoy this CD. The music is enchanting, emotion-evoking, and powerful. I love to listen to it in order to relax before going to bed. I recommend this CD to anyone.

5 out of 5 stars A gorgeous film score.......2006-09-24

"House of Flying Daggers" is one of my favorite Asian films from the past five years. One of the main reasons I love the film is the sumptuous classical film score by Shigeru Umebayashi. The classical score reminded me a great deal of the score for "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon". The operatic ballad by Kathleen Battle is stunning. I don't normally like most opera music but I definitely enjoyed listening to Kathleen Battle. This is a lovely cd to relax to with a hot cup of tea and a good book.

5 out of 5 stars GREAT MUSIC........2006-05-18

Not only was House of Flying Daggers a wonderful movie, but the music was breathtaking. If for no other reason purchase the CD and enjoy Kathleen Battle's rendition of Lovers.

5 out of 5 stars Never Gets Boring.......2005-12-25

This album has everything good music needs. It's driving, subtle, powerful and soft. It is a truly amazing work of art. It gets the emotions of the characters and the events of the story out perfectly. A ballet could be performed to this score.

5 out of 5 stars Great !!.......2005-07-19

The music is wonderful, the two songs are one of the best I've heard...
Enchantment
Average customer rating: 3 out of 5 stars
  • Bleck!
  • Voice of an Angel!!
  • fun cd
  • Good? Yes. Great? No. Over-rated? HECK YES!
  • Enchantment Indeed!
 Enchantment
Richard Rodgers , Michel Legrand , Leo Delibes , American Traditional , Erik Satie , British Isles Traditional , Jerome Kern , Johann II Strauss , Lucy Simon , David Foster , Sian Edwards , John Clark , Eric Rigler , Frank Ricotti , John Parricelli , Mark Hammond , Paul Keogh , and Michael Thompson
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. Prelude: The Best of Charlotte Church
  2. Voice of an Angel
  3. Charlotte Church
  4. Dream a Dream
  5. Tissues and Issues

ASIN: B00005OWEJ
Release Date: 2001-10-09

Tracks:

  1. Tonight
  2. Carrickfergus
  3. Habanera
  4. Bali Ha'i
  5. Papa Can You Hear Me?
  6. The Flower Duet
  7. The Little Horses
  8. From My First Moment
  9. The Water Is Wide
  10. Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man
  11. The Laughing Song
  12. If I Loved You
  13. A Bit Of Earth
  14. Somewhere
  15. The Prayer

Amazon.com

Of course, we couldn't expect time to freeze its relentless path and forever preserve the Welsh sensation Charlotte Church in a chrysalis of precocious youth. And yet, at 15 and now taking bolder steps into expanding her repertory on Enchantment, the soprano remains a marvel of a prodigy. Here, she scours a wider range of sources than on her previous albums. Church moves with breathtaking ease from classic Broadway (West Side Story, Show Boat, South Pacific) to traditional Celtic, film ballads, and even a couple of high-operatic numbers. Church's straightforward approach to the melody of "La Habanera" may not exactly be what Bizet had in mind for his Carmen, but fans will get double pleasure out of the singer's exquisite duet with herself on the haunting "Flower Duet" from Delibes's Lakmé. What's more, there's a greater freedom of expression and sense of how to shape a phrase in many of these tracks--notice how much there is to savor, for instance, in "The Water Is Wide" and "Carrickfergus." It all adds up to a widely varied course, demonstrating the continued growth of a singularly gifted young artist. --Sarah Chin

Customer Reviews:

1 out of 5 stars Bleck!.......2007-05-30

Charlotte has a producing voice, not quite mature, but it's bearable. I don't really appreciate opera unless your name is Sarah Brightman, Hayley Westenra or Holly Stell. Carrickfergus and Somewhere are decent for her voice, but "The Prayer" and "The Water is Wide" is very damaging to my ears due to the fact, her Italian sucks, her range is not wide enough in "Water".

4 out of 5 stars Voice of an Angel!!.......2007-02-05

I enjoy listening to this cd by Charlotte Church! She has such a lovely voice. I especially love listening to Habañera and The Flower Duet as both are sung beautifully by Ms. Church!!

5 out of 5 stars fun cd.......2006-12-29

I love this cd and have had it quite a while. I was just enjoying it again today and thought I'd write a review because I do enjoy it so much. It's just a fun, enjoyable album. Pretty orchestration, a lovely voice, nice to sing along with. Especially at the top of my lungs in the car (alone when no one can hear me!)
I really don't know why one would NOT enjoy this cd.

3 out of 5 stars Good? Yes. Great? No. Over-rated? HECK YES!.......2006-12-15

I bought this CD when I was still in high school, singing soprano I & II in choir. It's not bad but she does much better than even some older kids attempting soprano. I think due to the popularity she gained this poor girl has endured much harsh criticism. True, we can't cut her slack JUST because she is a little girl but on the other hand for someone to sing opera at that age her work IS superb. Whether she's a prodigy or victim of over-ambitious parents & media, she deserves credit where it's due. At least she DID break out as some-what of a mainstream artist & exposed this type of music to those who stereotyped it as fat ladies w/powder-white make-up belting out notes that would shatter glass. Some say the same for Josh Groban who broke into the scene as a mainstream tenor/baritone vocalist. As far as skills & talent, he not the greatest either but many people adore his music. The same credit should go to Charlotte Church.

As far as feedback on the quality...
It's VERY hard to believe the deliverance of her performance. A 15-year-old (even younger on her debut cd) singing songs about love & being able to see the world seems silly. Cracking voice? Yeah, you can really tell she had a difficult time hitting the high note in The Laughing Song because it got all air-y. Honestly, some trained sopranos over-shoot their high notes too & get extremely SHARP so I didn't mind her air-i-ness. I think she did a great job on The Flower Duet though. It still has the same relaxing quality as some other versions I've heard from various movie soundtracks. But compare this to the likes of professionals - real professionals - she's merely tolerable. Try Sarah Brightman if you want to listen to some nice musical sopranos. She even has some pretty remakes of modern songs.

4 out of 5 stars Enchantment Indeed!.......2006-08-20

This CD is simply amazing! However, I am sick and tired of people pressuring her to be someone that she's not! Trying to fit into today's popular music scene, Charlotte has turned to pop, and her career isn't flying well because of it! Her voice is simply amazing for opera, and I will not hear another insulting word about her!

Anyways, the CD is genius! Tonight from "West Side Story" is beautifully sung. Carrickfergus, Habanera, and Bali Ha'i are sung with a hypnotizing beauty. Papa, Can you Hear Me and The Flower Duet are amazing as well!

However, on The Flower Duet, Church's vocals seem strained a bit. The Little Horses is a decent piece, a remake of the standard English folk song. I prefer it straight instead of a varied beat, so that Church's voice could soar on and on.

From my First Moment is a fairly nice song, but The Water is Wide is simply amazing! Her vocals are soaring and mezmerizing!

Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man is NOT the song for her, because she puts a weird accent on the song, like she's trying to sound like a hoodlum! The Laughing Song is something that SHOULD NOT be tried by children, because the vocals are so strained! If I Loved You is a simple yet wonderful piece!

A Bit of Earth and Somewhere are both beautiful pieces, with excellent work from the orchestra.

Overall, this CD is very beautiful! BUY IT!
In the Garden of Souls
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Not bad but not delicious either!
  • Love this music
  • Heavenly Voices & Percussion At Its Best
  • "Returning To The Emptiness"
  • A must have!
 In the Garden of Souls
Vas
Manufacturer: Narada
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | New Age | Styles | Music
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  1. Feast of Silence
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ASIN: B00004SZDO
Release Date: 2000-05-09

Tracks:

  1. In The Garden Of Souls
  2. Inamorata
  3. Samaya
  4. Prayer For Soheil
  5. Ceremony Of Passage
  6. Beyond Despair
  7. The Inward Coil
  8. Ephemere (Upon The Faded)
  9. Lila
  10. Unbecome
  11. Sevdama

Amazon.com

On their third album, In the Garden of Souls, Vas doesn't so much extend their sound as go deeper within it. Singer Azam Ali continues singing in tongues; she's an intoxicating priestess who invites you into terrain that's both sacred and sensual. Her voice is framed by her own hammered dulcimer and the percussion of Greg Ellis. He draws on a trap set that replaces tom-toms, snare drums, and cymbals with djembes, dumbeks, udu drums, chimes, and bells to surround Ali with a seductive swirl of throbbing percussion, while Cameron Stone adds sinewy, raga-like cello lines. You can hear the influence of Abbess Hildegard von Bingen's medieval chants on pieces like "Inamorata" and "Beyond Despair," while "Inward Coil" builds from a plaintive folk tune into a classical crescendo. Azam Ali's voice is a stunning instrument, hovering between the ululations of Iran, where she was born, and the extended, note-bending melodiousness of India, where she was raised. In a language of the imagination, she's revealing a glimpse of heaven. --John Diliberto

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars Not bad but not delicious either!.......2007-05-08

Vas' In the Garden of Souls is a wonderful addition to your melancholy music library with an extra kick. The Inward Coil (#7) is the center of the CD: the rest of the melodies mold around it.

The Indian sounds are soft and fluttery and at some points you get a little Asian flair. Azam Ali's voice rises above the music-her voice with Greg Ellis' instrumental skill is magnificent.

On the other side, the album is a bit forgettable because its river of mystical music flows one way and is so smooth.

5 out of 5 stars Love this music.......2007-04-30

Give this a whirl and see if
it cures your ailments too.
I recommend them and highly.

5 out of 5 stars Heavenly Voices & Percussion At Its Best.......2006-09-15

About the Band:
Vas is a world music / heavenly voices band based out of Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1995 when vocalist Azam Ali and percussionist Greg Ellis met at UCLA, Vas is frequently compared to Dead Can Dance. It is a fair comparison, as most bands in this genre tend to be labeled as "like DCD", but Vas has a much more spiritual (or meditative) quality that is centered on Ali's wonderful voice. The emotional music is very powerful and humbling with Ellis's drums and other traditional instruments providing the perfect backdrop for Ali.

About the Album:
In the Garden of Souls is Vas's third album. I bought this album based on the many positive reviews here on amazon, and I'm very glad I did. Like many bands in the heavenly voices genre, ambient music often is underexposed and I think underappreciated. The album is very consistent, with most of the tracks featuring Ali's soft vocals and all of the tracks are blessed by Ellis's and Ali's percussion. The diverse list of percussion and bell based instruments used in the album include: hammered dulcimer, tanpura, frame drums, rigg, udu, Fabla, dumbek, Nagara, cymbals, and various bells. I enjoy listening to the hour-long album in its entirety.

Recommended Tracks:
- Sevdama
- The Inward Coil
- In the Garden of Souls
- Lila

Typically I like darker romantic pieces, and have listed my favorite tracks above. My favorite track is "Sevdama" which has a folk-like quality to it due to the Ellis's backing vocals and Cameron Stone's cello. If you are looking for dynamic drumming in the style of Corvus Corax, "Ceremony of Passage" will certainly please you. The short "Beyond Despair" reminds me of medieval influenced bands such as Love Is Colder Than Death.

Similar Artists:
- Dead Can Dance
- Irfan
- Das Zeichen
- Love Is Colder Than Death
- Moon Far Away
- Impressions of Winter
- Qntal
- Corvus Corax

5 out of 5 stars "Returning To The Emptiness" .......2006-03-15

Have you ever had a dream where you find yourself wandering alone in a shadowy, mist-filled garden. A sacred and ancient site where long abandoned structures adorned with indecipherable inscriptions protrude here and there from behind or between the thick, dark green centuries old vines. A dream so vivid that you can feel the cool wet mist caressing your face and smell the musty odor of the rotting undergrowth lying below the lush vegetation. Did a priestess appear in the distance with a voice as indescrible as the dream itself?

If you have this is probably the perfect music to re-create that dream experience and Azam Ali would be the priestess with the otherworldly voice. Such is the mood created by this sensual, multi-layered -11 track- CD by Vas. Titled, 'In The Garden Of Souls' your spirit we take flight into a mysterious Netherworld inspired by the talented Azam Ali and Greg Ellis and cross over to a timeless place of imagination and wonder. Truly a journey you will never tire of taking.

Get the candles lit, turn out the lights and enjoy the journey!

5 out of 5 stars A must have!.......2004-09-18

I was first introduced to Vas in a dance class. My teacher played Vas music for warmups, which were a dance meditation of sorts. I kept fogetting to ask who the artist was, but came accross Vas on a compilation CD at Barnes and Nobel while listening to World CDs. I went and bought this CD that very day. Since then I have listened to it while giving massage, practicing slow dance moves, reading, even while sleeping. In the Garden of Souls is meditative in sound, while still being very powerful and moving. I'm am saving up for their other CDs. I can't wait to have more music from Vas!
Dewdrops in the Garden
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Dee-lite :Dew Drops in the Garden
  • One of the best album ever, hands down!
  • Best dance album ever
  • The beats are INFECTIOUS!!!
  • AMAZING!
 Dewdrops in the Garden
Deee-Lite
Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000002HDL
Release Date: 1994-08-02

Tracks:

  1. Say Ahhh...
  2. Mind Melt
  3. Bittersweet Loving
  4. River Of Freedom
  5. Somebody
  6. When You Told Me You Loved Me
  7. Stay In Bed, Forget The Rest
  8. Call Me
  9. Music Selector Is The Soul Reflector
  10. Sampladelic
  11. Bring Me Your Love
  12. Picnic In The Summertime
  13. Apple Juice Kissing
  14. Party Happening People
  15. DMT (Dance Music Trance)
  16. What Is This Music?

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Dee-lite :Dew Drops in the Garden.......2007-05-12

Mostly likely there best cd. More of a Techno edge to it from there last. I love it.

5 out of 5 stars One of the best album ever, hands down!.......2006-10-31

Excellent mix of hip hop beats, killer vocals/lyrics, and high energy house/techno. I am definitely a fan of the slower tracks(Say ahhh, stay in bed, etc). Anyone who digs cool dance beats should own this!

5 out of 5 stars Best dance album ever.......2006-06-09

It's got it all. Great melodies. Some songs are just absolutely tremendous like Apple Juice Kissing, Call Me, Pinic in the Summertime.

It is a shame nobody has heard of this album. It really is great and if you managed to get this far to be thinking about buying it, buy it.

It also is great from start to finish which is very rare for a 16 song album.

5 out of 5 stars The beats are INFECTIOUS!!!.......2006-02-12

This album is bar none, one of the BEST dance albums ever!!! So ahead of it's time!! It's such a shame they are not togther anymore. If they ever get together to do a reunion show, I will be sure to be there!! You DEFINITLEY will not be disappointed by this one!!

5 out of 5 stars AMAZING!.......2005-12-30

this album is probably the most unknown greatest album of all time... the few who know about them, are so lucky and know exactly what i am talking about.. hopefully, lady kier, dimitri, and ani see this somehow and start making tracks again... they were and are so ahead of their time... this album is a must have...
Renee and Bryn: Under the Stars
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • Delightful
  • A Master Class in Singing
  • Bryn is swell, but the bombast is annoying
  • Surprisingly Fine Crossover from Fleming and Terfel
  • BREATHTAKING VOCAL MAGNIFICENCE~BRAVO!!!
 Renee and Bryn: Under the Stars
John Harold Kander , Andrew Lloyd Webber , Claude-Michel Schoenberg , Richard Rodgers , Gerard Presgurvic , Jason Robert Brown , Meredith Willson , Lucy Simon , Cole Porter , Stephen Flaherty , Ralph Salmins , and David Hartley
Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  2. Bryn Terfel - Simple Gifts
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  4. Bryn Terfel Sings Favorites
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ASIN: B000088E7D
Release Date: 2003-02-11

Tracks:

  1. "Not While I'm Around" (from Sweeney Todd by Stephen Sondheim)
  2. "Moonfall" (from The Mystery of Edwin Drood by R. Holmes)
  3. "I Don't Remember You The Happy Tim" and "Sometimes a Day Goes By" (from Woman of the Year by Kander & Ebb)
  4. "All the Love I Have" (from The Beautiful Game by Ben Elton & Andrew Lloyd Webber)
  5. "I Wish I Could Forget You / Loving You" (from Passion by Stephen Sondheim)
  6. "Stars" (from Les Misirables by Boublil & Schvnberg)
  7. "All I Ask of You" (from The Phantom of the Opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber)
  8. "Hello, Young Lovers" (from The King and I by Rodgers & Hammerstein)
  9. "Pretty Women" (from Sweeney Todd by Stephen Sondheim)
  10. "Aimer" (from Romio et Juliette by Presgurvic)
  11. "All the Wasted Time" (from Parade by J. Brown)
  12. "Seventy-Six Trombones" (from The Music Man by Willson)
  13. "How Could I Ever Know" (from The Secret Garden by Simon and Norman)
  14. "So In Love" (from Kiss Me Kate by Cole Porter)
  15. "Wheels Of a Dream" (from Ragtime by Ahrens & Flaherty)

Amazon.com

In these days of the crossover, it is hardly surprising to find two great opera singers making a foray into numbers from Broadway musicals by such composers as Cole Porter, Stephen Sondheim, and Andrew Lloyd Webber. What's remarkable is that they seem completely at home in this music. Both say they grew up listening to it, and indeed they approach these songs with no less care and seriousness than they'd give the most demanding operatic arias, and without a trace of condescension. However, their vocal, expressive, and interpretive styles are very different, both in the solos and the duets. Terfel projects assertive manliness, tender, intimate affection, and rollicking humor without external effects, using only his incomparably sonorous voice and powerful personality. His diction is impeccably clear, and though he has sometimes let his theatrical flair spill over into Schubert songs, he is the soul of simplicity here. This is in stark contrast to Fleming's tendency to exaggerate colors and dynamics and to turn sentiment into sentimentality. Moreover, though she claims a background as a jazz singer, her "crooning" sounds artificial and unnatural. However, her top notes, culminating in a triumphant high C at the end of the final number, ring gloriously. Her voice glows and shimmers with irresistible luster, soaring from seductive whispers to thrilling climaxes. The program features a great variety of love songs, and includes an antiwar protest (from Beautiful Game), a celebration of the American dream (from Ragtime), and a rousing fun piece (from The Music Man). Unfortunately, even the best songs are marred by thoroughly corny arrangements. Listeners will find their own favorites, but the real "stars" on this record are the two singers. --Edith Eisler

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Delightful .......2006-07-24

I truly enjoy Terfel's vocal talent and found it to be well suited for this genre. Fleming's impeccable soprano voice is a bit overpowering for this style of music. (I own this CD)

5 out of 5 stars A Master Class in Singing.......2006-06-20

This CD is a must-have for any person interested in the singing art. Ms. Fleming and Mr. Terfel gives new light to these Musical Theatre classics. Their fine vocalism in the musical theatre genre coupled with the depth of musicality and dramatic phrasing in each of the selections is truly a breath of fresh air. This recording is indeed a Master Class!

4 out of 5 stars Bryn is swell, but the bombast is annoying.......2006-05-03

Love Bryn Terfel, the finest bass-baritone in Opera. Love Renee Fleming's luscious soprano. But the arrangements! Kettle drums and bombast and bang, bang, bang! Once Renee starts swooping, things go downhill, with little redemption.

It starts out beautifully. "Not While I'm Around" has never sounded more intimate to me than Terfel's caressing pianissimo. Fleming's "Moonglow" is stunningly good. Terfel makes a medley out of "I Don't Remember You and Sometimes a Day Goes By" that makes you want to cheer, and Fleming does a lovely Sondheim medley as well. Bryn sings "Stars" and makes me long for him in Les Mis. And then...things tend to go downhill. The bombast takes over and gets to you - it overwhelms two of the biggest voices now recording. Then Fleming begins to swoop and scoop, over-coloring and often coming off as simply self-indulgent, reminding one of a kid who makes a point of putting his face in a camera shot.

I don't mind Bryn as Prof. Harold Hill - I frankly think the Welsh accent is kinda cute - and it doesn't bother me on "Wheels of Dream," either, but Fleming seems to have lost her mind on that great song, and rather than indulging her, it would have simply been better left off the album. Ditto "All that Wasted Time" which is pretty much unlistenable. Ms. Fleming needs to stop thinking she is a jazz singer.

The four stars are because this album does contain some truly GLORIOUS moments, particularly in the duets, and in Terfel's solo's which are warm and memorable. Without him, the kettle drums and Fleming's self-indulgence would have made the whole endeavor unbearable.

5 out of 5 stars Surprisingly Fine Crossover from Fleming and Terfel.......2006-04-18

Bryn Terfel and Renee Fleming are two of the most acclaimed opera singers of our day. But the musical theatre fan who puts on their Broadway CD, RENEE AND BRYN: UNDER THE STARS, expecting to hear a carelessly compiled hodgepodge of songs sung by voices ill-suited to them is in for a big surprise, beginning with the first phrases of the duo's warmly sung "Not While I'm Around" from SWEENEY TODD. True, these singers' beautiful voices have greater power and range than even the best of the Broadway stars', but this is an asset in these songs, most of which are either semi-operatic in nature or call (like THE MUSIC MAN's "Seventy-Six Trombones") for such an outsize personality as Terfel's. Fleming's sensuous and tonally gorgeous rendition of "Moonfall" from THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD can be placed among her very finest recordings, operatic and otherwise. And Terfel is ideally suited to both "Pretty Women" from SWEENEY TODD and "Stars" from LES MISERABLES; few if any Broadway Javerts could match the impact of his "This I swear by the stars!" Kander and Ebb's "I Don't Remember You" and "Sometimes a Day Goes By" make a perfect medley here, as do Sondheim's "I Wish I Could Forget You" and "Loving You" from PASSION. And though I don't care for the Andrew Lloyd Webber selections (ersatz Puccini) or the Jason Robert Brown one (which sounds too much like a pop song), Terfel and Fleming's singing of them is beyond reproach. The program ends with a bang: a rendition of "Wheels of a Dream" worthy to stand beside the now-classic one by Brian Stokes Mitchell and Audra McDonald on the original cast album of RAGTIME. Welshman Terfel's natural accent is noticeable here; but if one imagines him as, say, an Irish immigrant married to an African-American woman (as Fleming here sounds uncannily like McDonald or like Leontyne Price) his accent is appropriate and his voicing of the "bridge" section ("Oh Sarah, it's more than promises/Sarah, it must be true...") especially moving. Fleming's ecstatic final high note makes one want to applaud and cheer, both for the song and for the successful "crossover" effort.








5 out of 5 stars BREATHTAKING VOCAL MAGNIFICENCE~BRAVO!!!.......2004-10-11

So captivating are these incredible singers in the glorious live concert "Under The Stars" creating an unforgettable musical masterpiece of epic proportions that is so moving and great to watch that I ran out and purchased this studio recorded Compact Disc the next day!! The brilliance of the live broadcast carried over into the recording studio capturing Renee and Bryn at the peak of their incredible powers emotionally and vocally making them the most effective crossover artists since the great Barbara Cook who like Miss Cook sing with emotion that is accurate for this type of material which is usually not the case with classical voices. Renee Fleming sings with genuine passion and stirring emotions and her timing is absolutely flawless and this lady has alot of soul and the Torrie Zito arranged "Moonfall" is a stunning masterpiece that clearly illustrates this. A dazzling medley each show both singers in glorious peak form with Bryn splendid in the enchanting "I Don't Remember You/Sometimes A Day Goes By" and Renee spellbinding and haunting in the gorgeous "I Wish I Could Forget You/Loving You" which will make anyone who loves a great voice fall in love with this amazingly gifted singer. "Stars" features a commanding performance from Bryn that raises the roof and this is so refreshing and inspired in these musically tired times!!! This superb showcase is full of wonderfully exciting performances which are capable of making people feel again and this is what is sorely needed in music today and BRAVO to Bryn Terfel and the gorgeous Renee Fleming for achieving this with complete artistic brilliance. Captivating duets fill this wonderous collection and never have classics such as "Not While I'm Around" or "All I Ask Of You" been sung more brilliantly than here. Renee is magical with "Hello, Young Lovers" while Bryn is commanding and winning with "Pretty Women". Renee's stunning "All The Wasted Time" is a vocal and emotional tour-de-force that is like a wild roller-coaster ride that you won't want to end as this is one of the most riveting songs that I have ever heard from a Broadway score and this certainly must be the definitive performance of this great song. This lady can really really sing and this is some deeply serious singing~WOW!!! Gorgeous together again in the beautiful "How Could I Ever Know" which is hair-raising and wonderfully soulful and sophisicated together in Cole Porter's "So In Love". A grand finale by these two awesome vocal wonders lives up to expectations being a complete blowout vocal festival and they definitely do not disappoint here!!! "Wheels Of A Dream" is mesmerizing and soars to magnificent heights with Bryn and Renee in peak form singing to the skies and hitting notes that I swear I have never heard before~BRAVO!!!!!!! You are both magically inspired and simply put as good as it gets!!!! Highly recommended if you love two awesome vocal wonders at their absolute peak in a magnificent beautifully orchestrated setting!!! Thank you Bryn & Renee...

Music:

  1. Ingenuity [Import]
  2. Kiss This [Import]
  3. Life Without Blinking
  4. Living By Numbers [Explicit Lyrics]
  5. Modern Museums
  6. Mr. Crow #1
  7. Mr. Crow [CD-single] [Import]
  8. My Sacrifice [CD-single] [Enhanced] [Import]
  9. No Exit [Live]
  10. Nonsuch [Import] [Limited Edition] [Original recording remastered]

Music

music

Music

Evolver

L'Organiste Parisien, 1864-1999

La Lira d'Espéria

Karaoke in the Style of Sawyer Brown, Vol. 2 [Enhanced] [Karaoke]

Stealer of Years

Legend of the Flute Boy

Here I Am [Import]

Henry Purcell: Sonatas

I Don't Know What It Is [CD-single] [Import]

Live at the Beverly Cavern [Live]

Knock Knock

Go!

Contrareloj [Limited Edition] [Import]

Opera Gala

Time Will Tell