Sacred Arias

Editorial Reviews
About the Artist
Kitty Cleveland, a native of New Orleans, has been singing professionally for almost 20 years. Her voice, which has a three-octave range, has frequently been likened to a cello: rich, emotive, passionate and lyrical. She has extensive opera and theater experience and was recently nominated for a Big Easy Award (hosted by John Goodman and Harry Shearer). Kitty also sang back-up vocals for Phantom of the Opera soprano Sarah Brightman on the New Orleans leg of her La Luna tour.

Increasingly invited to share her testimony and her singing all over the world, Kitty now makes her ministry a full-time commitment.

Album Description
After many requests for "the classics", Kitty Cleveland has finally released a CD that fits the bill: “Sacred Arias.” This new album has many favorites of the classical Christian repetoire, including the Schubert and Bach-Gounod "Ave Maria"; Bach's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" and "Bist du bei mir"; "Ave Verum Corpus" by Mozart; Franck's "Panis Angelicus"; "The Lord's Prayer" by Malotte; Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Pie Jesu", and several others.

In this popular new collection, Ms. Cleveland beautifully showcases her classical training and musicianship with her rich, lyrical voice. After debuting the album on EWTN's Life on the Rock Christmas Special in December 2001, she has received numerous orders for the album and requests for concert information. Accompanied by the lush instrumentation of Mel Rogers (which adds harp, string quartet, piano, trumpet, oboe, English horn, flute, organ and harpsichord to the mix), “Sacred Arias” will be a welcome and cherished addition to any lover of the classic Christian repertoire and the angelic vocals of Kitty Cleveland.

Tracks:

Caccini/Mercurio: Ave Maria
Mascagni: Sancta Maria
Gounod: Ave Maria
Schubert: Ave Maria
Franck: Panis Angelicus
Rossini: Cuius animam
Verdi: Ingemisco
Mozart: Ave verum
Wagner: Der Engel
Handel: Ombra mai fu
Niedermeyer: Pieta signore
Rossini: Dominus Deus
Schubert/Mercurio: Mille Cherubini in coro
Gruber/Mercurio: Silent Night
Wade: Adeste Fideles
Gloria a te, Cristo Ges

Amazon.com

When he was growing up, Andrea Bocelli recalls finding inspiration in a favorite recording of sacred music performed by tenor legend Franco Corelli. Bocelli--who in the meantime has come to inspire millions of fiercely loyal fans himself--returns to the genre as the guiding theme of Sacred Arias, the release of which coincides with the first English-language biography of the singer. These performances are filled with the singer's phenomenally well-known vocal signature: his flair for long, sweetly floating high notes and the gentle sense of cadence he brings to a melody. It's a mistake to compartmentalize Bocelli into a singer of "operatic" versus "popular" styles: in truth his approach is at heart the same. Lack of color and control in his phrasing remains a drawback, but the emotional empathy Bocelli evokes is never in doubt. The arias collected here sample some of the most famous devotional pieces: Schubert's "Ave Maria" and Mozart's transporting "Ave Verum," as well as an arrangement of "Silent Night" in which Bocelli tries out his English. There's also a decidedly odd choice of bedfellows for a program of "sacred" music, such as a song from Wagner's Wesendonck Lieder (whose "angel" is the object of an overpoweringly erotic attraction) and Handel's figurative ode to a tree, "Ombra mai fu." Still, Bocelli sings with an unfeigned directness that is sure to expand his already enormous following even further. --Thomas May

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful music.......2007-01-12

This is my second copy of this CD, I burned the first one out!!
Andrea Bocelli has a very gorgeous voice that is a gift from above. His voice is not affected or braggadoccio but naturally magnificent. I could and do start my day listening to this spiritually uplifting CD almost everyday. It is a wonderful way to get off to a pleasant peaceful start, but also a nice way to come home in the evening if you have a CD player in your car. I highly recommend it to all.

Andrea Bocelli-Sacred Arias.......2006-08-25

Excellent listening. Voice quality and tone is superb. Brings tears to my eyes when I envision listening to this in a church setting.

An "experience" of sacred arias more than "listening" of sacred arias.......2006-04-28

I bought this CD's special edition with DVD, and I am impressed by bocelli's singing in this album. I have heard many voices singing sacred songs, and christmas songs, but very few singers can achieve the "sacred atmosphere" that bocelli devotes when he sings. He may not have a "strong" voice as opera singers, but I think singing these sacred songs, devoting the "sacred atmosphere" to the audience is much more important, the voice actually is just a tool that helps a singer to achieve the result. For real, I have heard some CD by some chorus that perform sacred arias, but they did not move me as much as this CD does, mostly not even close. Personally I like "O come all ye faithful", "silent night", all "ave maria"'s, "domine deus", "cujus animam" the most. When I listen Bocelli's singing I focus on what he tries to devote in singing more than his voice color, because in terms of voice color he surely cant be compared with pavarotti or domingo, so why compares? The way of listening him and listening real opera singers is different man. But the reason I gave only this CD four stars is that I have heard several sacred arias from this album performed by his voice teacher, the legendary tenor Franco Corelli. I tried not to compare both...but I cant, not because Bocelli sings bad, he is already excellent, just Corelli is TOO excellent that cant be described by human language (well I think even Pavarotti is not even close to Franco Corelli, but this is just my opinion). Anyway if you want to "experience" the true beauty of sacred arias, this CD is highly recommended. And this is also a very good sacred aria album for beginning listeners who want to broaden their musical taste to sacred arias.

amazing talent.......2006-03-25

worth the price the songs are breathtaking and talent is indescribable

Perfect arias for the perfect voice.......2006-03-04

These are just terrific. How does Andrea acheive the range he does, and the power he has, without sounding too heavy or too light? His voice sounds like the perfect voice for these perfect arias.

I have noticed one concern with the CD. I have heard several clicks scattered here and there in the songs -- but the CD is clean and I feel confident it is not the machine. Has anyone else noticed this?

Sacred Arias [Special Edition with Bonus DVD]

Average customer rating:

A spiritual experience

Sacred Arias [Special Edition with Bonus DVD]
Andrea Bocelli , Giulio Caccini , Cesar Franck , Charles Gounod , Franz Xaver Gruber , George Frideric Handel , Jean-Paul Lecot , Eric Levi , Steven Mercurio , Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , Louis Niedermeyer , Gioachino Rossini , Franz Schubert , Giuseppe Verdi , John Francis Wade , Richard Wagner , Myung-Whun Chung , and Santa Cecilia National Academy Orchestra Rome
Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Arias | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Masses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Motets | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Noels | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Requiems | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music
Similar Items:

Andrea Bocelli - Amore
Romanza
Sentimento: Andrea Bocelli with Lorin Maazel and the London Symphony Orchestra [Limited Edition w/ Bonus Track]
Andrea Bocelli - The Opera Album ~ Aria
Cieli di Toscana

ASIN: B0000CE9VO
Release Date: 2003-10-14

Tracks:

Ave Maria
Sancta Maria
Ave Maria
Ave Maria
Panis Angelicus - Norbert Balatsch
Cujus Animam
Ingemisco
Ave Verum Corpus
Der Engel
Frondi Tenere... Ombra Mai Fu
Pieta, Signore - Norbert Balatsch
Domine Deus
Mille Cherubini In Coro - Norbert Balatsch
Silent Night
Adeste Fideles (O Come, All Ye Faithful) - Norbert Balatsch
Gloria A Te, Cristo Gesu (The Hymn Of The Great Jubilee)
Agnus Dei
I Believe

Amazon.com

When he was growing up, Andrea Bocelli recalls finding inspiration in a favorite recording of sacred music performed by tenor legend Franco Corelli. Bocelli--who in the meantime has come to inspire millions of fiercely loyal fans himself--returns to the genre as the guiding theme of Sacred Arias. These performances are filled with the singer's phenomenally well-known vocal signature: his flair for long, sweetly floating high notes and the gentle sense of cadence he brings to a melody. It's a mistake to compartmentalize Bocelli into a singer of "operatic" versus "popular" styles: in truth his approach is at heart the same. Lack of color and control in his phrasing remains a drawback, but the emotional empathy Bocelli evokes is never in doubt. The arias collected here sample some of the most famous devotional pieces: Schubert's "Ave Maria" and Mozart's transporting "Ave Verum," as well as an arrangement of "Silent Night" in which Bocelli tries out his English. There's also a decidedly odd choice of bedfellows for a program of "sacred" music, such as a song from Wagner's Wesendonck Lieder (whose "angel" is the object of an overpoweringly erotic attraction) and Handel's figurative ode to a tree, "Ombra mai fu." Still, Bocelli sings with an unfeigned directness that is sure to expand his already enormous following even further. This new special edition includes two bonus tracks on a CD enhanced with a picture gallery as well as a full-length DVD of Bocelli in concert filmed at the Basilica of Santa Maria sopra Minerva in Rome. --Thomas May

Album Description

Special Edition includes enhanced CD with bonus tracks and concert DVD.

Customer Reviews:

A spiritual experience.......2003-11-27

The DVD is the full 77 minute concert with two featurettes previously released alone. The CD is the full 72 minute concert previously released alone, except that two bonus tracks have been added. The audio quality of each one is quite good. (If you have a Dolby Digital stereo, then you must go into the setup menu on the DVD to select Dolby Digital sound. The default music track is the stereo 2.0 sound.) The video quality of the DVD is astonishing.

Tracks:

Israelite Chorus - Rochester Singers
Invocation And Trance (From Dybbuk) - Barry Snyder
Psalm 148 - Angelina Reaux
Reenah - Rochester Singers
The First Waltz (Canon) - Barry Snyder
Cha-cha-cha - Barry Snyder
Hora - Barry Snyder
Yevarechecha - Aaron Miller
Halil - Bonita Boyd
Simchu Na - Rochester Singers
Oif Mayn Khas'ne - Jean Barr
Vayomer Elohim - Barry Snyder
Yigdal - Rochester Singers
Ilana, The Dreamer - Jack Gottlieb
Idele, The Chassedele - Jack Gottlieb
Yosi, The Jokester - Jack Gottlieb
Dina, The Tomboy Who Weeps Alone - Jack Gottlieb
Silhouette (Galilee) - Angelina Reaux
Hashkiveinu - Hans Peter Blochwitz

Amazon.com

Leonard Bernstein occupies a unique position in the music world for his protean, multi-faceted talents. His ability to draw on and absorb every cultural influence made him the ultimate eclectic, yet he eventually forged a style that was unmistakably his own. This record, which includes vocal, choral and instrumental pieces, some never recorded, performed or published, demonstrates that his Jewish heritage played a formative, lasting, decisive role in this process. The earliest, Psalm 148 (sung in English), written when he was 17, is steeped in an ultra-romantics style, especially Wagner's; it hardly contains a hint of the later Bernstein, but its innocent sweetness is infinitely touching. The longest, Halil, is a virtuoso piece for flute with piano and percussion, written 1981 in memory of a 19-year-old Israeli flutist killed 1973 in the Yom Kippur War. Also written for specific occasions and friends are Silhouette for Jennie Tourel's birthday and Three Wedding Dances for the marriage of Adolph Greene and Phyllis Newman. Excerpts from longer works include At My Wedding from Arias and Barcarolles, a description of a young fiddler playing for a wedding that is both funny and affecting, sung in Yiddish, a chorus from the ballet The Dybbuk, a section of Concerto for Orchestra. These, like several sacred selections--prayers, invocations, hymns of thanks and praise for various parts of the Service--are sung in Hebrew. The most substantial is Hashkiveinu, a prayer for peace, commissioned by the Cantor of a New York synagogue, for tenor solo, chorus and organ, featuring call and response, cantorial chanting and very daring harmonies and tonal juxtapositions. Bernstein later recycled some of this material for other, very different compositions, like films and musicals, perhaps indicating that he considered this style the connecting thread of his creative life. The performances are uniformly excellent; Réaux, Blochwitz and the pianists stand out. --Edith Eisler

Album Description

"What are the Jewish roots I long for?" wrote Leonard Bernstein as he pondered one of his many Jewish-inspired compositions. This unique collection of rarely heard works—including several world-premiere recordings—reveals many possible answers to Bernstein's question. Triumphal processions, mysterious invocations, intimate Jewish character portraits, rousing dances; all of these musical offerings present the great eclectic imagination of one of America's foremost 20th century composers.

Victoria de los Angeles - Baroque & Religious Arias

Average customer rating:

Sung by an Angel.
Pure Delight

Victoria de los Angeles - Baroque & Religious Arias
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , George Frideric Handel , Johann Sebastian Bach , Cesar Franck , Sir Adrian Boult , Arnold Goldsborough , Sir Yehudi Menuhin , Victoria de los Angeles , Gerald Moore , Ken Jagger , London Symphony Orchestra , Paul Baily , Stewart Brown , Richard Lewis , Goldsbrough Orchestra , George Thalben-Ball , Bath Festival Orchestra , Temple Church Choir , and Evelyn Rothwell
Manufacturer: Testament UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Arias | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Cantatas | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Motets | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Psalms | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Classical | Imports | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Russian Album

ASIN: B000003XJS
Release Date: 2006-10-10

Tracks:

Motet: Exsultate, jubilate, K.165 - 158a
Varesco: Concert aria: Ch'io mi scordi di te?... Non temer, amato bene, K.505
Acis And Galatea: As When The Dove Laments Her Love
Judas Maccabaeus: So Shall The Lute And Harp Awake
Giulio Cesare: V'adoro, pupille
Motet: Ave verum corpus, K.618
Vesperae solennes de confessore, K.339: Laudate Dominum (Psalm 117)
Laudate pueri Dominum: Sit nomen Donini
Cantana: Also Hat Gott Die Welt Geliebt, BWV 68: Aria: Mein glaubiges Herze (Ziegler)
Cantata: Mein Herze Schwimmt Im Blut, BWV 199: Choral: Ich dein betrubtes Kind (Lehms)
La Procession (Briseux)

Customer Reviews:

Sung by an Angel........2003-06-13

Food for the soul,no matter how corny.
As a 20-something,non-religous person is it gratifying to have this to fall back on when faced with everyday life and all the hazards it brings.
What did the singers those days have that's so visibly absent from today's?
Definitly not better technique or better recording enviroments.
Could it be be that they were more well-rounded artistically,and that they had the space and TIME to do what they passionately believed in?
Were they allowed to delve a bit deeper than the ones today?
Coming back to the CD.
Some people slag de los Angeles off as a soprano that should'nt have happened.But how could it not when you hear the'simpatico'and womanliness in that voice.
Her German and English isn't idiomatic,but give me her spontanous chirping on the opening lines of Handel's'So shall the lute and harp awake'anyday,compared to the bland offerings today!

Pure Delight.......1999-09-05

"...for perfect, really grand tradition, exquisite, almost divine singing, go to Victoria de Los Angeles in 'Baroque and Religious Arias,'" said Robert Levine in the January 1997 issue of Classical Pulse. And I cannot agree more. After listening to her Mozart, you wonder why her Mozart performances have been so under-represented on discs. Testament has done a tremendous job in bringing this extraordinary artist's buried treasures from the EMI archive. And one looks forward to more. Any documentation of her Elsa, or Donna Anna -- roles she is known to have performed?

Average customer rating:

A good collection
A Musician of Great Dignity and Style
Passed the "Opera in English" test with flying colors.

Great Operatic Arias

Manufacturer: Chandos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Arias | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

English | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Russian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Musical Theater | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

A Treasury of English Song
Songs My Father Taught Me
More Songs My Father Taught Me
On the Idle Hill of Summer: Song Cycles & Songs by Vaughan Williams, Butterworth, Quilter, Peel
Great Baritone Arias

ASIN: B0006SGF1Y
Release Date: 2005-02-22

Tracks:

'Even Bravest Heart My Swell'
'I Am The Barber Everyone Wants, I Am!
'Must I Be Made To Suffer'
'Look Down, Oh Gentle Evening Star'
'You Have My Love And My Devotion
'Oh Wine, Deliver Me From Sadness' - Geoffrey Mitchell Choir
'Marriage Is Sacred' - I Was Right To Be So Suspicious'
'Turning My Gaze Upon This Proud Assembly'
'O Nadir, Best Of Friends'
Billy In The Darbies
'Though I'm Somewhat Out Of Practice' - Janice Watson
'Hello, Here's A Soldier Bold' - Janice Watson
'I Wonder What He'll Think Of Me!'
'In Visions, Illusions'

Customer Reviews:

A good collection.......2007-05-14

Unlike the huge names, collections by Allen are not many - plenty of his opera performances are recorded, but there are only a few collections. My voice teacher recommended I listen to him to understand better how to deliver power without weight, something we've been working on. Yes, it's all in English, but that's fine, and the quality of Allen's instrument comes through very well.

A Musician of Great Dignity and Style.......2005-07-27

Sir Thomas Allen is one of the enduring baritones who has been able to move throughout the operatic repertoire and the recital stage with intelligence, informed characterization, and immaculate musicianship. To have a recording of some of the roles he has inhabited at this point in his career is a gift (this CD was recorded in 2003). To have the added challenge of retaining the stature of the roles while sung in English translations at the request of Chandos is a credit to his abilities and communicative powers.

English is a difficult language to make musical, though saying that abruptly is countered by the fact that some of the most beautiful operas in history are by Benjamin Britten, a composer who truly understood his native tongue and kept it as fluid as the soaring melodies he wrote, as Thomas Allen proves here in 'Billy in the Darbies' from Britten's 'Billy Budd'. It is the other major arias from Korngold to Wagner to Tchaikovsky to Rossini, Bizet, Mozart, Gounod, Verdi, Thomas, Strauss, and Lehar that Allen proves that English translations do not detract at all from the performances!

For those purists who prefer opera sung in the original language (and for those who don't even need supertitles in the opera house!), then this recording may provide a temporary barrier to respecting Allen's singing. But once caught up in the ease with which he moves from style to style and comedy to drama, it is hard not to relinquish old preferences and not be wholly impressed with the beauty of the voice and the warmth and dignity of this fine musician. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, July 05

Passed the "Opera in English" test with flying colors........2005-07-04

For me, the test here was Figaro's Cavatina, from Rossini's Barber of Seville - sung in English, as is this entire compilation of 14 operatic favorites, sung by baritone Sir Thomas Allen. Could he pull it off? Could Chandos pull it off? The answer is an unequivocal, unqualified yes! The secret in singing classics in English, that were written and scored in another language, is in three things: pacing, vocal agility and appreciation for "fit", and what greater test for tongue and timing than Figaro? When you listen to this one song, you will understand why Chandos and its benefactor, Sir Peter Moores have such a passion for their Opera in English series. Sir Allen's voice is a matured unmistakably settled baritone voice that contains a lifetime's worth of understanding of the music and words he imparts through his magnificent delivery. For example, when he sings, Tchaikovsky's "You have my love and devotion" from The Queen of Spades, he delivers a smooth and deeply emotional rendition that lacks nothing in translation. Wagner's "Turning my gaze upon this proud assembly", from Tannhäuser is another example of how fine, full orchestration behind a seasoned voice that waxes eloquent with every phrase, can create a mood of relaxed familiarity with word and music, that may be lacking when sung in another tongue. Great Operatic Arias, serves up a smorgasbord of tunes that are familiar, made more so by the care and attention given to creating a place for the Opera in English series in every home library. The mood here is romantic, relaxed and with few exceptions consistent throughout. If you haven't heard Opera in English, this might be a good way to start, given the fact that the listener gets to sample how different composers might sound in other than German, Italian or French. You might be surprised to discover that when done with care, as is obviously the case here, the sound is about as good as it gets. As an added bonus, the booklet that comes with the CD is full of pictures, libretto in English, and biography that gives us a good insight into history of the singer and his identifying rolls.

Arleen Auger - Handel · Bach Arias / The Mostly Mozart Orchestra · Gerard Schwarz

Average customer rating:

Transcendent
Glorious Voice Performing Baroque Arias of Handel and Bach

Arleen Auger - Handel · Bach Arias / The Mostly Mozart Orchestra · Gerard Schwarz
George Frideric Handel , Johann Sebastian Bach , Gerard Schwarz , Arleen Auger , and The Mostly Mozart Orchestra
Manufacturer: Delos Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Arias | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Cantatas | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Passions | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Arleen Auger - Love Songs / Dalton Baldwin
American Soprano
Haydn - Arias & Cantatas / Auger · H&H · Hogwood
Strauss: Ein Heldenleben - Four Last Songs / Auger, Previn
Arleen Augér Sings Bach

ASIN: B0000006VM
Release Date: 1992-12-11

Tracks:

Messiah: Rejoice Greatly
Giulio Cesare: Piangero
Atalanta: Care Selve
Alexander's Feast: The Prince, Unable To Conceal His Pain
Alexander's Feast: Softly Sweet In Lydian Measures
Rinaldo: Lascia ch'io pianga
Samson: Let The Bright Seraphim
Messiah: He Shall Feed His Flock
Non sa che sia dolore: Ricetti Gramezza
Klavierbuchlein fur Anna Magdalena Bach: Bist du bei mir
Weichet nur, betrubte Schatten
Weichet nur, betrubte Schatten: Sich uben im lieben
St. Matthew Passion: Blute nur
St. Matthew Passion: Ich will dir mein Herze schenken

Customer Reviews:

Transcendent.......2002-05-15

This is some of the most beautiful singing I have heard anywhere. Auger fuses technique, emotion, and baroque sensibility into a phenomental whole.

In particular, listen to "Come Unto Him" from Messiah. I have more than 30 complete Messiahs and this section is the best of the best of the best. Her original ornamentation is so transcendant, it's hard to imagine why anyone does it any other way.

My only regret is that she didn't record "Redeemer" on this disc.

Glorious Voice Performing Baroque Arias of Handel and Bach.......2000-01-21

This is one of the first recordings of Auger and Gerard Schwarz together...and it remains one of my all-time favorites. Auger is in fine voice...bright and luminous, but never shrill and piercing as some other noted sopranos have been in this same reperitoire.

Auger is an American artist who is first class, especially in perforamnce of the pieces contained in this recording. Gerard Schwatz is dynamic and bold in his approach, so the result is electric.

Auger displays beautiful technique throughout, especially in the Handel arias. Her stylish ornamentation is well within Baroque practice. This being said, the listener / purchaser of this recording is in for a real treat....

Augers singing of PIANGERO from Julius Caesar is perfaps the finest I have ever heard, and the simplicity and beauty of CARE SELVE is breathtaking. The selections from Messiah are handeled beautifully as well, along with selections from Alexanders Feast, Rinaldo and Samson.

I think her reading of the Handel is stronger than her interpretation of the Bach selections, however, even keen listeners will readily agrre that these too are performances of an extremely high character.

Tracks:

Tatl Nostru
Priveghiati Si Va Rugati
Stihuri Din Catavasiile Intampinarii Domnului
Lubi-Te-Voi, Doamne
O Holy Night
Mille Cherubini In Coro
Pie Jesu
Wiegenlied, Op.49 No.4
Auf Flugeln Des Gesanges, Op.34 No.2
Salve Regina
Ave Maria
Pieta, Signore
Quia Respexit
Ave Maria (Ellens Dritter Gesang)
Adeste, Fideles

Amazon.com

At first glance, this looks like another of those star turns in which a highly publicized singer tackles material calculated to broaden her appeal. But it's much more than that, for Angela Gheorghiu, in addition to possessing one of the great voices of our day, exhibits an affinity for most of the 15 selections on this highly attractive disc. She opens with Romanian Orthodox works that are compelling in their heartfelt simplicity. The rest of the program includes standards, like the Schubert Ave Maria, and traditional Christmas songs, such as "O Holy Night" and "Adeste fideles" (both gorgeously sung with a restraint that averts sentimentality), along with others ranging from the familiar to the seldom heard. One of these rarities is the high point of the disc: Niedermeyer's "Pieta, Signor," sung with spectacular intensity and boasting some thrilling trills. Gheorghiu's so good that this Christmas stocking stuffer becomes a disc for all seasons. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

No. Simply no. Sloppy, badly articulated, meaningless.......2006-05-09

I admire Angela Gheorghiu's voice enormously. It's a fabulous colour - dark, with strength and metal and passion - and she's clearly a very intelligent singer. I've heard her doing some wonderful things, but side by side, I've heard her perpetrate some atrocities. Her Verdi album was for the most part phenomenally good (with the exception of an atrocious "Caro nome"); her Puccini album had some excellent things in it; her singing of Amina in Donizetti's L'elisir d'amore was surprisingly delightful; her Violetta in La Traviata was wonderful to watch and mostly beautiful to hear. But this!

No. And no.

Almost invariably, singers who produce a "Sacred Album" seem determined to display the very worst of themselves. Renee Fleming perpetrated a sloppy sentimentality that one feared only too likely to occur in her recent album; Sumi Jo produced some of the most horrid sounds in the worst of taste that could be possible with a voice that is as good as hers; and so on and so on. Yet there are exceptions to the "Sacred Album" rule of thumb... and I had hoped this album would be one of them.

It was not. Almost without exception, this was unremittingly awful. It is not one of Ms Gheorghiu's better efforts. Admittedly, there are times when Ms Gheorghiu has produced recordings that are not worthy of her talents - I call to mind her completely unstylistic "Lascia ch'io pianga", among others - but the voice itself is a very, very good voice indeed, not a "run of the mill" voice. I suppose one must expect the good with the bad when one listens to such a unique talent as this often fabulous soprano.

I'm so sorry... but this was one of the bad.

I love it with my whole heart!.......2005-12-15

This won't be as long or detailed or even knowledgable as the previous two reviews. Fortunately, they are both positive where it counts - Angela is well-named, has the voice of an angel. Soft, textury, intense, variegated as some of the yarns I love to knit!

I'm not sure if there could be a human being in the world who failed to appreciate and LOVE this CD. My whole heart adores listening to it!

Janet Knori, author of "Awakening in God"

Classic beauty.......2005-12-10

This is such a beautiful collection, and you can hear that these songs mean a lot to Angela Gheorgiou. I really like the concept of this album, putting together Western classics and spritual songs from her homeland. She sings these very traditional songs like O Holy Night with so much feeling. Her English is very nice, very clear. Mille Cherubini In Coro and other commonly performed Christmas songs sound very fresh in her interpretation. The classical sacred works like Pie Jesu are great too, this piece she sings in such simple, soft, unbelivably beautiful way. The chorus is fantastic, they have a unique sound.
I like the cover too, Angela is made to look like an angel from Orthodox icon.
If you can find copies of this album, it's well worth getting.

WOW.......2005-11-26

A friend of mine suggested this release after I kept on raving on how beautiful Renee Flemings recording of Sacred Songs was. And Ms. Gheorghiu certainly doesn't have to hide behind Renee! Her voice has a tad more ping than Renee's and it's slightly darker but it has this mysterious glow (Excuse my bad descriptions) that makes each of these songs unforgettable. A perfect addition to my ever growing collection of operatic discs. Brava Angela!

Sacred music from an angelic voice.......2004-03-01

'Mysterium', Angela Gheorghiu's offering of sacred music from both the Romanian Orthodox and Western spiritual traditions, is a very personal statement from this great soprano. She grew up during the infamous Nicolae Caescescu dictatorship, where religious music, though barely tolerated, was still one of the few ways one could express oneself and escape the terrors of everyday life. All of this music, both Romanian and European, has very strong spiritual and emotional significance for Gheorghiu - in fact, the album is dedicated to her sister `Nina' (Elena Burlacu Dan, who was killed in a car accident in 1996). The soprano's astonishing voice, huge palette of tonal colors, superb technique, dramatic fire, and most importantly, her genuine faith, total sincerity and commitment, and her humility make this CD a must for anyone even remotely interested in any of this repertory.

One of the things I most admire about Gheorghiu is her desire to share the music of her homeland with the rest of the world, and this CD begins with four mesmerizing selections of music from the Romanian Orthodox Church by late 19th and 20th century composers. These evoke for Gheorghiu and the listener the awe and mystery of Romanian monasteries with their incense and candle wax. Although this music is traditionally sung a capella, it is here sung with orchestral accompaniment - Gheorghiu did check with religious authorities in Bucharest to make sure this was, er, kosher. Actually, some of the intervals and melismas are very reminiscent of Jewish music, and I'd be very interested in learning which tradition borrowed what from whom. The first sound we hear on the disc is the toaca, a wooden percussion instrument used in lieu of bells to call the faithful to prayer. This leads into `Tatal Nostru', a Romanian version of The Lord's Prayer, which immediately shows the arresting, soulful quality of Gheorghiu's voice and ends on a gorgeous floated 'Amen'. `Privegati e si rugati' (`Watch and Pray') is equally beautiful. `Stihuri din Catavasiile intampinarii Domnului' (Verses from the Tellings of the Meetings of the Lord') is the most elaborate of the compositions here, a call and response on the words 'Slava tie Doamne' ('Glory to you, O G-d) contrasting with the more introspective `Iubi-te-voi, Doamne' (`I love Thee, O Lord').

It is a pity that Gheorghiu couldn't devote an entire album to this Romanian music. In particular, I wish she had sung the stunning carol `O ce veste minunata' that her husband Roberto Alagna recorded for his Christmas album, if for no other reason than Decca would have provided the texts and translations that EMI didn't! Still, the Western material which follows is of a very high standard. I applaud Gheorghiu for bringing out such rarities as the Puccini 'Salve Regina' and the Mascagni 'Ave Maria' (based on the intermezzo from 'Cavalleria Rusticana'), in addition to the famous Schubert version of the prayer. And, of course, we have 'popular' sacred songs and Christmas carols that are also dear to the soprano. An otherwise stunning version of `O Holy Night', with rich, broad phrasing and a spectacular high C, is marred slightly by her singing it in English instead of the original French. `Mille cherubini in coro' is the sweetest and tenderest lullaby imaginable, as is the famous one by Brahms. We go a bit more into 'art song' territory with Gheorghiu's laughter-filled, tender and seductive 'Auf Flugeln des Gesanges'. Oratorios are represented by 'Quia respexit' from the Bach Magnificat, which makes me eager to hear Gheorghiu sing the soprano lead in the Mozart as well as the Verdi Requiem she has already recorded, and the 'Pie Jesu' from Faure Requiem. Despite Gheorghiu's palpable sorrow, this is a bit of a disappointment because she seems to have trouble actually pronouncing the word 'requiem'. A truly 'joyful and triumphant' 'Adeste Fideles' concludes the album.

However, the highlight of the Western pieces is Louis Niedermeyer's `Pieta, Signore'. I was surprised that Gheorghiu included this since it is a piece I usually regard as tenor property - I have recordings by Bjorling, Kraus, and Pavarotti. She makes this into a mini-opera, a drama of repentance and plea for G-d's mercy with glowing tone, impassioned urgency, and magnificent trills. I only wish she had taken the reprise pianissimo as Bjorling did.

Of course, one must acknowlege the superb work of the Madrigal Choir, who are full and equal partners to Gheorghiu - I'm a choral singer, so I know! The blend of sound is gorgeous and they are adept in every style and in every language on the program, English included. I hope to find other CDs featuring them, and that Gheorghiu (who loves them) works with them again. Ion Marin does a fine job conducting the London Philharmonic and instilling the proper Romanian spirit into these English musicians.

I have somewhat mixed feelings about the notes. Although there is good biographical information about Gheorghiu and her relationship to this music, there isn't enough information about the music itself, and some of the comments about the 'desacralized cosmos' come off as somewhat pretentious for a CD booklet. Also, the Madrigal Choir sing in all the Romanian selections, not just the two they are credited for. Finally, the cover really is unfortunate. I understand that they were trying to paint Gheorghiu as a Romanian Orthodox icon, but it comes out looking rather cheesily new age/heavy metal.

This CD was intended as a companion to the superb BBC documentary `Angela Gheorghiu's Romanian Journey' where the soprano travels to the astoundingly beautiful Romanian `painted churches', narrates a history of the Romanian Orthodox Church and its music, and sings several several selections from this album. I can only pray that this is released on DVD or at least shown in the US. In the meantime, with 'Mysterium' you can have a religious music experience far classier than the average 'diva/divo Christmas album' and hear a singer who truly has 'sacred fire' in her soul.

J.S. Bach & Handel: Sacred Arias [Australia]
Average customer rating:
J.S. Bach & Handel: Sacred Arias [Australia]
Aafje Heynis
Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Arias | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
General | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Les Rarissimes De

ASIN: B00006IM5U
Release Date: 2002-01-28

Tracks:

Bist Du Bei Mir
Was Mein Herz Von Dir Begehrt
Erbarme Dich'
Bereite Dich Zion
Es Ist Vollbracht'
Ave Maria
Schlafe Mein Liebster
Arioso Dank Sei Dir
Father Of Heaven'
Return Oh God Of Hosts
Virgam Virtutis Tuae
Oh Thou That Tellest
He Was Despided

Average customer rating:

a voice teacher and early music fan
Handling Handel With Unparalleled Skill and Power
Very beautifully intoned
Handel: Oratorio Arias
A beautiful recital

Handel: Oratorio Arias

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Arias | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Handel: Opera Arias; David Daniels
Sento Amor; David Daniels;
David Daniels - Serenade
Vivaldi: Stabat Mater, Nisi Dominus, Longe Mala
Berlioz: Les Nuits d'Été

ASIN: B000066I62
Release Date: 2002-09-17

Tracks:

"Destructive War" (Belshazzar)
" O Sacred Oracles Of Truth" (Belshazzar)
"Despair No More Shall Wound Me" (Semele)
"Your Tuneful Voice" (Semele)
" The Raptured Soul" (Theodora)
"Deeds Of Kindness" (Theodora)
" Kind Heaven" (Theodora)
"Sweet Rose And Lily" (Theodora)
"Brave Jonathan" (Saul)
"O Lord, Whose Mercies Numberless" (Saul)
"Up The Dreadful Steep Steps Ascending" (Jephtha)
"Dull Delay" (Jephtha)
"He Was Despised" (Messiah)

Amazon.com

This is a splendid recording. The music is beautiful, though of the 13 arias, only the one from Messiah is well-known. The rest come from relatively obscure oratorios (or operas--the distinction is often blurred). Artfully arranged for maximum diversity of tempo, length, tonality, mood, and character, they add up to a consistently engrossing program. The performances could hardly be better. David Daniels is an extraordinary artist. His voice, effortlessly produced and impeccably focused, has an incredibly pure, even quality over an enormous range. He can give it an infinite variety of nuance, inflection, and expression, from exquisite sweetness in the lyrical arias to assertiveness and defiance in the dramatic ones; it even matches the color of the instruments in answering phrases. His coloratura, delivered in smooth legato but clear and flawless like a string of pearls, is stunning. He gives every note vibrant life and brings out the character of each aria without fuss or exaggeration. In the da capo arias, he embellishes the repeats with imaginative but never excessive ornamentation that sounds genuinely improvised. The period orchestra is excellent. Using normal tuning but baroque style, the players can step forward as soloists or set and underline mood and atmosphere. Listeners will choose their own favorite gems from this treasure-trove, but listening to the concluding aria, "He was despised," one understands why Messiah is Handel's most enduringly popular oratorio. --Edith Eisler

Customer Reviews:

a voice teacher and early music fan.......2006-10-07

Handel's oratorio style was the product of many mingled elements. Germany, Italy and England all had a hand in its formation. But the work that Handel did in the development of the oratorio alone gives him the right to rank among the greatest of those to whom we owe the modern forms of music. David Daniels to my mind has chosen six of the greatest of Handel's oratorios. 'Belshazzar' was written to a text based on the book of Daniel, by the rich and eccentric land-owner Charles Jennens with whom he collaborated many times. 'O Sacred Oracle of Truth' is sung by the imprisoned prophet Daniel, while 'Destructive War' is sung by the haughty and magnamimous Cyrus, King of Persia, who frees the Hebrews from their slavery under the Babylonian king Belshazzar."Semele" is a secular story taken from Greek mythology put into verse by William Congreve. Jupiter lusts after a mortal woman snatching her from her family in the form of an eagle. The young woman, Semele,arouses the jealous anger of Juno, who takes her revenge. As a result of a plot that the goddess hatches,Semele is destroyed by fire. The 2 arias heard here are for Athamas who is betrothed to Semele. He finally gains consolation by marrying Semele's sister. The heroine of 'Theodora' is a Christian martyr whose life is recounted by St. Ambrose in his 'De virginibus of AD377. When Theodora is punished for refusing to worship the Roman gods, Didymus(a Roman soldier who has secretly converted to Christianity) rescues her from imprisonment; is then condemned to death, Theodora joins him in martyrdom. The oratorio 'Saul' centres on the celebrated trio of Saul,David and Jonathan. Based on the first book of Samuel, it dealt with a familiar story to most of the public at that time. 'Brave Jonathan' and 'O Lord, whose mercies Numberless' are both sung by David being pursued by a jealous Saul, but is sustained by the staunch friendship of Jonathan. 'Jeptha' is based on Chapter 11 of the book of Judges. The theme; Jeptha's promise to sacrifice to God ,in exchange for a victory over the enemy ,the first person to come out of his house to greet him after the battle; and it is his daughter Iphis. But what the Christian God really demands is that his daughter consecrate herself to Him and thus retain her virginity. And Hamor (countertenor) although very unhappy indeed sighs for her 'Up the Dreadful Steep Ascending' and 'Dull Delay'. The libretto of the "Messiah" is based on extracts from the Bible and The Book of Common Prayer, arranged by Charles Jennens. Unlike the other oratorios,it does not tell a story. 'He Was Despised' invites the listener to meditate on the horrendous suffering imposed by mankind on Jesus before his crucifixion.

Handling Handel With Unparalleled Skill and Power.......2004-08-08

If you need evidence on why David Daniels has been rising so fast as the leading countertenor voice today, you need only listen to this wonderfully recorded disc of Handel's oratorio arias, which captures him at full vocal power with amazing coloratura. Although the countertenor voice is generally described as androgynous and often effeminate because of the high range, Daniels has an intensely passionate style that actually sounds warmer and more masculine than one would think possible for such a voice type. Consequently, he is playing a pivotal role in broadening the audience significantly for not only countertenors but also Handel's wondrous music.

Daniels' first solo recording for Virgin Classics in 1998 (strongly recommended) focused on Handel's Italian operas, while this one focuses on his English oratorios composed specifically for the concert stage. Except for the language difference, the distinction is not all that meaningful since both fully use Daniels' amazing interpretative powers to their maximum. On "The raptured soul" from "Theodora", for example, it's amazing how through his sheer virtuosity and deeply textured tessitura, he can make the repetition of six simple lines sound so compelling over an air that lasts nearly nine minutes. Speaking of which, it's quite satisfying to have four airs from "Theodora" recorded here for posterity, as an aural reminder of his stunning performance as Didymus in Peter Sellars' legendary 1996 Glyndebourne staging of this oratorio (now available on DVD and also strongly recommended).

Starting with a scale-swooping "Destructive war" from "Belshazzar", the entire program is mesmerizing with special mention going to "O Lord, whose mercies numberless" from "Saul" and "He was despised" from "Messiah". Conductor John Nelson and the Ensemble Orchestral de Paris accompany Daniels beautifully and unobtrusively with modern (versus period) instruments, a smart decision giving the pieces a more contemporary feel. The end result is a recital to play again and again...at least until you have the opportunity to hear him live.

Very beautifully intoned.......2004-04-04

I was greatly impressed with this CD. I have always appreciated Daniel's voice over most other countertenors (and there are many wonderful ones that are simply incredible), and mostly for its warmth and lack of "hootiness." The coloratura is well executed, and his legato line is breathtaking. Then why a four star rating? All of these arias are sung in English, and it seems these days NO ONE, not male, female, soprano, alto, countertenor, seem to know how to sing it so you can understand a word. That is why I say this recording is beautifully intoned, for it is beautifully sung. What is missing is actual communication of something, no meaning exists behind the non-existent words. It would have been so much more meaningful if we could have figured out what he was telling us. I have old recordings of Dame Clara Butt, a huge voiced contralto of the past century. She sings much of this type of music, and in spite of the horrible quality of the recordings, her words come blazing forth effortless to understand. Even Ernestine Schumann-Heink sings credibly in English giving meaning to the words. Singing is WORDS, not just music. Sadly, we are all forgetting this now days, and most of our well known singers are simply horrible when it comes to singing in English (I have bought many Chaldas recording of opera in English, well they may as well have sung in the original language for we at least can figure out the words when singers sing thusly). Countertenors have the world's worst pronunciation of their words out there, but Daniels is usually much better because of the darker quality of his voice. This time, however, I have to say, I was not impressed. The voice is beautiful, the singing ravishing, but there is no meaning because the words are not clear.

Handel: Oratorio Arias.......2003-08-08

In this beautiful collection of music, one would be, as usual, hardpressed to find some aspect about which to complain in the beautiful, mellifluous tones of David Daniels. That is not the reason for this brief review. I am, on the other hand, dissatisfied with the choice of using the Ensemble Orchestral de Paris as the accompaniment. With many fine baroque ensembles out there from which to choose and enhance--including ones utilized in previous recordings--it seems a shame to pick such an average group, who saw away with very little phrasing or soul. Leave it to the French to abandon all traces of soulfulness--even in their music.

A beautiful recital.......2002-09-23

For once, I'll be brief. Beautiful singing and playing. Daniels performance of "Oh, Lord whose mercies numberless" is alone worth the price of the CD. Mr. Daniels is a consummate musician and this release further gives proof of that. Lovers of Handel and baroque music in general and English oratorios in particular will be more than delighted with this CD. Sit back and enjoy.

Average customer rating:

Sacred Arias
Kitty Cleveland
Manufacturer: The Orchard
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Arias | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Surrender

ASIN: B00006IQLS
Release Date: 2002-08-20

Tracks:

Pie Jesu
Ave Maria
Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring
Panis Angelicus
Ave Maria
Ave Verum Corpus
The Lord's Prayer
Bist Du Bei Mir
May The Lord Bless You
He Shall Feed His Flock
Amazing Grace

Music:

Music

Music