Oh My Lord

Track Listings
1. Oh My Lord    
2. Amazing Grace    
3. I'm Going on With the Lord    
4. That's What Living Is All About    
5. Can God Make a Difference    
6. When I Get Home    
7. Jesus Can Make a Way    
8. Guide Me    

Oh My Lord, Music, Luther Barnes, Black Gospel, Contemporary Gospel, Gospel, Pop
The Ultimate Gilbert & Sullivan Collection
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • Well worth the price
  • Not Exactly "The Ultimate" Collection...
  • Where's the chicks?!?!
  • Not quite the ultimate....
  • Great Music - Questionable Selection
The Ultimate Gilbert & Sullivan Collection
Arthur Sullivan , Isidore Godfrey , Royston Nash , New Symphony Orchestra of London , Royal Philharmonic Orchestra , Colin Wright , Donald Adams , George Cook , Gillian Knight , Jean Hindmarsh , Jeffrey Skitch , John Ayldon , John Reed , Joyce Wright , Kenneth Sandford , Lyndsie Holland , Owen Brannigan , Pauline Wales , Peggy Ann Jones , Thomas Round , Valerie Masterson , and D'Oyly Carte Opera Company
Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

All Works by SullivanAll Works by Sullivan | Sullivan, Arthur | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
Brannigan, OwenBrannigan, Owen | ( B ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
London Philharmonic OrchestraLondon Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
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OperettasOperettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
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Similar Items:
  1. The Best of Gilbert & Sullivan
  2. Gilbert & Sullivan - Highlights from The Mikado, The Pirates of Penzance, H.M.S. Pinafore, The Yeomen of the Guard, Trial of Jury
  3. Topsy-Turvy - The Music of Gilbert & Sullivan: From the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
  4. Topsy-Turvy
  5. The Best of Gilbert & Sullivan

ASIN: B000007OU0
Release Date: 1998-06-09

Tracks:

  1. H.M.S. Pinafore: We Shall Sail The Ocean Blue
  2. H.M.S. Pinafore: I'm Called Little Buttercup
  3. H.M.S. Pinafore: My Galant Crew, Good Morning
  4. H.M.S. Pinafore: I'm The Monarch Of The Sea
  5. H.M.S. Pinafore: When I Was A Lad
  6. H.M.S. Pinafore: Nevermind The Why And Wherefore
  7. H.M.S. Pinafore: Kind Captain, I've Important Information
  8. H.M.S. Pinafore: Carefully On Tip - Toe Stealing
  9. H.M.S. Pinafore: For He Is An Englishman
  10. The Pirates Of Penzance: I Am The Very Model Of A Modern Major - General
  11. The Pirates Of Penzance: When A Felon's Not Engaged In His Employment
  12. The Pirates Of Penzance: With Cat Like Tread
  13. The Sorcerer: My Name Is John Wellinton Wells
  14. The Gondoliers: Take A Pair Of Sparkling Eyes
  15. Patience: If You're Anxious To Shine
  16. The Mikado: If You Want To Know Who We Are
  17. The Mikado: A Wand'ring Minstrel I
  18. The Mikado: Behold The Lord High Executioner
  19. The Mikado: As Someday It May Happen
  20. The Mikado: Three Little Maids From School Are We
  21. The Mikado: The Sun Whose Rays Are All Ablaze
  22. The Mikado: Here's A How - De - Do!
  23. The Mikado: From Ev'ry Kind Of Man Obedience I Expect
  24. The Mikado: A More Humane Mikado Never Did In Japan Exist
  25. The Mikado: The Criminal Cried As He Dropp'd Him Down
  26. The Mikado: The Flowers That Bloom In The Spring, Tra La
  27. The Mikado: On A Tree By A River A Little Tom Tit
  28. The Mikado: There Is Beauty In The Bellow Of The Blast
  29. The Mikado: For He's Gone And Married Yum-Yum

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Well worth the price.......2006-04-13

I love this CD. No, despite its name it is not the "ultimate" collection, as scarcely could be expected from a single CD. It is heavy on Mikado, as others have stated. It leaves out things I would have included and includes things I would have left out. But the performances are wonderful, traditional and all you expect from G&S. Considering the low price, it is well worth including in your G&S collection ... as PART of your collection. After the disappointment of the godawful Opera World video series (Don't buy it!) this CD is a joy and a relief.

3 out of 5 stars Not Exactly "The Ultimate" Collection..........2004-12-23

It seems that a collection of Gilbert & Sullivan music that has the name "The Ultimate Collection" in its title would boast a wide range of music, but I found the selection disappointing. Half of the tracks are songs from The Mikado, and the other half is divided between five... yes, FIVE other operettas. This means that the representation from each operetta is awfully scant. I would have liked to see less Mikado and more of everything else, and perhaps some highlights from the more obscure operettas (Princess Ida and The Sorcerer, namely).

In addition, while most of the music is very well performed, some of the vocalists either go a bit overboard or, at the very opposite end, seem to lack expression. For example, this Nanki-Poo (in The Mikado) seems to be overly occupied with vibrato. Katisha's voice is annoying, and The Mikado's low voice often seems to lack feeling and humor. The other idiosyncracies, like the very frightening evil laughing during "A More Humane Mikado" and hissing during "Three Little Maids" really bug me.

Then again, I'm new to Gilbert and Sullivan, and was introduced to the music through the Topsy Turvy soundtrack, which has a noticeably less operatic style, and hardly includes "stage noise"... so perhaps all this is the norm. Do listen to the tracks for yourself, though, before you purchase the CD. Personally, I find that the Topsy Turvy soundtrack, while considerably less ecompassing, is much lighthearted and easier listening.

2 out of 5 stars Where's the chicks?!?!.......2003-05-15

It wouldn't be G&S if not for the ladies - so where are they? How could they leave out Mabel's aria - or Josephine's!? The only female aria included on this disc comes from Mikado, which is the least exciting (if G&S could be un-exciting) of the three! Everything else on the recording is great, but I am still quite disappointed.

5 out of 5 stars Not quite the ultimate...........2002-03-25

This is a great collection, but unfortunately it doesn't have songs from all the works of G&S. Most notably, there is nothing from the "Yeoman of the Guard". I still reccommed it however as John Reed is wonderful!!

4 out of 5 stars Great Music - Questionable Selection.......2002-02-05

It's an ongoing challenge to find a recording of Gilbert and Sullivan that combines premium musicality and great theatrical performance. This recording is a true gem on both fronts. My only complaint is that for a "Best of" collection, this compilation is Mikado-heavy and scarcely touches on highlights from other masterpieces, particularly The Pirates of Penzance. This would be my favorite G&S CD of all time, of only it included tracks like "When the Foeman Bares his Steel," "Poor Wand'ring One," and "Dry the Glist'ning Tear," but then again, I guess there's no real consensus as to which are Gilbert and Sullivan's best works, and there are too many to fit on one CD.
Love Is Spoken Here
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • LOVE IN ANY LANGUAGE
  • A serene peaceful album of children's songs and lullabies
Love Is Spoken Here

Manufacturer: Mormon Tabernacle
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000AE8G5M
Release Date: 2005-09-13

Tracks:

  1. Love is Spoken Here
  2. For the Beauty of the Earth
  3. I Feel My Savior's Love
  4. Our Savior's Love
  5. All through the Night
  6. Homeward Bound
  7. Home Is a Special Kind of Feeling
  8. I Am a Child of God
  9. A Child's Prayer
  10. Suo-gan
  11. Oh, What Songs of the Heart
  12. I Often Go Walking
  13. Simple Gifts
  14. I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus
  15. My Heavenly Father Loves Me
  16. Turn Around
  17. Where Love Is
  18. Love at Home
  19. May the Good Lord Bless and Keep You

Product Description

Songs of heart and home set the tone for the newest album by the world-famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir. The album features beloved Primary songs such as "I Feel My Savior's Love," "I Am a Child of God," "Where Love Is," and "My Heavenly Father Loves Me." Favorite hymns such as "Love at Home," "Our Savior's Love," and "O What Songs of the Heart" are also included, along with familiar classics such as "May the Good Lord Bless and Keep You" and "Turn Around (Where Are You Going, My Little One?)" With many new arrangements by associate director Mack Wilberg, Love Is Spoken Here is destined to become another bestseller.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars LOVE IN ANY LANGUAGE.......2006-12-26

I bought this CD for the song "Love Is Spoken Here" which was sung at my father's funeral, to celebrate his life and love of music, especially Church music. Our soloist was a friend whose voice warmed our breaking hearts. But when I saw that I could also get the Mormon Tabernacle Choir version along with many other beautiful American songs, I ordered this. I highly recommend MTC if you are seeking choir music to lift your spirit.

5 out of 5 stars A serene peaceful album of children's songs and lullabies.......2005-09-13

"Love is Spoken Here" is the newest released by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square. Featuring children's primary songs, well-known lullabies, and popular favorites, this is a unique entry in the Choir's repetoire, and the albums breathes serenity and peace. The track listing is as follows:

1 Love is Spoken Here
Music: Janice Kapp Perry, 1938-
Text: Janice Kapp Perry, 1938-
Arrangement: Sam Cardon 3:25

2 For the Beauty of the Earth
Music: Conrad Kocher, 1786-1872
Text: Folliott S. Pierpoint, 1835-1917
Arrangement: Mack Wilberg 3:03

3 I Feel My Savior's Love
Music: K. Newell Dayley, 1939-
Text: Ralph Rodgers Jr, K. Newell Dayley, Laurie Huffman
Arrangement: Sam Cardon 3:30

4 Our Savior's Love
Music: Crawford Gates, 1921-
Text: Edward L. Hart, 1916-
Pacific Publications 4:37

5 All through the Night
Music: Welsh Folk Song
Text: Welsh Traditional
Arrangement: Mack Wilberg 4:57

6 Homeward Bound
Music: Marta Keen Thompson
Text: Marta Keen Thompson
Arrangement: Mack Wilberg 5:46

7 Home Is a Special Kind of Feeling
Music: John Rutter
Text: David Grant
Arrangement: From "The Wind in the Willows"
Hinshaw Music (ASCAP) 3:11

8 I Am a Child of God
Music: Mildred Tanner Pettit, 1895-1977
Text: Naomi Ward Randall, 1908-
Arrangement: Nathan Hofheins 3:36

9 A Child's Prayer
Music: Janice Kapp Perry, 1938-
Text: Janice Kapp Perry, 1938-
Arrangement: Barlow Bradford 3:46

10 Suo-Gân
Music: Welsh lullaby
Text: David Warner
Arrangement: Mack Wilberg 5:07

11 Oh, What Songs of the Heart
Music: William Clayson, 1840-1887
Text: Joseph L. Townsend, 1849-1942
Arrangement: Mack Wilberg
Jackman Music Corporation 4:45

12 I Often Go Walking
Music: Jeanne P. Lawler, 1924-
Text: Phyllis Luch, 1937-
Arrangement: Nathan Hofheins 2:58

13 Simple Gifts
Music: Shaker song
Text: Traditional Shaker, additional text: David Warne
Arrangement: Mack Wilberg
Oxford University Press (ASCAP) 3:04

14 I'm Trying to be Like Jesus
Music: Janice Kapp Perry, 1938-
Text: Janice Kapp Perry, 1938-
Arrangement: Barlow Bradford
Nature Sings Publishing 4:38

15 My Heavenly Father Loves Me
Music: Clara W. McMaster, 1904-
Text: Clara W. McMaster, 1904-
Arrangement: Nathan Hofheins 2:48

16 Turn Around
Music: Harry Belafonte, Malvina Reynolds, Alan Greene
Text: Harry Belafonte, Malvina Reynolds, Alan Greene
Arrangement: Michael Davis 3:24

17 Where Love Is
Music: Joanne Bushman Doxey and Marjorie Castleton Kjar
Text: Joanne Bushman Doxey and Norma B. Smith
Arrangement: Sam Cardon 4:23

18 Love at Home
Music: John Hugh McNaughton, 1829-1891
Text: John Hugh McNaughton, 1829-1891
Arrangement: Mack Wilberg 3:36

19 May the Good Lord Bless and Keep You
Music: Meredith Willson, 1902-1984
Text: Meredith Willson, 1902-1984
Arrangement: Mack Wilberg 5:59

This album follows on the heels of the #1 charting album "Choose Something Like A Star" and shows the choir hewing closely to their signature sound and style, while adding a new dimension to their repetoire. This album is perfect for families and is especially suited for young children.
Gilbert & Sullivan - Highlights from The Mikado, The Pirates of Penzance, H.M.S. Pinafore, The Yeomen of the Guard, Trial of Jury
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • The Best Of Gilbert And Sullivan
  • Pure delight
  • Delicious G&S samplings abound here.
  • Fine Intro to G&S
Gilbert & Sullivan - Highlights from The Mikado, The Pirates of Penzance, H.M.S. Pinafore, The Yeomen of the Guard, Trial of Jury
Nicholas Folwell , Arthur Sullivan , Marie McLaughlin , Rebecca Evans , Anthony Rolfe Johnson , John Mark Ainsley , Alwyn Mellor , Anne Howells , Barry Banks , Eric Garrett , Felicity Palmer , Gareth Rhys Davies , Janice Watson , Julie Gossage , Neill Archer , Pamela Helen Stephen , Peter Savidge , Richard Stuart , Richard Suart , Richard Van Allan , Sir Thomas Allen [baritone] , Sir Charles Mackerras , and Welsh National Opera
Manufacturer: Telarc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000003D1Y
Release Date: 1996-01-23

Tracks:

  1. A Wandering Minstrel I
  2. Behold The Lord High Executioner!
  3. Three Little Maids From School Are We
  4. Braid The Raven Hair
  5. The Flowers That Bloom In The Spring
  6. On A Tree By A River, A Little Tom-tit Sang, 'Willow, Tit-willow'
  7. For He's Gone And Married Yum-Yum
  8. We Sail The Ocean Blue
  9. I'm Called Little Buttercup
  10. My Gallant Crew
  11. When I Was A Lad
  12. Things Are Seldom What They Seem
  13. Never Mind The Why And Wherefore
  14. Climbing Over Rocky Mountain
  15. Poor Wand'ring One
  16. How Beautifully Blue The Sky
  17. I Am The Very Model Of A Modern Major-General
  18. When The Foeman Bares His Steel
  19. Ah, Leave Me Not To Pine
  20. With Cat-Like Tread
  21. Is Life A Boon?
  22. I Have A Song To Sing, O!
  23. Were I Thy Bride
  24. Oh, A Private Buffoon Is A Light-Hearted Loon
  25. When A Wooer Goes A-Wooing
  26. When I, Good Friends, Was Called To The Bar
  27. A Nice Dilemma We Have Here
  28. Oh, Joy Unbounded

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars The Best Of Gilbert And Sullivan.......2004-03-15

At the end of the 19th century (1870's, 80's and 90's) the compatible duo of librettist and composer Gilbert and Sullivan popularized the pre-Broadway entertainment of Savoy opera. These were light operas or operettas whose content was satire and comedy, full of bouncy melodies and beautiful singing, highly entertaining theatrical works staged at London's Savoy theatre. Gilbert and Sullivan did not always get along and in fact there was a time when they ended their professional relationship because personal conflicts surfaced. But they managed to create the world's most beloved light operas, over 40 of them. Their most famous are what I call the Big Three- The H.M.S. Pinafore, The Pirates Of Penzance and The Mikado. Other works include their first hit Trial By Jury, The Yeomen Of The Guard, Princess Ida, The Gondoliers, Patience and several others. A standard signature of Gilbert and Sullivan was in the colorful cast- a comic actor with a special kind of baritone voice, a canary-like and sweet-voiced coloratura or lyric diva, a mezzo soprano with strong chest register and a lyric tenor as the romantic hero. On this album, English conductor Sir Charles Mackerras, a popular figure in the classical music scene and opera, guides the Chorus and Orchestra Of the Welsh National Opera in generally well-delivered performances of excerpts from the operas The Mikado, The H.M.S. Pinafore, The Pirates Of Penzance, Yeomen Of The Guard and Trial By Jury. Although I feel that the recordings made by the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, with Isodore Godfrey conducting and starring the best cast of the Gilbert and Sullivan repertoire- the singers of the 60's and 70's- tenor Phillip Potter, soprano Valerie Masterson, baritone John Reed, Donald Adams and mezzo soprano Christine Palmer. Their version of the Pirates Of Penzance and the Mikado far outshine the Welsh National Opera in technical mastery and vibrant tone color.

But these are fine excerpts. Especially appealing is the famous and cheerful "Three Little Maids From School Are We", a trio that imitates Japanese style melody. Most of the Mikado does this, for it was inspired by Japanisme or the new fashion in Victorian England- everything Japanese, from prints to paintings to poetry. Gilbert and Sullivan simply "Japanized" their English operettas. The Finale "For He's Gone To Marry Yum Yum" is an ebullient and pleasant finale. Not featured here is the domineering and powerful Katisha, a figure who stands out in the Mikado.

The H.M.S. Pinafore is Gilbert and Sullivan's most popular work. The sea chanty "We Sail The Ocean Blue" opens the opera with appropriate atmosphere and it seems to fit perfectly with the other scene in which the Captain greets his crew and they sing his praises "My Gallant Crew..I am the Captain Of The Pinafore". A beautiful melody that seems to come out of a romantic Offenbach tune is "I"m Called Little Buttercup". The finale, not featured here, is also very engaging "For He Is An Englishman" which can almost resemble a British national anthem. The Yeomen Of The Guard was Gilbert and Sullivan's "serious opera" eventhough it remains very Savoyard. The plot deals with Tudor England and takes place at the London Tower. "I have a song to sing" makes use of what can be taken for an English ballad of the Renaissance. Trial By Jury, about the eccentric and hilarious activity of a court trial, has a sextet that although different in composition, has the sextet "Che Mi Frena" from Donizetti's Lucia Di Lammermoor in mind. All in all, an excellent recording sure to delight young and old.

5 out of 5 stars Pure delight.......2003-08-02

--Gilbert & Sullivan--
William Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan were a match made in heaven, yet on earth their pairing seems even with hindsight a most unlikely coupling. Both were destined for other things, Gilbert in fact for decidedly non-musical careers. Introduced by a mutual friend, Fred Clay, the fledgling lyricist Gilbert met the military-band-leader's son Sullivan and together continued to conspire to inspire the delights of audiences from high Victorian times down to the present, as their work in musical theatre comedy continues to provide merriment throughout the English-speaking world and beyond.

--The Music--
This collection includes highlights from five of the most popular Gilbert & Sullivan operettas: The Mikado, HMS Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance, The Yeoman of the Guard, and Trial by Jury. The arrangements and orchestrations are delightfully energetic and clear; the characterisation and vocal qualities of the leads are perfect for their roles. The haughty if misplaced Lord of the Admiralty has the perfect combination of insecurity and pompous officiousness. The Plaintiff and the Defendant in the Trial are perfectly cast. This is a collection of highlights - at least three but no more than seven songs each, but this gives a good flavour of the music. The recordings on this collection come from complete performances by Mackerras and the WNO.

--Sir Charles Mackerras--
Mackerras is one of the geniuses of the twentieth century musical scene. Having a conducting career that includes the Hamburg Opera, the English National Opera (formerly Sadlers Wells Opera), and the Welsh National Opera (the performers for this piece), he has also conducted major orchestras on the continent of Europe and in the United States. The holder of many major awards and honourary doctorates, he has devoted much time and energy to the preservation and performance of eighteenth and nineteenth century music, as well the restoration of historical musical venues, such as the Estates Theatre in Prague, scene of the original production of Don Giovanni (Mackerras conducted the opera there to commemorate the bicentenary of the death of Mozart).

--Welsh National Opera Orchestra and Chorus--
The seeds of the WNO were planted in Cardiff during World War II by music lovers; the first performances occurred a year after the war's end, with Cavalleria rusticana and Pagliacci on the bill, with Faust the next night. Popular appeal was so great that the WNO was established, later adding choruses in both Cardiff and Swansea. The professional chorus was established in 1973, with a strength that matches the orchestra. They continue an ambitious performance schedule for recording and live events; Mackerras remains the Conductor Emeritus, as the WNO continues under the direction of Carlo Rizzi. The list of awards the WNO has won over the years is staggering - they are a world class institution by any measure.

--Other performers--
Notable singers such as Richard Stuart, Rebecca Evans, Felicity Palmer, John Mark Ainsley and Anne Howells lead the chorus with stunning vocals and clever characterisations of the parts they play. Many (such as Stuart and Evans) play the leading roles across several of the pieces of the disc.

--Liner Notes--
The liner notes give a good introduction and biographical information about Gilbert and Sullivan, as well as synopses of the five pieces presented here. It does not, unfortunately, include any information about Mackerras, the WNO Orchestra and Chorus, or the other special performers. It also does not include the lyrics to the songs. Were the quality of the CD not so great, this might cost it a star in rating.

--Overall Impressions--
I play this CD in my car, in my home and in my office frequently. It is a great sing-along work and a great comedic relief from the stresses of the day. The music is bubbly and clear; the recording quality is excellent and crisp. I recommend this to any Gilbert & Sullivan lover, any fan of musical comedy, opera and operettas, and anyone who delights in good music.

5 out of 5 stars Delicious G&S samplings abound here........2003-05-06

The first thing I should be saying is "What an infectuous G&S CD." Indeed this is, with this fine sampling of the peppy and bright Mackerras series. I know I have praised its "Mercedes-Benz quality" elsewhere on these pages, but that doesn't stop me from saying that everyone is in fine voice. This generously filled CD may only focus on five operas, but at least you can savour a reasonable choice sampling of delights from each one. Of particular interest is Richard Suart's patter-baritone parts and the soaring lyric soprano of Rebecca Evans. The selection on this disc is filled with a mixture of familiar favourites and lesser-known gems such as the female choruses in Mikado and Pirates. Mackerras is a true G&S conductor, but one who always springs rhythms crisply, and adopts peppy tempo for the fast bits. The one drawback is that this selection is far too infectuous that you'll want to shell out money to buy the full 5-CD Mackerras cycle - an incredible bargain with most of the operas fitted onto one disc each. But still, this is at least a decent G&S sampling for beginners, capped with Steven Ledbetter's copious liner notes. It will leave you wanting to say "dammit I'm going to play it again."

5 out of 5 stars Fine Intro to G&S.......2000-12-30

This is the perfect CD for those who may not be familiar with G&S, or for the initiated who want a smattering but don't have the mother of all CD changers. The difficulty with any G&S Greatest Hits CD is determining which pieces to leave off; while one could easily point to any number equally good bits, it would be difficult to argue about the quality of the choices included. The only problem, such as it is, is that after listening to it I am usually induced to go back and listen to the whole opera anyway. The Mackerras recordings are uniformly excellent. I have read elsewhere the criticism that they are too 'operatic' for light opera. If by this it is meant that the singers are too good, then I leave it to the discretion of the listener when the singing becomes too good to be enjoyable.
Songs of Free Men/ A Paul Robeson Recital
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Robeson on wax
  • The voice, the sound quality and the interpretation
  • A Voice from the 40s, often dated, often moving
  • Robeson at his best
  • some of the greatest songs of the last century
Songs of Free Men/ A Paul Robeson Recital

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000029YJ
Release Date: 1997-12-09

Tracks:

  1. Balm in Gilead
  2. Chassidic Chant
  3. Quiet Flows The Don: From Border To Border
  4. Quiet Flows The Don: Oh, How Proud Our Quiet Don
  5. Elijah, Op. 70: The Lord God Of Abraham
  6. The Purest Kind Of Guy
  7. Joe Hill
  8. The Peat-Bog Soldiers
  9. The Four Insurgent Generals
  10. Native Land
  11. Song Of The Plains
  12. Cradle Song
  13. Within Four Walls
  14. By An' By
  15. Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child
  16. John Henry
  17. Water Boy
  18. My Curly Headed Baby
  19. Mah Lindy Lou
  20. Wagon Wheels
  21. The House I Live In
  22. Showboat: I Still Suits Me
  23. Sylvia
  24. Showboat: Ol' Man River
  25. Porgy And Bess: It Ain't Necessarily So

Amazon.com

There was nothing like the Robeson sound, ever. To describe his deep, rich, perfectly equalized instrument is futile. Go instead to "Balm in Gilead," the opening track, and see if you can listen to the last pianissimo phrase without falling to pieces. Robeson was at his best when the music was slow and the words contained spiritual or social messages. Faster, lighter fare like Kern's "I Still Suits Me" or Gershwin's "It Ain't Necessarily So" find the serious-minded singer out of his element, lacking irony and swing. "Old Man River," though, gets a simple, dignified treatment. It's Songs of Free Men, though, that will just keep Robeson's artistry rolling along, especially in Sony's astonishing transfers. --Jed Distler

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Robeson on wax.......2007-06-19

I found this album in a thrift store last week, for a couple of dollars. It's the original pressing on four 78 RPM records, in a gatefold format. It's in pristine condition. I really bought it for the incredible cover art, although I hope to be able to listen to it in this format at some point.

5 out of 5 stars The voice, the sound quality and the interpretation.......2004-09-24

Put this on your stereo and if it is good enough the depth and richness of Robeson's voice will make your fillings rattle and your chest rumble. The power of his voice is awesome. This CD is superbly recorded with no audible noise at normal listening levels.

4 out of 5 stars A Voice from the 40s, often dated, often moving.......2002-09-01

"Red diaper babies" have greeted this disc with nostalgic joy, and it captures a time and an aesthetic and a political belief with precision. Anyone interested in the emotional life of the pro-Soviet left of the 1940s should buy this disc. It's something like Henry Wallace set to music. There is much more to Robeson than that, however, and Sony has given us Robeson whole: there are songs by American masters of the musical, there are labor songs, religious songs, as well as the kind of faux-folk songs which the butcher supreme Josef Stalin encouraged and which were not taken seriously inside the USSR (except at gunpoint!!) but which were taken up by dupes around the world. This is Robeson at his least savory - willing propagandist for a vile mass murderer. Songs such as "Native Land" (fittingly, Robeson is referring to the Soviet Union) and the Red Army song are the equivalent of the "Horst Wessel Song", anthems of murder, and it is difficult to listen to the worst of them without retching. On the other hand, Robeson's commitment to American folk culture was real. "Balm in Gilead" is deeply beautiful; "John Henry" is heroic; "By an' By" is both resigned yet hopeful. "Joe Hill" captures an era in labor history. Anyone interested in American popular song should hear these. Turning to Broadway, his "Old Man River" is very fine, though Robeson changed the lyrics for political reasons and Leonard Warren has done the song better. I disagree with the editorial reviewer: "I Still Suits Me" is wonderfully playful and shows Robeson using his gorgeously rich voice to tease and poke fun. However, Marc Blitzstein's "Purest Kind of a Guy" is beyond saving - another example of Robeson recording an unworthy song by a political fellow-traveller. Ugh. But for every miss there are two hits. Robeson performs Mendelssohn's Elijah with nobility, and sings his favorite song, "Water Boy", with joyous pride: "There ain't no hammer that's on these mountains that rings like mine, boys, that rings like mine."
No one need have any fears about the mono sound quality. The orchestra in the second half of the program is at times a little dwarfed by Robeson's voice, but it generally sounds clean and colorful, and the great artist's voice rings like no other.

5 out of 5 stars Robeson at his best.......2000-05-12

It's hard to believe that most of these recordings pre-date the advent of magnetic tape: the CD transfer is superlative. The songs and performance are beyond reproach. Notable is the imaginative packaging in miniature 'record album' format, complete with the original cover art, and a replica of the original Columbia record label applied to the CD.

In response to a previous question: Robeson's performance of Danny Boy (Londonderry Air) can be found on the Vanguard LP entitled "Robeson" (VRS-9037).

5 out of 5 stars some of the greatest songs of the last century.......2000-05-05

In the 1940s, before rabid McCarthyism and racism had taken its toll on him, Robeson made these wonderful recordings of spirituals, classics and pop tunes. Accompanied by the solo piano of the incomparable Lawrence Brown, or by an orchestra, the songs ring out with pride, dignity, skill and unmatched integrity. The shameful treatment that Robeson was subject to from American authorities certainly seem grotesquely absurd to a modern listener. The wonderful version of "The House I Live In" included on this cd should forever kill off any suspicion that Robeson did not love his country deeply. This album ought to be heard by millions of people, world wide. Robeson's voice is nothing less than a glorious high point in 20th century music, and it's hard to think of any recording capturing it to greater advantage.
Spirituals in Concert
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • "Lord, How Come Me Here"
  • WOW!
  • uhm......yeah right!!
  • scadalise my name
  • Broadway takes on the spiritual ...
Spirituals in Concert

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General ModernGeneral Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
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  4. Kathleen Battle & Christopher Parkening ~ Pleasures of Their Company
  5. So Many Stars

ASIN: B000001GDC
Release Date: 1991-03-08

Tracks:

  1. In That Great Getting Up Morning
  2. Sinner, Please Don't Let This Harvest Pass
  3. Over My Head/ Lil' David
  4. Oh, What A Beautiful City
  5. Lord, How Come Me Here
  6. I Believe I'll Go Back Home-Lordy, Won't You Help Me
  7. Ride On, King Jesus
  8. Swing Low, Sweet Chariot-Ride Up In The Chariot
  9. You Can Tell The World
  10. Scandalize My Name
  11. Great Day
  12. Oh, Glory
  13. Calvary-They Crucified My Lord
  14. Talk About A Child
  15. Gospel Train
  16. My God Is So High
  17. There Is A Balm In Gilead
  18. He's Got The Whole World In His Hand

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars "Lord, How Come Me Here".......2007-06-18

I must add, to the praises above, that Kathleen Battle's "Lord, How Come Me Here" is the best "quick" explanation of the long-lasting effects of slavery that I can think of. The line, "They sold my children away," says it all.

And the VERY funny "Scandelize My Name" is also worth the price of the total album!

Alinde O'Malley

5 out of 5 stars WOW!.......2007-03-22

You know, after owning both the CD and VHS of this performance, and having been coached by Sylvia Olden Lee herself, it is no wonder why spiritual mean so much to me. And these two ladies bare their souls and bring these masterpieces to life! WOW!!!

5 out of 5 stars uhm......yeah right!!.......2006-06-21

Clearly you are mistaken. I don't know who that guy is-the person below recommended-but there is NO COMPARISON to JESSYE NORMAN AND KATHLEEN BATTLE!!!! Jessye Norman herself has *30* HONARY DOCTRATES from places like Harvard, Juliard, Yale, Cambridge....I mean HELLO!!!! That guy had no where near the ease, the musicality or even the breath support as these two veterans show!! It is a beautiful CD though it came out in 1991 and I HIGHLY recommend it.

1 out of 5 stars scadalise my name.......2004-10-29

this isn't that good specially after hearing William Warfeild sing it. You can find him at www.wlym.com

2 out of 5 stars Broadway takes on the spiritual ..........2004-01-29

... takes it on and puts it on the canvas by the end of the first round.

I'm going to be the dissenting voice here: thank goodness I signed this disk out of the public library 'cause I'm sure not going to listen to it twice.

There is nothing wrong with the performances. Jessye Norman and Kathleen Battle sing beautifully, and there's no problem with the pick-up orchestra under James Levine.

The problem, and it's huge, is the conception of the show and the musical arrangements. To make the video marketable, I suppose, the producers decided that the concert had to be big: big names, big arrangements, big effects. So we have eighteen spirituals given the musical theatre treatment, with a philharmonic chorus providing chain-gang sound effects, big brass, and big percussion -- including a chinese gong. A chinese gong in a spiritual??? Spare me! Almost every track turns out sounding like either a curtain-raiser or a big, end-of-act production number with cute and predictable modulations between some of the stanzas and the sort of curly-cue orchestral ornamentation typical of Broadway shows.

And you know what? It all kills the spirituals stone dead. The spiritual is one of those musical forms where less is more and very little is best of all. That's how they started, after all. That's how and why they worked for their original audiences, and that's why they were powerful enough to make the transition from folk song to art song. If you want to hear Battle sing spirituals that are irresistible, listen to the set on her Salzburg recital CD, also with Levine (ASIN B00000E31B). There, the music speaks for itself and speaks with a strength and a beauty that the tracks on this disk never approach.
Handel: The Masterworks (Box Set)
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Handel: The Masterworks (Box Set)

    Manufacturer: Brilliant Classics
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    5. Dvorák: The Masterworks [Box Set]

    ASIN: B00062FLI8
    Release Date: 2004-11-30
    Sacred Songs & Spirituals
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      Sacred Songs & Spirituals

      Manufacturer: Philips
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

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      ASIN: B0007XZUF0
      Release Date: 2005-05-10

      Tracks:

      1. Sanctus
      2. Ave Maria, Op.52/6
      3. Panis Angelicus
      4. O Divine Redeemer
      5. The Holy City
      6. Amazon Grace
      7. Greensleeves (What Child Is This)
      8. Let Us Break Bread Together
      9. I Wonder As I Wander
      10. Sweet Little Jesus Boy
      11. Gesu Bambino (When Blossoms Flowered)

      Tracks:

      1. I Couldn't Hear Nobody Pray
      2. My Lord, What A Morning
      3. Do Lawd, Oh Do Lawd
      4. There's A Man Going Round - Jessye Norman
      5. Ev'ry Time I Feel De Spirit - Dalton Baldwin
      6. There Is A Balm In Gilead - Dalton Baldwin
      7. Gospel Train - Dalton Baldwin
      8. Great Day - Dalton Baldwin
      9. Mary Had A Baby
      10. Live A-Humble
      11. Walk Together Children
      12. Were You There - Jessye Norman
      13. Hush! Somebody's Callin' My Name
      14. Soon Ah Will Be Done
      15. Give Me Jesus
      Britten Conducts Britten: Operas 2
      Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
      • Britten's lesser operas?
      • Britten's lesser operas
      Britten Conducts Britten: Operas 2

      Manufacturer: Decca
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

      All Works by BrittenAll Works by Britten | Britten, Sir Benjamin | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
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      ASIN: B000654OU6
      Release Date: 2005-03-15

      Customer Reviews:

      5 out of 5 stars Britten's lesser operas?.......2007-05-29

      Of course it's all a matter of taste. I find most of Britten's operas first class with no exception. 'Gloriana' is an under-recorded jewel, full of melody and emotion. 'Turn of the Screw' a masterpiece of claustrophobic sense. 'Rape of Lucretia' full of chamber sensibility. And the performances cannot be bettered.
      Need I say more? DECCA is paying an enormous service to collectors with these releases, especially those who have a real concern with storage space. They deserve 10 stars, if available.

      3 out of 5 stars Britten's lesser operas.......2007-05-13

      I loved Britten's Operas 1. So I snatched this item up right away. It's o.k. but not as good as the first collection. Death in Venice was the only opera on these discs that I really cared for. It's every bit as good as the Hickox version so if you already have one there's really no need to buy the other. As for the other operas they're nowhere near as good as Billy Budd, Peter Grimes, or Albert Herring. For those just discovering Britten's operas start out with the first boxed set.
      Prima Voce - Marian Anderson / Shaw
      Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
      • CELEBRATE Marian Anderson's powerful, liberated voice with JOY!
      • Timeless performances
      • My favorite singer
      • Honest Transfer of Great Material from 78s
      Prima Voce - Marian Anderson / Shaw

      Manufacturer: Nimbus Records
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

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      ASIN: B0000037L2
      Release Date: 1997-01-07

      Tracks:

      1. Cantata No. 81: Jesus schlaft, was soll ich hoffen
      2. Cantata No. 112: Zum reiner wasser
      3. St. Matthew Passion: Erbarme dich, mein gott
      4. Cantata No. 12: Kreuz und krone
      5. Messiah: He Shall Feed His Flock
      6. St. John Passion: Es Ist Vollbracht (English)
      7. Christmas Oratorio: Bereite dich, zion
      8. City Called Heaven
      9. Lord, I Can't Stay Away
      10. Heaven, Heaven
      11. Trampin
      12. Oh What A Beautiful City
      13. Were You There?
      14. Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child
      15. I Don't Feel No-Ways Tired
      16. Deep River
      17. Go Down Moses
      18. My Soul's Been Anchored In The Lord

      Amazon.com

      Marian Anderson's rich contralto tinged with sadness touched the hearts of many and made her one of the most-loved American singers. She's probably best known for her spirituals on recordings made in the twilight of her career. In these good transfers, she sings an ample selection of those favorites made in her prime, the late 1930s; they're no less touching and made even more compelling by the freshness of her voice, which is just as fresh in the Handel and Bach arias from the Messiah, St. Matthew Passion, and more. - -Dan Davis

      Customer Reviews:

      5 out of 5 stars CELEBRATE Marian Anderson's powerful, liberated voice with JOY!.......2006-03-25

      On April 9, 1939, the voice of Marian Anderson shook my whole being unforgettably. She began her concert by singing our nation's hymn, "Our Country 'Tis of Thee, Sweet Land of Liberty,"
      a prayer for all to give voice to.

      Two events that took place on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., had a profound effect on my life. In a minister's family any political discussion was usually 'careful'. But when the Daughters of the American Revolution ruled that Marian Anderson could not give a concert in their Constitution Hall my parents spoke passionately about Anderson's rebuff, and then praised First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt to the skies for her immediate response which was to invite Marian Anderson to sing at the Lincoln Memorial.

      What happened had charged the air with electricity. The hush was palpable. To listen we were limited to the radio, but we would see the newsreel before many days.

      All this is an introduction to this CD which shows the power and range of Marian Anderson's talents. Among these offerings are several from cantatas, and some 'spirituals' - - and I mention the familiar because they make me feel as though I am truly in her presence once more: The 23rd Psalm; "He shall feed his flock like a shepherd"; "Sometimes I feel like a motherless child"; "Deep River"; and "My soul's been anchored in the Lord."

      The latter could be said to describe both Marian Anderson and Martin Luther King. I have felt the unshakeable presence of each, Marian with her glorious contralto, Martin with his baritone. Noone could miss the reality of justice & faith overcoming hate & ignorance. Reviewer mcHAIKU can still feel the impact, and their influences on my life have been part of me for decades.

      5 out of 5 stars Timeless performances.......2005-12-08

      Marian Anderson suffered from several circumstances, but always endured them, it appeared, with grace and dignity. She suffered from being black at a time when black persons were not taken seriously as classical artists, and she was simply not allowed to sing in many venues. She was forbidden the stage of the Metropolitan Opera until past her prime (1955). After she became an icon of the civil rights movement, her reputation as a singer became overshadowed. Miss Anderson's treatment by her own countrymen for much of her life was an abomination, but it had nothing to do with music. Modest as she was about all aspects of her life, I don't think she would want her artistry relegated to a footnote in social history!

      This is a fine collection of Marian Anderson's singing in oratorio and spirituals. None of her wonderful opera arias or lieder are here, and those call for a separate volume. Miss Anderson stood out from many great singers in her fine understanding of the subtle differences among all of these genres. She used different tone colors and types of vocal production for each of them, as appropriate, a nicety seldom enough observed today. In other words, she was no "belter." We have singers nowadays making millions for yelling at the top of their lungs, and sometimes making multi-millions for trying to out-yell their colleagues in giant arena events closely simulating cattle-call competitions. Perhaps one needs to meditate quietly for an hour or so before attempting to share the more inward and spiritual artistry of Marian Anderson.

      From the first selection here (out of over 72 minutes of music included), "Jesus schläft, was soll ich hoffen" from Bach's Cantata No. 81, one can only marvel at the tonal beauty, depth of feeling, immediacy of communication, and technical accomplishment of the great contralto. In this aria, the long-held word "schläft" is not just thrilling as a piece of vocalism, but does just what Bach meant it to: express the gentle, timeless, cosmic-yet in this case ominous-slumber of the Savior. Seldom, outside of Miss Anderson's singing, have these Bach arias so risen above the "sewing-machine" school of performance. Her style is freer and warmer in the spirituals, which no one but Paul Robeson sang as impressively. There are eleven of them here, though not her most famous, "He's got the whole world in his hands." That too must be acquired elsewhere, as is easily done. There are no cheap shots in this anthology, just great performances of great music with no playing to the grandstands.

      4 out of 5 stars My favorite singer.......2005-09-27

      This is a great CD. Despite the obvious technical limitations at the time of original recording, the sound quality on this CD is really good. I love Marian Anderson (as a contralto myself,I strive to be like her)and I think this CD does her justice. It's great to hear the range of her vocal talent. The combination of opera and spirituals is wonderful. The songs also vary in vocal range. I was happy to hear a collection of songs that showcased the strength of her voice at its lower and upper ends. Overall, I'd say this was an excellent CD.

      5 out of 5 stars Honest Transfer of Great Material from 78s.......2001-03-24

      There are eleven spirituals on this CD, but it opens with a stunning traversal of seven sacred selections from the Baroque era, six selections of Bach and one of Handel. Ms. Anderson's sweetness, sincerity and artistry are complemented nicely by a young Robert Shaw conducting the RCA Symphony Orchestra (you can clearly hear the later Shaw of the Bach B Minor Mass in places, and the selection from the St. Matthew Passion is a haunting reminder that Shaw was never able to commit a complete Matthew to disc for posterity, though it was his favorite work and its recording a goal in his life - but I stray). What the Baroque selections lack in the latest in musicological authenticity they more than make up for in heartfelt simplicity and directness. It's Baroque music for the ages, and it may move you to tears.

      The eleven spirituals, on the other hand, are accompanied only by an unidentified pianist, one who is certainly quite accomplished and gives Ms. Anderson a superb level of support. The question will need to be asked, I suppose, "Is there perhaps more inspiration present in the singing of the spirituals than in the Baroque selections?" Not at all; the artistry in both is equal. Indeed, modern audiences, used to hyped-up versions of these spirituals, may be slightly disappointed at the plainness of these renditions. I wasn't; I was enchanted.
      Gilbert & Sullivan: The Mikado (Complete); Iolanthe (Highlights)
      Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
      • A Wonderful Performance
      • ARTICULATE MIKADO
      • Finally, a worthy recording of the Mikado!
      Gilbert & Sullivan: The Mikado (Complete); Iolanthe (Highlights)

      Manufacturer: Class. for Pleas. Us
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

      All Works by SullivanAll Works by Sullivan | Sullivan, Arthur | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
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      ASIN: B00009KHY0
      Release Date: 2003-09-02

      Tracks:

      1. Overture - John Holmes
      2. Act 1: If You Want To Know Who You Are - John Holmes
      3. Act 1: Gentlemen, I Pray You Tell Me - John Holmes
      4. Act 1: A Wand'ring Minstrel, I - John Holmes
      5. Act 1: Our Great Mikado, Virtuous Man - John Holmes
      6. Act 1: Young Man, Despair - John Holmes
      7. Act 1: And Have I Journey'd For A Month - John Holmes
      8. Act 1: Behold The Lord High Executioner! - John Holmes
      9. Act 1: As Some Day It May Happen - John Holmes
      10. Act 1: Comes A Train Of Little Ladies - John Holmes
      11. Act 1: Three Little Maids From School - John Holmes
      12. Act 1: So Please You, Sir, We Much Regret - John Holmes
      13. Act 1: Were You Not To Ko-Ko Plighted - John Holmes
      14. Act 1: I Am So Proud - John Holmes
      15. Act 1: With Aspect Stern - John Holmes
      16. Act 1: Your Revels Cease - John Holmes
      17. Act II: Braid The Raven Hair - John Holmes
      18. Act II: The Sun, Whose Rays Are All Ablaze - John Holmes
      19. Act II: Brightly Dawns Our Wedding Day - John Holmes
      20. Act II: Here's A How-De-Do! - John Holmes
      21. Act II: Miya Sama, Miya Sama - John Holmes
      22. Act II: A More Humane Mikado - John Holmes

      Tracks:

      1. Act II: The Criminal Cried - John Holmes
      2. Act II: See How The Fates Their Gifts Allot - John Holmes
      3. Act II: The Flowers That Bloom In The Spring - John Holmes
      4. Act II: Alone, And Yet Alive - John Holmes
      5. Act II: Hearts Do Not Break - John Holmes
      6. Act II: On A Tree By A River A Little Tom-Tit - John Holmes
      7. Act II: There Is Beauty In The Bellow Of The Blast - John Holmes
      8. Act II: For He's Gone And Married Yum-Yum - John Holmes
      9. Overture - Elizabeth Harwood
      10. Act I: None Shall Part Us From Each Other - Elizabeth Harwood
      11. Act I: Loudly Let The Trumpet Bray! - Elizabeth Harwood
      12. Act I: Nay, Tempt Me Not...Spurn Not The Nobly Born - Elizabeth Harwood
      13. Act I: When I Went To The Bar As A Very Young Man - Elizabeth Harwood
      14. Act I: When Next Your Houses Do Assemble - Elizabeth Harwood
      15. Act II: When All Night Long A Chap Remains (Sentry Song) - Elizabeth Harwood
      16. Act II: Strephon's A Member Of Parliament - Elizabeth Harwood
      17. Act II: When Britain Really Ruled The Waves - Elizabeth Harwood
      18. Act II: Oh, Foolish Fay - Elizabeth Harwood
      19. Act II: Love, Unrequited, Robs Me Of My Rest - Elizabeth Harwood
      20. Act II: When You're lying Awake With A Dismal Headache (Nightmare's Song) - Elizabeth Harwood
      21. Act II: If You Go In, You're Sure To Win - Elizabeth Harwood
      22. Act II: If We're Weak, Enough To Tarry - Elizabeth Harwood
      23. Act II: My Lord, A Suppliant At Your Feet I Kneel - Elizabeth Harwood
      24. Act II: It May Not Be - Elizabeth Harwood
      25. Act II: Soon As We May, Off And Away - Elizabeth Harwood

      Customer Reviews:

      5 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Performance.......2007-03-31

      This is an an authentic, accessible, entertaining, and deeply satisfying performance. Although I like all of the principal singers, my two favorite are Clive Revill as Ko-Ko and Jean Allister as Katisha. For me, the key to a successful Gilbert and Sullivan performance is that it is not only funny, but also touching. In my opinion, Revill and Allister score high in both departments. In their final scene together, they are both vulnerable and hilarious at the same time. One small detail about this recording that bothers me slightly is that the overture has been rewritten. It is a nice medley, but I miss the original. I understand that Sullivan did not write it, but it is based on his tunes and I've always liked it. But don't let that stop you from getting this recording. I consider it to be the best Mikado on record.

      5 out of 5 stars ARTICULATE MIKADO.......2007-01-31

      Articulate - both in diction and in musical interpretation - this re-release of the 1960's Sadlers Wells recording of Gilbert and Sullivan's MIKADO is quite delightful. The care and loving detail, which were the keystones of SWO's productions of G & S and operettas in the 1960s onstage, are preserved here in Alexander Faris's splendidly gutsy interpretation of the most popular of all the Savoy Operas; if his speeds are at times too leisurely, all can be forgiven just to hear the superb soloists; the expert diction of Denis Dowling as Pooh-Bah; the heroic tones of John Wakefield as the Wandering Minstrel; Marion Studholme singing the best "Sun Whose Rays" you will ever here on disc; Jean Allister as a correctly dominating Katisha, (hurray - a real contralto!), with a superb glissando in "Beauty and the Bellow"; the glorious Pat Kern as Pitti-Sing making so much more of the traditional soubrette; John Heddle Nash giving a singing and acting lesson with Pish-Tush's only solo; and the droll Clive Revill so completely at ease in the comic role of Ko-Ko, (though it is strange that his running out of breath at the end of his verse in the Act Two trio was not corrected!) I have to say that this recording of THE MIKADO puts all other D'Oyly Carte and Glyndeboune recordings in the shade, and the inclusion of highlights from Sadlers Wells IOLANTHE from 1962 is just an added bonus - the overture in this is simply stunning, and how good to hear Eric Shilling, Heather Begg, and Elizabeth Harwood obviously enjoying themselves so much singing Sullivan's most musical of scores.

      5 out of 5 stars Finally, a worthy recording of the Mikado!.......2004-03-03

      It really does make a difference, when performing Gilbert and Sullivan, to use singers who can act rather than the other way round. Every soloist here utilizes a very forward, "in-the-mask" vocal placement, which not only reduces the need to force, but helps to render their diction crystal-clear. Sample Jean Allister's Katisha. No plummy, oratorio contralto tones for her. Here is all the waspish, incisive malevolence that is already there in the writing; she just reveals it by singing and pronouncing the texts in a light and unforced manner. This approach helps to restore the vim and vigor to an opera that can often seem tired and "played-out" to modern ears. If the recording has any weakness, it may possibly be found in the Yum-yum and Nanki-Poo. Marion Studholme is perhaps more shrill than is necessary, while John Wakefield seems to have wandered in from a performance of Dream of Gerontius. These are minor quibbles, however. The overall excellence of the performance quells any doubts, with Alexander Faris' conducting a model of transparent clarity. The Iolanthe excerpts are also well-done, but it's Mikado that is the jewel here. Don't hesitate; buy it today!

      Music Review:

      1. Phillips, Craig & Dean
      2. Play a Lil' Song for Me
      3. Please Don't Leave Me [Live]
      4. Power
      5. Rough Side of the Mountain
      6. See What the Lord Has Done
      7. Shawl
      8. Sin Empujar a Nadie
      9. Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit [Soundtrack]
      10. So Satisfied

      Music Review

      Music Review