| 1. My Choice |
| 2. Faithful Men |
| 3. He Is The Key |
| 4. All He Has To Do |
| 5. Just Like You |
| 6. How Long, O Lord? |
| 7. Through The Years |
| 8. It's My Responsibility |
| 9. Lord, You Have Been Good To Me |
| 10. Remember Me |
| 11. Daddy |
| 12. Will You Follow Me? |
I Will Follow You,Corrie Cooper
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Land of My Fathers: 100 Great Welsh Choir Favourites
Manufacturer: Castle Pulse ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B0009SOFXG Release Date: 2005-08-01 |
Tracks:
- Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer (CWM Rhondda) - Caerphilly Make Voice Choir
- Land of My Fathers - Caerphilly Make Voice Choir
- Dies Irae
- Men of Harlech
- You'll Never Walk Alone
- Cadwyn O Emyn Donau Cymreig: Joanna (Trad./Elfion Wyn)/Crugybar (Trad.
- Old Folks at Home
- Il Liza Jane
- Faust/Soldier's Chorus - Caerphilly Make Voice Choir
- Vergine Degli Angeli
- Ballard of Rourke's Drift - Cwt-Y-Collen Choir
- My Hero
- God Bless the Prince of Wales - Caerphilly Make Voice Choir
- German Mass/Gloria
- German Mass/Sanctus
- Misbles/Master of the House/On My Own/Drink with Me/Empty Chairs at
- All Through the Night - Caerphilly Make Voice Choir
- Arwelfa
- Invictus
- Softly as I Leave You
Tracks:
- Diolch l'R L
- Hine E Hine (Maori Lullaby)
- Pererin Wyf (Amazing Grace)
- Tribute to the USA: America the Beautiful (Ward/Bates)/God Bless ...
- Memories of Martha
- I Lombardi/The Crusaders' Chorus - Treorchy Male Choir
- Myfanwy - Treorchy Male Choir
- Tales of Hoffman/Barcarolle
- Creation's Hymn
- In the Spirit!
- Shall We Gather at the River
- Nos a Bore
- Very Best Time of Year
- Soon Ah Will Be Done
- Thanks Be to God
- Flower That Shattered the Stone
- Rhys - Treorchy Male Choir
- Where Shall I Be?
- Bywyd y Bugail
- Lord's Prayer
Tracks:
- Ave Maria
- Pearl Fishers/Divine Brahma
- She Was Beautiful (Cavatina) - Treorchy Male Choir
- Cymru Fach
- Nidaros
- Jacob's Ladder - Treorchy Male Choir
- Watching the Wheat
- Pan Ddaw y Saint (When the Saints Go Marching In)
- Misbles/Stars
- Rachie
- Pirates of Penzance/With Cat-Like Tread - Treorchy Male Choir
- There Is a Balm in Gilead
- Rise Up Shepherd and Foller
- My Lord, What a Mornin'
- Bryn Myrddin
- Jesus Christ Superstar/Medley: Jesus Christ Superstar/Hosanna/The Last
- Finnish Forest (Suomen Salossa)
- Nabucco/The Glory of Israel
- Ride the Chariot
- Tydi a Roddaist - Treorchy Male Choir
Tracks:
- Y Nefoedd
- Phantom of the Opera/Think of Me
- Morte Christe (When I Survey the Wondrous Cross)
- By Babylon's Wave
- I'm Gonna Sing
- Where Could I Go But to the Lord?
- Holy City - Treorchy Male Choir
- Mefistofele: Ave Signor, Degli Angeli
- Senzenina (Zulu Chant)
- That's All I Want from You
- Deep Harmony - Treorchy Male Choir
- Give Me Jesus
- Just a Closer Walk with Thee
- My Wish for You
- Jeptha/Waft Her Angels
- Mose in Egitto/Prayer
- Be Still My Soul (Finlandia Hymn)
- God's Choir in the Sky
- Floral Dance - Treorchy Male Choir
- Smilin' Through
Tracks:
- Calon Lan
- True Love
- Mor Fawr Wyt Ti (How Great Thou Art)
- Aberystwyth
- Comrades in Arms
- Cats/Memory
- They Led My Lord Away
- State Fair/It's a Grand Night for Singing
- When I Fall in Love
- Let's Face the Music and Dance
- Windmills of Your Mind
- How Soon
- Non Nobis Domine
- Rhythm of Life
- Kalinka
- Sound an Alarm
- Neapolitan Trilogy: It's Now or Never (Di Capua/Schroeder/Gold)/Mo ...
- Turandot/Nessun Dorma
- Christus Redemptor
- Ann Evening's Pastorale
Album Details
Choirs Include the Morriston Orpheus Choir, the Pontadrddulais Male Voice Choir, the Caerphilly Male Voice Choir, the Cwrt-y-gollen Choir, the Treorchy Male Choir and the Lucknow Male Voice Choir.
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Arleen Auger - Love Songs / Dalton Baldwin
Frank Bridge , Benjamin Britten , Pietro Cimara , Aaron Copland , Sir Noel Coward , Stefano Donaudy , Stephen Foster , Charles Gounod , Eduoard Lippe , Frederick Loewe , Gustav Mahler , Joseph Marx , Fernando J. Obradors , Jaime Ovalle , Francis Poulenc , Roger Quilter , Franz Schubert , Robert Schumann , Oscar Straus , Richard Strauss , Joaquin Turina , Dalton Baldwin , and Arleen Auger Manufacturer: Delos Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B0000006VP Release Date: 1992-05-22 |
Tracks:
- Love Songs: Pastorale
- Love Songs: Del Cabello mas sutil
- Love Songs: Azulao
- Love Songs: Standchen
- Love Songs: Selige Nacht
- Love Songs: Fleurs
- Love Songs: Stornello
- Love Songs: Music, When Soft Voice Die
- Love Songs: Je t'aime
- Love Songs: Love's Philosophy
- Love Songs: Widmung
- Love Songs: Du bist wie eine Blume
- Love Songs: Das Rosenband
- Love Songs: Liebst du um Schonheit
- Love Songs: Cantares
- Love Songs: How Do I Love Thee?
- Love Songs: I'll Follow My Secret Heart
- Love Songs: Serenade
- Love Songs: Liebe Schwarmt auf allen Wegen
- Love Songs: Love Went A-Riding
- Love Songs: Why, No One to Love
- Love Songs: O del mio amato ben
- Love Songs: The Salley Gardens
- Love Songs: Heart, We Will Forget Him
- Love Songs: Before I Gaze at You Again
Customer Reviews:
Arleen Auger and Dalton Baldwin-Love Songs.......2007-01-29
Voice of experience.......2006-01-28
Auger at her best.......2005-04-26
From the standpoint of technique, Auger is practically flawless---"harsh" is not a word I equate with Ms. Auger's singing. She and Dalton Baldwin are impeccable performers on this disc. All the material was wisely chosen and presented, including one of the slowest "O del mio amato ben's" and one of the slowest "Salley Gardens", indicative of the beautiful breath control this artist had. I have to take exception to one of the comments made by one reviewer, of the "lack of sesitivity to the music that most classical singers possess". This is plain ignorant. This reviewer clearly does not understand the great artistic endeavor that classical singers have to have with Song literature---only a non-singer could have said this. Our finest classical singers of memory have all been outstanding musicians. They also have texts to interpret in many languages. I, as a singer-performer-teacher take great umbrage at comments like this which serve only to degrade the richness of so much repertoire.
I too hated the untimely passing of this fabulous singer. She is one of four famous women singers who all died at the age of 53. I think this disc was recorded not to long before she passed away and does reflect her "goodbye" to her audience. However the disc will remain as timely as the repertoire in it.
Marcia M.Baldwin, Gig Harbor, WA.
Professor Emeritus, Eastman School of Music, Rochester,NY
Hidden Treasure.......2003-11-04
Gorgeous, sensitive music.......2001-06-15
The performance of "Why, No One to Love" is worth the price of admission alone.
Average customer rating: |
Light Opera Gems
Manufacturer: Opera D'oro ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B0000A1HNZ Release Date: 2003-07-01 |
Tracks:
- Largo Al Factotum - Gino Bechi
- Udite, Udite O Rustici - Ezio Pinza
- Im Heimlichen Dammer - Maria Reining
- Mag Der Himmel Euch Vergeben - Helge Roswaenge
- Ach So Fromm - Richard Tauber
- The Last Rose Of Summer - Amelita Galli-Curci
- Non So Piu - Amelita Galli-Curci
- You Are My Heart's Delight - Lauritz Melchior
- Voices Of Spring - Ada Sari
- Drinking Song & Golden Days - Robert Merrill
- You And You - Robert Merrill
- I'll Follow My Secret Heart - Lily Pons
- The White Dove - Lawrence Tibbett
- Deep In My Heart - Lauritz Melchior
- Merry Widow Waltz - Helen Traubel
- Serenade - Lauritz Melchior
- Stout-Hearted Man - Helen Traubel
- Russian Song - Lawrence Tibbett
- Wanting You - Lawrence Tibbett
- Oh What A Beautiful Morning - Helen Traubel
- Una Voce Poco Fa - Luisa Tetrazzini
Tracks:
- Wer Uns Getraut - Jussi Bjorling
- The Blue Danube - Lily Pons
- Ich, Hab' Kein Geld, Bin Vogelfrei - Jussi Bjorling
- My Hero - Rosa Ponselle
- Kiss Me Again - Rosa Ponselle
- When You Walk In The Room - Robert Merrill
- Song Of The Vagabonds - Robert Merrill
- O Luce Di Quest'Anima - Toti Dal Monte
- Dans Le Service D'Autriche - Hyppolite Belhomme
- Tales From The Vienna Woods - Marcella Sembrich
- Per Viver Vicino - John McCormack
- Charmant Oiseau - Amelita Galli-Curci
- Cancion De La Espada - Miguel Fleta
- De Espana Vengo - Conchita Supervia
- Aimons, Il Faut Aimer - Hyppolite Belhomme
- Com'e Gentil - Chorus
- Quel Guardo Il Cavaliere - Amelita Galli-Curci
- Tornami A Dir Che M'Ami - Tito Schipa
- Im Mohrenland Gefangen War - Peter Anders
- Oh, Wie Will Ich Triumphieren - Wilhelm Hesch
- Modern Travel, An Opera Parody On Donizetti, Gounod, Verdi, Bizet & Dvorak - Lauritz Melchior
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I Will Follow You into the Dark, Pt. 2
Death Cab for Cutie Manufacturer: Wea/Atlantic ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000G04U78 Release Date: 2006-07-24 |
Tracks:
- I Will Follow You Into The Dark
- Brothers On A Hotel Bed (Rolling Stone Originals Session)
Album Description
2006 CD single taken from the album Plans. Features 'I Will Follow You Into The Dark' coupled with 'Brothers On A Hotel Bed' (Live/Rolling Stone Originals Session). Atlantic.Album Details
The Single is Taken from their Album `plans', the Seattle Quartet's Fifth Album, Recorded Over 28 Wintry Days in Early 2005 and Released in August of 2005. Includes Exclusive B-side Track.
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Carmen (Sung in English)
Bizet , Bardon , Gavin , Plazas , Magee , and Parry Manufacturer: Chandos ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00007JGRN Release Date: 2003-03-11 |
Tracks:
- Prelude
- In The Plaza
- Just Look At That Delicious Morsel
- Here Come Our New Soldier Boys
- Jose! There Was A Girl Here Looking For You Just Now
- Off With You Old Soldier Boys
- Corporal! Sir!
- We Have Heard The Bell Summon Us To Meet Here
- Ah, Just Look!
- But Why Hasn't She Come, Our Carmencita?
- Love's A Bird Wild As Any Rebel
- Carmen! We Will Follow You High And Low!
- The Cheek Of It!
- Give Me News Of My Mother!
- Your Dear Mother And I Were Leaving Church This Morning
- I See My Mother's Face!
- Wait A Moment - I'm Going To Read The Letter
- Come And Help
- So, Corporal: Tell Me What Happened
- Well, Carmencita: What Do You Have To Say For Yourself?
- Where Are You Taking Me?
- There's An Old Bar In The City
- Careful - It's Lieutenant!
- Entr'acte
- From Far Away Mysterious Sounds
- Bravo, Bravo! More! Keep Dancing!
- Hurrah! Hurrah! The Torero!
- Who's That? It's Escamillo, The Bullfighter From Granada
- Hurrah! Hurrah! The Torero!
- You're Most Kind
- We'll Come With You, Senor Torero
- Toreador, Be Ready!
- At Last! We Got Rid Of Them As Quickly As We Could
- There's A Little Job That We're Starting!
- Being In Love Is Not A Reason
Tracks:
- To Bid You Welcome To Our Bar
- La La La La La La La La...
- Back To Camp!... Go At Once!
- That Flow'r You Threw To Me I Treasured
- No, It's Not Love At All!
- Hello! Carmen!
- Lieutenant Fair, It's True
- The Sky Above The Open Road
- Entr'acte
- Keep Going, Dear Old Friend, Kep Going!
- Right! Let's Stop For A While
- Shuffle! Cut Them!
- In Vain You Would Avoid The Bitter Things They're Saying
- You're Back!
- As For That Man, It Should Be Easy!
- Is This The Place?
- I Say That There's Nothing To Fear
- It's Him! I'm Sure It's Him Over There!
- Escamillo Is My Name, And I Come From Granada
- She Had A Lover Here
- Hola! Hola! Jose!
- You Should Take Care, Carmen
- Alas! Jose, Your Mother Is Ill
- Entr'acte
- A Few Cuartos! A Few Cuartos!
- Here They Come! Here They Come!
- If You Love Me, Carmen
- It's You! It's Me!
- Viva! Viva! What A Corrida!
Customer Reviews:
English is an asset and a drawback.......2004-07-20
Unfortunately, the performance suffers from being sung in English. The singers declaim their parts with such proper British diction that Carmen comes across as a school marm. The spoken dialog is delivered beat for deliberate beat and is dripping with reverb. It makes the plaza, tavern and mountain pass all sound like a sewer pipe.
This is a good first Carmen for someone trying to understand the work. The libretto itself is a good investment for further listening. For an enjoyable performance with an emphasis on character and action, I recommend Regina Resnik on the London Double Decker set.
You Will Love Opera After Hearing Carmen In English.......2004-02-09
The real strength of this version is the dynamic drama. With the advantage of being sung in English, we get better insight on characters' emotions and motives, and we understand the drama a lot better. Carmen is all about great drama. Bizet drew the plot from the French writer Prosper Merimee's dark short story. Carmen is the ultimate femme fatale- a devil-may-care, sexy Gypsy living in Spain, seduces the conservatively raised soldier Don Jose, stealing him away from his fiancee, the passive Micaela, living a life of underground smuggling and rowdy taverns. "Habanera" and "The Gypsy Song and Dance" are very expressive of Carmen's extraordinarily liberal lifestyle. Don Jose, however, has fallen deeply in love- as he shows us in his song/aria "The Flower Song". But Carmen soon becomes tired of his constancy. Don Jose wants a committed, monogamous relationship with Carmen. But Carmen will not submit to love, since she is first and foremost a carnal creature. Eventually, she falls for the handsome Toreador Escamillo. Don Jose, consumed by jealousy, stabs Carmen at a bullfight after Carmen declares her love for Escamillo and rejects Don Jose's love. Don Jose's crazed, obscessive personality shines through in the English version as well. This tragedy has been done in English before so don't think this is the first time. Back in the 50's, there was a film, starring black actors "Carmen Jones" which was treated the same way as this opera- more like an English Broadway musical and with the dubbed singing voice of Marilyn Horne as Carmen. All in all, this recording is excellent.
A wholly credible "Carmen" -- finally!.......2003-09-17
I love Carmen!.......2003-08-15
And what of this recording? Carmen sits well in English, so it is good to hear in translation, although some of the detais in the text jar. Escamillo refers to Jose as "my dear", which sounds rather peculiar, and the guide's line to Micaela: "it's not exactly inviting, is it?" sounds distinctly Middle England rather than Rural Spain. Some of the performers, not least Carmen herself, make the words work, although there are long tracts, especially with the chorus, where the language is distinctly indistinct.
The soloists are, by and large, strong. Patricia Bardon's deep, Handel-friendly voice adapts well to Carmen and she colours the music with phenomenal detail, sounding sexy and provocative from the start with an edge of pride and anger that emerges as the show goes on. She is out of her depth above the stave, though, and some extra top notes in the second act don't show her off to her best advantage. I have previously said that Julian Gavin is poorly served by recordings, though here he sounds much more even and gives a thrilling and musical performance (but his wooden spoken lines let him down). Mary Plazas is a lovely Micaela, rich-voiced and sincere (and word-perfect), but Garry Magee sounds miscast as Escamillo, lacking the ballast at the bottom of the voice to do justice to this tricky role.
The supporting cast is good (Mary Hegarty seems to do nothing but Frasquita these days!) but the really treasurable thing is the conducting. Stepping out of Italian Ottocento, David Parry turns his hand to this French Comedie with an appropriate lightness of touch. His pacing and handling of the set pieces is exemplary and the enrtractes go with a real swing.
A pleasure, then, for the Carmen naive or a novelty for the Carmen-acquainted. I nearly wrote Carmen-weary - but I don't think it's possible.
Average customer rating: |
Great Musicals
Manufacturer: Rajon ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B000682FF4 Release Date: 2004-11-15 |
Tracks:
- Oklahoma Suite: Oklahoma!/Oh, What a Beautiful Morning/The Surrey With
- My Fair Lady Suite: Ascot Gavotte/Wouldn't It Be Loverly?/With a ...
- Annie Get Your Gun Suite: Doin' What Comes Natur'lly/You Can't Get ...
- King and I Suite: The March of Siamese Children/I Whistle a Happy Tune
- Sound of Music Suite: The Sound of Music/My Favourite Things/Do-Re-Mi
- West Side Story: The Jet Song/America/Tonight/Something's Coming/Maria
Tracks:
- Porgy and Bess Suite: Summertime/I Got Plenty O' Nuttin'/I Loves ...
- South Pacific Suite: Bali Ha'i/A Cockeyed Optimist/Some Enchanted ...
- Guys and Dolls Suite: Luck Be a Lady/Fugue for Tinhorns/Follow the ...
- Carousel Suite: The Carousel Waltz/Mister Snow/June Is Bustin' Out All
Tracks:
- Joseph & The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat: Any Dream Will ...
- Evita: Don't Cry for Me Argentina/Another Suitcase in Another Hall
- Jesus Christ Superstar: Jesus Christ Superstar/I Don't Know How to ...
- Cats: Memory/Macavity the Mystery Cat/Mister Misoffeles
- Phantom of the Opera: Phantom of the Opera/All I Ask of You/Angel ...
Album Description
Australian exclusive 3-CD set from the Rajon label's 'Great Series'. 2004.
Average customer rating: |
Il Trionfo Dell'Amore
Manufacturer: Sbme Import ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B00005UCZU Release Date: 2001-11-09 |
Tracks:
- Transformation
- Agis, The Conspirators and the Idea
- March into the Garden
- First Meeting
- Leontine
- Seduction
- Follow That Young...Person
- Revenge
- Agis and the Phocion: The Archery
- I Am Aspasie
- Let Us Not Talk of Love
- Grotto
- Solitary Philosopher
- Vain Fool
- Phocion!
- You Will Hate Me
- Arrival of the Princess (Don Giovanni: Overture)
- Rightful King
- Carriage
- For Paisibles - Cast
- Phocion! (Reprise)
Album Details
2001 Soundtrack Release from the Italian Motion Picture "il Trionfo Dell'amore.
Average customer rating:
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My Secret Heart - Songs of Parlour, Stage and Screen
Ben Heppner , Vittorio Giannini , Ernest Charles , Ivor Novello , Sir Noel Coward , Eric Coates , Teresa Clotilde del Riego , Mana-Zucca , Ernst Seitz , and Haydn Wood Manufacturer: RCA ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00002JXEC Release Date: 1999-11-09 |
Tracks:
- Let All My Life Be Music
- Sing To My Heart A Song
- Let My Song Fill Your Heart
- Love Is My Reason For Living
- Someday My Heart Will Awake
- I'll See You Again
- We'll Gather Lilacs
- Bird Songs At Eventide
- Homing
- I Love Life
- The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise
- Roses Of Picardy
- I'll Be Seeing You
- Serenade
- Love Me Tonight
- Be My Love
- The Desert Song
- I'll Follow My Secret Heart
Amazon.com
With his 1999 Met triumph as Tristan--the most taxing of all Wagner's tenor roles--Canadian singer Ben Heppner has fully earned his heralded position as the great new Heldentenor of our time. His Lohengrin is a signature role, while his album German Romantic Opera has been nominated for a Grammy. Yet Heppner also commands tremendous versatility--and of a much more engaging character than that of the typical crossover effort--using his powerful, bronze-tinged tenor to tender and charming effect in My Secret Heart. This is a collection of songs roughly from the period between the two world wars, when music began to reach mass audiences via radio and screen. Many of these are almost forgotten gems--emblems of a vanished era--but once had wide cultural currency: the World War II hit "We'll Gather Lilacs," the radio show Family Hour's theme tune "Let My Song Fill Your Heart," and the oft-recorded 1919 ballad "The World Is Waiting for the Sunrise." Heppner, with his sturdy beauty of tone and sweet, natural-sounding vibrato, breathes new life into this genre. He handles the idiom's unabashed schmaltz with charm and brings a lilting urbanity to two Noël Coward tunes, with especially bittersweet refinement in "I'll Follow My Secret Heart." --Thomas MayCustomer Reviews:
Almost too much lavender and roses, but a delight anyway.......2006-08-29
Mr. Heppner Must Have A Large Parlour!.......2005-02-22
Mr. Heppner says these are songs of the parlour, stage and silver screen. His glorious voice which appears to be a combination of steel and gold fills a recital hall easily. He would need a huge parlour to sing in as well.
This CD is quite wonderful. There are no dull cuts. Since the songs are all about love, this would make a great February 14 gift.
He can keep his secret to himslef.......2003-12-13
What a 'crossover' album should be!.......2001-09-01
There is no question that Heppner is one of the greatest tenors of our age. He is often compared with his fellow Canadian Jon Vickers (with whom he shares much of his repertory) but especially here, he is beginning to remind me more and more of Jussi Bjorling, and I can think of no higher compliment. Part of this is because Bjorling actually sang quite a bit of repertory similar to what Heppner sings here, but more importantly, both voices have an ideal combination of power and sweetness. Heppner's is essentially a very lyric voice despite its large size, and he is capable of great tonal beauty and sensitivity. This not only makes his Wagner, Giordano, and Berlioz very special, but makes him equally adept with the gentle little gems he sings on this disc. He is helped somewhat by the fact that these songs, most of which were written in the very early part of the 20th century, are a lot closer to the 'classical' style than more modern pop. But what really makes Heppner perfect for this material is his total identification with the texts, his tenderness, and his utter sincerity. Also, his diction is superb - you won't need the printed texts to understand what he is singing. In the hands of a lesser singer, some of these old fashioned songs would be absolute treacle. But an artist like Heppner can raise up even 'substandard' compositions and give them the aura of greatness.
In the more upbeat songs, Heppner sings with the thrilling, heroic tone that has made him in demand in every opera house in the world. He makes 'Let All My Life Be Music' into his personal mission statement. 'Homing' was also a favorite of another great Wagnerian tenor, namely Lauritz Melchior. 'I Love Life!', complete with splendid high C, is sung with enough cheer and vigor to bring anybody out of a depression. But this repertory is often gentle and introspective, and Heppner can also easily fine down his voice to a splendid pianissimo, drawing you in and enticing you to pay attention as opposed to banging you over your head like many other tenors do. Ivor Novello's 'Love is My Reason For Living' and Ernest Charles' 'Let My Song Fill Your Heart' are light, gracious Viennese waltzes. The familiar 'Roses of Picardy', 'Bird Songs at Eventide' and 'I'll Be Seeing You' are also sung sweetly and caressingly. Two more Novello songs are among the best tracks on the album. 'Someday My Heart Will Awake', is soft, gentle, and nostalgic, rising to a passionate conclusion. 'We'll Gather Lilacs' is obviously a love song from Heppner to his wife Karen (to whom the entire album is dedicated), full of yearning and deeply moving.
The operetta selections are even more special. In the Serenade from 'The Student Prince', which is alone worth the price of the CD, Heppner makes something truly thrilling of the declaration 'Oh, hear my longing cry!/Oh, love me or I die!', and ends with not one but two spectacular high Cs. What a pity that the chances of him ever recording the entire operetta are so slim! The cajolingly sung title song from 'The Desert Song' is almost as fine, as is 'Love Me Tonight' from 'The Vagabond King'. Finally, the title song 'I'll Follow My Secret Heart', with yet another brilliant high C, makes a splendid finish to this very enjoyable album.
I should also give credit to noted composer and orchestrator Jonathan Tunick for his warm, rich, and perfectly scaled arrangements of these songs. Like Heppner, he finds the perfect mood for each piece and never engages in schmaltz that one might expect from some of this material. The only complaint I have about this disc is the one I have about many contemporary CDs - why is there only 54 minutes of music on a medium that can hold almost 80 minutes? There are assuredly more than 18 songs Heppner could have recorded in this vein. I would have liked to have seen more operetta items in particular. Although I suppose they couldn't have recorded the Drinking Song from 'The Student Prince' as well as the Serenade without a chorus, it would have been nice if 'Deep In My Heart, Dear' had been included. Still, the quality of what is there far outweighs the quantity. The excellent documentation, in German and French as well as English, includes a personal note from Heppner, biographies of all the composers as well as Heppner and Tunick, and complete song texts. The cover shows Heppner surrounded by red velvet, designed, amusingly enough, by Red Herring Productions!
Whether you're an opera lover who wants to hear a great tenor in a lighter mood, or a fan of early 20th century popular music who is curious to see what it sounds like sung by a genuinely great voice, this disc is essential. It is an excellent introduction to Heppner's artistry if you haven't experienced it before, and after listening to it you might want to try some of his opera CDs, both solo recitals and complete recordings. There are few voices that could serve as a better introduction for a neophyte to the wonderful world of opera. If only more 'crossover' singers (both classical and pop) had Heppner's musical integrity...
This cd has left me speechless, wow!.......2001-02-18
The things that I have read about Ben have been very true. He really is a lot more than I ever bargained for. He is THAT GOOD.
I need to go out on a limb and say that he is the best tenor I have ever heard. In my wildest dreams I never thought anyone could be that good.
For this cd Ben choose to sing a lot of standards. Bravo! This is my kind of music. Ben did an excellent job crooning us with his golden voice. He knew when to hold back and when to sing at full strength. This is marvelous how he worked each song to get the full meaning out of it.
The only complaint I have is there was not enough of the good olde songs that I wanted to hear Ben sing. I know it's hard to please all the people all the time and I understand where Ben was coming from.
This cd is a must for the fans of beautiful opera singers who crossover with popular music.
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American Soprano
Manufacturer: Delos Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00004W1PQ Release Date: 2000-07-25 |
Tracks:
- Rejoice Greatly - Messiah
- Piangero - Giulio Cesare
- Care Selve - Atalanta
- Let The Bright Seraphim - Samson
- Lascia Ch'io pianga - Rinaldo
- Ricetti Gramezza
- Bist du bei mir
- Weichet nur, betrubte Schatten
- Sich uben im lieben
- Blute nur
- Ich will dir mein Herze schenken
- Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5 For Soprano And Orchestra Of Violoncellos: Aria
- Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5 For Soprano And Orchestra Of Violoncellos: Dansa
- Pastorale
- Del Cabello mas sutil
- Azulao
- Standchen
- Selige Nacht
- Fleurs
- Stornello
- Music, When Soft Voice Die
- Je t'aime
- Love's Philosophy
- Widmung
- Du bist wie eine Blume
- Das Rosenband
- Liebst du um Schonheit
- Cantares
- How Do I Love Thee?
- I'll Follow My Secret Heart
- Serenade
- Liebe Schwarmt auf allen Wegen
- Love Went A-Riding
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Customer Reviews:
Pure Perfection .......2006-09-25
Had a Freudian moment.......2005-08-12
Well,
No Villa-Lobos.......2003-05-28
Be warned!.......2003-05-03
Unforgettable.......2002-05-16
Both singers are at their best in the repeat, where their technique and ornamentation will knock anyone's socks off. But where Battle does a musical and brilliant concerto-like display of Kathleen Battle, Auger instead serves Handel with overriding sincerity. She builds intensity to an incredible pitch, ending on an almost trumpet-like flourish to announce the coming of the King.
As did so much of her singing, this recording sets the all-time standard. Fortunately for the world, the damned brain cancer that killed her body could not take her music from us.
Average customer rating:
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Puccini - Madam Butterfly / Cheryl Barker, PO, Yves Abel [in English]
Giacomo Puccini , Yves Abel , Cheryl Barker , Paul Charles Clarke , and Simon Birchall Manufacturer: Chandos ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00005QF3K Release Date: 2001-11-20 |
Tracks:
- Act I: Introduction - Cheryl Barker
- Act I: 'So The Walls And The Ceiling...' - Ann Taylor/Stuart Kale
- Act I: 'I Think Your Honour's Smiling' - Jean Rigby/Ann Taylor/Stuart Kale
- Act I: 'It Can't Be Much Further Now!' - Gregory Yurisich/Stuart Kale/Ann Taylor
- Act I: The Whole World Over - Ann Taylor/Gregory Yurisich
- Act I: 'Fate Can't Crush Him' - Ann Taylor/Gregory Yurisich
- Act I: 'Is The Bride Very Pretty?' - Gregory Yurisich/Stuart Kale/Ann Taylor
- Act I: 'True Love Or Fancy' - Ann Taylor/Gregory Yurisich
- Act I: 'See Them! They're Climbing The Summit Of The Hill!' - Gregory Yurisich/Cheryl Barker/Gregory Yurisich
- Act I: 'We Are Honoured' - Cheryl Barker/Ann Taylor/Gregory Yurisich/Stuart Kale
- Act I: 'The Imperial Commissioner' - Stuart Kale/Ann Taylor/Cheryl Barker/Simon Birchall
- Act I: 'Oh, Indeed, My Friend, You're Lucky!' - Gregory Yurisich/Cheryl Barker
- Act I: 'Come, My Beloved' - Ann Taylor/Cheryl Barker/Stuart Kale
- Act I: 'My Fate I Have To Follow' - Cheryl Barker
- Act I: 'Silence! Silence!' - Stuart Kale/Roland Wood/Cheryl Barker
- Act I: 'Congratulations' - Roland Wood/Ann Taylor/Gregory Yurisich/Frances Brett/Clive Bayley/Stuart Kale
- Act I: 'Dearest, My Dearest, Weep No More' - Roland Wood/Ann Taylor/Jean Rigby
- Act I: 'Evening Is Falling...' - Roland Wood/Ann Taylor/Jean Rigby
- Act I: 'Child, From Whose Eyes The Witchery Is Shining' - Ann Taylor/Cheryl Barker
- Act I: 'Ah, Love Me A Little' - Cheryl Barker/Ann Taylor
- Act II Part I: 'Izaghi Izanami' - Jean Rigby/Cheryl Barker
- Act II Part I: 'One Fine Day' - Cheryl Barker
Tracks:
- Act II Part I: 'Come, Let's Enter' - Stuart Kale/Gregory Yurisich/Cheryl Barker
- Act II Part I: 'Yamadori, And Has your Unrequited Love Not Yet Released You? - Cheryl Barker/D'Arcy Bleiker/Gregory Yurisich/Stuart Kale
- Act II Part I: 'Now, At Last!' - Gregory Yurisich/Cheryl Barker
- Act II Part I: 'Just Two Things I Could Do' - Cheryl Barker/Gregory Yurisich
- Act II Part I: 'This Child! This Child, Then!' - Cheryl Barker/Gregory Yurisich
- Act II Part I: 'Do You Know, My Darling' - Cheryl Barker
- Act II Part I: 'I Must Be Going' - Gregory Yurisich/Cheryl Barker/Jean Rigby
- Act II Part I: 'Ah! Ah!' - Stuart Kale/Jean Rigby/Cheryl Barker
- Act II Part I: 'Look, It's A Man-of-war!' - Jean Rigby/Cheryl Barker
- Act II Part I: Flower Duet: 'Shake The Cherry Tree' - Cheryl Barker/Jean Rigby
- Act II Part I: Humming Chorus - Geoffrey Mitchell Choir
- Act II Part 2: Prelude - Jean Rigby/Cheryl Barker
- Act II Part 2: Daybreak Over Nagasaki - Jean Rigby/Cheryl Barker
- Act II Part 2: 'It's Morning' - Jean Rigby/Cheryl Barker
- Act II Part 2: 'Who Is It?...' - Jean Rigby/Ann Taylor/Gregory Yurisich
- Act II Part 2: 'I Know For Such Misfortune There Is No Consolation' - Gregory Yurisich/Jean Rigby/Ann Taylor
- Act II Part 2: 'Farewell, Oh Happy Home!' - Ann Taylor/Gregory Yurisich
- Act II Part 2: 'Then Will You Tell Her?' - Ann Taylor/Jean Rigby
- Act II Part 2: 'Suzuki, Where Are You?' - Cheryl Barker/Jean Rigby
- Act II Part 2: 'You, Suzuki, You're Always So Faithful' - Cheryl Barker/Jean Rigby
- Act II Part 2: 'Viper! I Want You To Answer' - Cheryl Barker/Jean Rigby/Gregory Yurisich/Ann Taylor
- Act II Part 2: 'Your Little Fluttering Heart Is Beating' - Jean Rigby/Cheryl Barker
- Act II Part 2: 'Death With Honour Is Better Than Life With Dishonour' - Cheryl Barker
Amazon.com
This performance, the only one available in English, is problematic. Best is Yves Abel's leadership of the orchestra, which sounds wonderful, imbuing Puccini's lush score with just the right exoticism and emphasis. But aside from Gregory Yurisch's fine Sharpless, the singers don't please. Paul Charles Clarke as Pinkerton is lacking stylistically and vocally, and as Butterfly, Cheryl Barker sounds under strain and never pretty. While she has the power and feeling for the big second-act climax (the sighting of the ship), she never for a moment sounds fragile or girlish, not even in the all-important early scenes. English or not, this set isn't in the running. Stick with Callas or Scotto in Italian, and follow the libretto. --Robert LevineCustomer Reviews:
A touching English Butterfly.......2002-03-27
She is surrounded by a mixed supporting cast. Jean Rigby is maternal, warm and affecting as Suzuki. Gregory Yurisich makes Sharpless' dilemma more understandable than usual, rather than being completely ineffectual. Paul Charles Clarke perhaps illustrates Pinkerton's arrogance with a degree of vocal swagger, but the sound is rough-hewn and unlovely save for some moments in the love duet. Stuart Kale's Goro is suitable ingratiating and oily.
Abel's conducting is the other chief draw of this set. That he has experience of the score in the theatre means that his pacing is really superb, and the lush orchestration is given its due, the potent intermezzo during the overnight vigil sounding suitably ominous.
This won't replace the classic Butterfly recordings, but in the absendce of any new ones recently, and for acceptable diction in an English version, it is certainly worth the (not very high) price. Recommended.
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