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Sarah Brightman: Symphony
ByThe first note you hear Brightmanin "Fleurs du Mal," after the "Gothica" orchestral preludeshe unleashes from on high an almost impossible note, a purely musical sound that seems more godly than human. There's little need for the choir's chorus because a voice this powerful needs no such backup. The title track makes this same point: One of this set's least overwrought and complicated arrangements gives her voice room to breathe into the lyrics gorgeous life (Her previous relationship with AL-W makes this chorus particularly poignant: "Symphony/ It's gone quiet around us now/ How I wish you would hold me/ And that you'd never told me/ That it's better if you leave"). Similarly, her voice ethereally moves like a spirit over the quiet, still waters of "Sanvean."
Symphony also features several Brightman duets. She reprises "Canta Della Terra" with Andre Bocelli, one of the few singers whose voice she cannot overpower, and beautifully renders "Sarai Qui" with Italian tenor Alessandro Safina. "Pasión" with countertenor Fernando Lima aches with longing yet twirls dashing and romantic, like a Spanish dancer. On "I Will Be With You (Where the Lost Ones Go)," Brightman teams with Paul Stanley, who herewith takes a gigantic leap forward in his quest to transform from badass Kiss lead guitarist to Cher impersonator. Someoneeven if I'm not quite sure whomshould have known better than this.
Brightman concludes her Symphony with the three-part suite "Running," the International Association of Athletics Federation Green Project Charity song, which borrows its middle section from the straight-on 4/4 rock of Pink Floyd's "Run Like Hell" then bookends it with an orchestral melody and chorus.
Track Listing
Gothica; Fleurs du Mal; Symphony; Canto della Terra; Sanvean; I Will Be With You (Where the Lost Ones Go); Schwere Traume; Sarai Qui; Storia d’Amore; Let it Rain; Attesa; Pasion; Running.
Personnel
Sarah Brightman: vocals, keyboards, programming; Curt Cress: drums; Crouch End Festival Chorus; Kristian Draude: keyboards, programming; James Fitzpatrick: choir, chorus; Carolin Fortenbacher: vocals; Alex Grube: bass; Carsten Heusmann: keyboards, programming, vocals; Klaus Hirschburger: vocals; Gunther Laudhan: vocals; Matthias Meissner: keyboards, programming; Metropolitan Voices; Roland Pell: percussion; Michael Soltau: keyboards, programming; Peter Wehe: guitar.
Album information
Title: Symphony | Year Released: 2008 | Record Label: Manhattan Records