jonathan ansell - jonathan ansell (2008)

Jonathan Ansell is a 26 year old tenor from the UK. He used to be a part of UK classical quartet G4 whose debut CD topped the UK album charts.

"Tenor at the movies" is his solo debut, released a few months ago, and as its name implies, features songs made famous at the movies. I had never heard of Ansell until recently when a friend played "Now we are free" for me. While not as great (in my opinion) as the original by Lisa Gerrard (from one of my all time favourite movies, "Gladiator"),it is still a haunting beauty, and I was curious to find out what the rest of the album sounded like. JMRL




























T r a c k L i s t i n g :

1. Here's to the Heroes
2. Now We Are Free
3. Parla Piu Piano
4. Race to the End
5. Un giorno per noi
6. Vois sur ton chemin
7. My Own True Love
8. Down in the River to Pray
9. SE
10. Prayer in the Night
11. Si Un Jour
12. Che Gelida Manina





jonathan ansell - jonathan ansell (2008)

david garrett - encore (2008)

T r a c k L i s t i n g s

01 - Smooth Criminal
02 - Who Wants To Live Forever
03 - Clair Du Lune
04 - He’s A Pirate
05 - Summertime
06 - Brahms Hungarian Dance No. 5
07 - Chelsea Girl
08 - Summer
09 - O Mio Babbino Caro
10 - Air
11 - Thunderstruck
12 - New Day
13 - Ain’t No Sunshine
14 - Rock Prelude
15 - Winter Lullaby
16 - Zorba’s Dance



david garrett - encore (2008)

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david garrett - encore (2008)

The musical concept of the cd is excellent; sacred works are given a slightly non-standard setting, but still quite acceptable to this classical listener who loves sacred music while at the same time being accessible to non-classical listeners. The excellence of Burrowes and the Boys Air Choir makes the short timing of the cd all the more frustrating. Why could the listener not hear more of Burrowes and more of his choir? The Boys Air Choir is made up of a small number of boys from the best boy choirs in England and a boy is appointed choir master, as Connor Burrowes was for this one. The treble voice, of course, does not last long. I wish Burrowes and the Boys Air Choir every success. I hope Burrowes will stay involved with the treble voice even while he moves on to other musical realms, and I hope the Boys Air Choir will endure through a number of "generations" of the treble voice. This cd should be more widely known; it really should be some sort of chart topper. JMRL

T r a c k L i s t i n g :

1. Pie Jesu - Fauré
2. Pie Jesu - Weber
3. Sanctus - , Fauré
4. Kyrie - Britten
5. Agnus Dei - Mozart
6. Benedictus - Britten
7. Pie Jesu - Rutter
8. Benedictus - Gounod
9. Pie Jesu - Duruflé
10. Lacrimosa - Mozart
11. In Paradisum - Fauré
12. Agnus Dei (In a Dream) - Mozart
13. Away in a Manger - Kirkpatrick
14. Silent Night - Gruber
15. Sussex Carol - Traditional
16. Once in Royal David's City - Gauntlett
17. In the Bleak Midwinter - Darke




boys air choir - requiem (1997)

bobby mcferrin - paper music (1995)

Paper Music isn't for purists, but if you're among those of us who believe that mixing the new with the old can be good for classical music, and win new audience members besides, then you might consider hearing Bobby McFerrin's 1995 recording with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. From the opening bars of the first track, we sense that McFerrin has not missed his calling. Unafraid to unleash the fire that's in Mozart, he draws a tight, spirited performance of the Overture to The Marriage of Figaro, in which we are struck by the tremendous force of the piece's many rhythmic jolts. Mozart gets further tribute later in the entire Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, a rather uneventful addition to the slew of recordings available of this piece, which is unfortunate considering the sizable percentage of space it takes up on the CD. The only other selections in which McFerrin rests his vocal folds are the Minuetto and Finale from Stravinsky's Pulcinella Suite, and the Scherzo from Mendelssohn's A Midsummer Night's Dream--both faithful performances of these composers at their best. Ultimately, the non-vocal tracks are not the album's selling points, and, admittedly, not being able to see McFerrin conduct, one wonders how frequently to credit him for the sound of the SPCO. Boccherini's Menuet from String Quintet No. 1, arranged for string orchestra, flute, and voice, is the first we hear of McFerrin's "instrumental vocals." JMRL

T r a c k L i s t i n g s

1. Overture to "The Marriage of Figaro" K. 492
2. Minuet from String Quintet No. 1 in E Major, Op. 13 No. 5, G. 275
3. Minuetto & Finale from Pulcinella Suite (Rev. 1949)
4. Concerto for 2 Cellos, String Orchestra and Continuo in G Minor
5. I. Allegro
6. II. Largo
7. III. Allegro
8. Scherzo, Op. 61 No. 1 from "A Midsummer Night's Dream"
9. First Movement from Concerto for Violin, String Orchestra and Continuo
10. Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, K. 525
11. I. Allegro
12. II. Romance. Andante
13. III. Menuetto. Allegretto - Trio
14. IV. Rondo. Allegro




bobby mcferrin - paper music (1995)

alessandro safina - i successi (2007)

His voice can be darkly sensual, rough velvet, evident on "Luna (Only You)," an amazing piece that opens with a sultry jazz (female) solo that dissolves into Safina's commanding tenor. It is the most electronic/dancelike of the fourteen songs on "Safina," with a pronounced drumbeat. Gorgeous background piano accompaniment and sweeping strings cradle Safina's voice without overpowering. A background choir chants near the end of the song, which blends Safina's and the female soloist's voice along with piano notes that trail off into silence.

The two instrumental "Ehyeh" and "Diva Mea" are very interesting additions. "Ehyeh" is actually the background instrumentals to "Il Mirto E La Rosa" and "Diva Mea" is the backing track to "Luna" complete with female vocalist and choir. Very uplifting tracks that sound like film music and are beautiful even without the vocals, "Ehyeh" in particular as the flamenco guitar really shines as a solo. Finally "Aria e Memoria--We'll Be Together" is a duet with Chrissie Hynde. It is the same song as "Aria E Memoria" from earlier in the album, this time as an English-Italian duet with Chrissie's voice in the foreground. Very powerful and effective. JMRL

T r a c k L i s t i n g :

1.- Luna
2.- Aria & Memoria
3.- Canto La Vita
4.- D'Amore
5.- D'Oro & D'Argento
6.- Your Song
7.- Il Mirto e La Rosa
8.- Incanto
9.- Io Ci Saro
10.- Just Show Me How To Love You
11.- Luna (Spanish Version)
12.- La Sete Di Vivere
13.- Notturno
14.- Quel Figlio Che Hai
15.- Saro Con Te
16.- Siena
17.- Ehyeh
18.- Diva Mea




alessandro safina - i successi (2007)

Plácido Domingo - Mireille Mathieu - Emmanuel

"Tales of Cri Cri" is an LP of childrens' songs in Spanish sung by Mireille Mathieu, Placido Domingo, and Emmanuel. There are fifthteen songs on the Album and all contain lyrics aimed at young children; however, the musical compositions are not the usual children's songs. They are well written songs which are well sung by the very talented singers mentioned above. Additionally, the singers are backed by a full orchestra and by a chilren's chorus on some songs. It is not unusual to hear Mirielle Mathieu, the French singer, singing with a children's chorus, but it is unusual for Placido Domingo, the opera singer. Ms. Mathieu sings the songs "The Ugly Dolly", "The Dance of the Shoes", "The Little Spurt" and "Mama Webster". Placido Domingo sings "March of the Letters", "Three Sleepy Piglets", "The Little Chinese Man", "The Dance of the Puppets", and "The Closet". Emmanuel sings "The Spider's Tango". All three singers combine for "Cri-Cri's Theme" and "On the Way to School". This LP would be a good introduction for children to complex musical forms, orchestra music, and well-trained singing voices. It is a great contrast to the music on many children's television shows or albums. JMRL



























T r a c k L i s t i n g

1.- Tema de Cri-Cri
2.- Marcha de las Letras
3.- Bombón I
4.- Cochinitos Dormilones
5.- Caminito de la Escuela
6.- Fiesta de los Zapatos
7.- El Ropero
8.- Negrito Sandía- Cucurumbé
9.- El Ratón Vaquero
10.- El Chorrito
11.- Chong Ki Fu
12.- La Muñeca Fea
13.- Che Araña
14.- Baile de los Muñecos
15.- La Patita

placido domingo - tales of cri cri (1984)

This 1984 album includes the following songs: Cri-Cri's Theme; The March of the Letters; The Ugly Dolly; On the Way to School; Three Sleepy Piglets; The Dance of the Shoes; The Little Spurt; The Little Chinese Man; The Spider's Tango; The Dance of the Puppets; Mama Webster; The Closet.



T r a c k L i s t i n g s

Cri-Cri's Theme;
The March of the Letters;
The Ugly Dolly;
On the Way to School;
Three Sleepy Piglets;
The Dance of the Shoes;
The Little Spurt;
The Little Chinese Man;
The Spider's Tango;
The Dance of the Puppets;
Mama Webster;
The Closet.



placido domingo - tales of cri cri (1984)

T r a c k L i s t i n g 

01. Franz 

02. Qual cor tradisti 

03. La Andaluza 

04. Adagio 

05. Romance 

06. Gloria Eterna 

07. En Aranjuez con mi amor 

08. Voi che sapete 

09. Habanera 

10. Je chante avec toi liberté 

11. Una furtiva lágrima 

12. Mon Dieu 

13. Sérénade 

14. Plaisir d'amour 

15. Casta diva 

16. Der lindenbaum 

17. Recuerdos de la Alhambra 

18. Ave María 

summer - summer (2003)

If you like Sarah Brightman, Norah Jones, Emma Shapplin, Izzy [Isobel Cooper] then you shall one to go one step further and listen [and surely love] Summer [Summer Watson]: if you are even more refined and have adopted a love for quality vocal queens like Méav and Loreena McKennit... then you will absolutely love this singer who shall bring summer into you life with her voice and the expertise with which she executes the pieces on this CD.

In the United Kingdom the banner read that this CD was "an exquisite mix of classical, world, and pop music." As I always do with debut artists, I said to myself, buy it!!! I am so happy I did... oh Lord, what a voice! This is a genuine voice [no artificial stretching and straining in the studio] belonging to the Scuola di Bel Canto. Ah... how beautiful indeed.

Some songs are surely familiar because we've heard others do them, such as Nella Fantasia [Sarah Brightman, Eden]. How wonderful that first verse rings, it sets your mind wandering:


In my fantasy I imagine a world of justice
Where everyone lives in peace and honesty
I dream of a place to live that is always free
Free as the clouds in the sky/Full of deep humanity.


Spanish composer Joaquin Rodrigo's original title was "Concierto Aranjuez," for guitar and strings, and it's been done by Miles Davis on Sketches Of Spain, Sarah Brightman on Time To Say Goodbye, and Alabina on Alabina II. Here, it's Aranjuez Ma Pensée with new lyrics. A classic tune done afresh with Palabra De Honor [Word of Honour], has a Spanish flavour with the accompanying strings, guitar, and flute. And what is that word of honour? "I will not leave you/I will never leave you."

Berceuse from Benjamin Godard's Jocelyn opera is sung in French and really highlights Summer's voice. The melody from Mal Di Luna (Moonsickness) is taken from Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata and describes the overpowering effects the moon has on one. Tutta La Vita (All My Life) is a duet with tenor Marcelo Alvarez, who has a rich voice equivalent to Andrea Bocelli.

The melody of Sposa Son Disprezzata (Husband, I Am Despised) is from Vivaldi, and the wife asks her husband what she has done to deserve his contempt? She is faithful yet insulted, but still loves him. Morgen (Tomorrow) is taken from a Richard Strauss composition, which features great strings and violin solo. Summer does a great job in conveying the painful realization of the futility of violence and the fragility of humanity in Fragile. The Spanish guitar from Sting's original is replicated, with a touch of sax in places. She doesn't use her opera voice here but joined with strings, it's just as wonderful. Mesicku a Nebi Hlubokem is not only Czech for Song To The Moon but is what Sarah Brightman used for the title track to her La Luna album. Same music. It comes from Antonin Dvorak's opera Rusalka (The Water Nymph), which he wrote in Prague after returning from America. She hits those dramatic high notes with the same aplomb as Brightman. Her other English-langauge cover is Cleo Laine's Cavatina.




T r a c k L i s t i n g

[01] Nella Fantasia, for voice & orchestra, adapted to Gabriel's Oboe, Composed by Ennio Morricone
[02] Aranjuez, Ma Pensée, for voice & guitar, Composed by Joaquin Rodrigo
[03] Palabra de Honor (Word of Honour) Composed by Baliardo, Reyes
[04] Berceuse (from Jocelyn, opera) Composed by Benjamin Godard
[05] Mal Di Luna, Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor (Moonlight), Op. 27/2 Adagio sostenuto Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
[06] Tutta la Vita, song, Composed by Matteo Saggese (featuring Marcelo Alvarez, tenor)
[07] Sposa Son Disprezzata (from Ottone in Villa, opera in 3 acts, RV 729), Composed by Antonio Vivaldi
[08] Cantique de Jean Racine, for 4-part chorus & organ (or orchestra), Op. 11, Composed by Gabriel Faure
[09] Morgen (Dort, wo der Morgenstern hergeht), song for voice & piano, Op. 46/4 (TrV 199/4), Composed by Richard Strauss
[10] Fragile, Composed by Sting
[11] Song To The Moon (from Rusalka, opera, B. 203 Op. 114), Composed by Antonin Dvorak
[12] Cavatina (from OST The Deer Hunter), Composed by Stanley Myers



summer - summer (2003)
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