Nicola Benedetti - Vaughan-Williams and Tavener (2007)

Nicola Benedetti (born July 1987 in West Kilbride, North Ayrshire) is a Scottish violinist from Italian descent.

Vaughan-Williams and Tavener: Violin Works is the third studio album by Scottish violinist Nicola Benedetti.

One word unites the works on this album, and that word is 'ethereal'. The soundworld of English composer Sir John Tavener is often described as 'ethereal'; possessing an other-worldly, spiritual quality that strikes deep into the soul. And Ralph Vaughan Williams's aural portrait of that blithe little lark as it spirals up into the heavens is indeed an ethereal vision.

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

1. "The Lark Ascending" - 15:57
2. "Song for Athene" – 6:47
3. "Dhyana" – 6:15
4. "Lalishri - Introduction" – 1:48
5. "Lalishri - Cycle 1" – 6:19
6. "Lalishri - Cycle 2" - 5:39
7. "Lalishri - Cycle 3" – 9:39
8. "Lalishri - Cycle 4" – 11:09

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Kate Royal - Kate Royal (2007)

This may be Kate Royal's first solo disc, but she has been making rather large waves in the classical music world for a while now. As the 2004 winner of both the Kathleen Ferrier and John Christie awards, with critically acclaimed Glyndebourne and Royal Opera House performances, and appearances on Paul McCartney's Ecce Cor Meum recording and Ian Bostridge's latest disc of Handel arias and duets, one would expect her to have recorded a pretty special recital. And she has.

Royal is accompanied by Edward Gardner and the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, and her recital takes the listener from French cantata to English folk song by way of Strauss. It includes old favourites such as Canteloube's Chants d'Auvergne alongside lesser-known works such as Debussy's 'Air de Lia' from L'Enfant Prodigue. Although there is no particular theme, Royal plainly has an affinity with music of and inspired by Spain. It pervades much of the recital, from Ravel's 'Vocalise en forme de habanera' to Rodrigo's gorgeous 'Cuatro madrigals amatorios'.

Royal's voice is just sublime; rich, warm and pure, it is able to be both lightly playful in Canteloube's 'Malurous qu'o uno fenno', and languorously dreamy in Strauss's 'Wiegenlied'. I could listen to it all day. What really sets her apart, though, is her ability to get under the skin of a song's lyrics to take on their emotions. She doesn't just sing a song; she becomes it. Take Delibes' party piece, 'Les Filles de Cadix'. This puts in an appearance almost too regularly on recital discs and, whilst it may be fun, unless acted convincingly it can fall flat as a pancake. There is no danger of that here though. Royal's interpretation is full of panache and fiery coquettishness. Likewise, she takes on all the wistfulness, then hope, of the jilted maid in 'The Sprig of Thyme', and the hollow loneliness of Rodrigo's beautiful madrigal, '¿Con qué la lavaré?' Kate Royal is much more than just a beautiful voice. This is music and singing to savour. --Charlotte Gardner

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

1. Lia's Aria ('The Prodigal Son')
2. The Maids Of Cadiz (Spanish Song)
3. Bailero
4. Unhappy He Who Has a Wife
5. The Forsaken Girl
6. Vocalise En Forme De Habanera
7. Anne Trulove's Aria: No Word From Tom
8. Anne Trulove's Aria: My Father! Can I Desert Him
9. Anne Trulove's Aria: I Go, I Go To Him
10. In Trutina
11. Lullaby
12. I Wanted To Make a Bouquet
13. Tomorrow
14. Laments, Or the Maiden And the Nightingale
15. I: What Can I Use To Wash My Face With?
16. II: You Killed Me
17. III: Where Have You Been, My Love?
18. IV: I've Come From the Poplars, Mother
19. The Sprig Of Thyme

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renée fleming - dark hope (2010)

One of the World's Great Voices Puts Her Indelible Signature On Songs By Arcade Fire, Band of Horses, Death Cab For Cutie, The Mars Volta, Muse, and of course, Leonard Cohen. Renée Fleming s new album 'Dark Hope', which the opera star describes as a visit to a new universe for her, will be released by Decca this spring. The album was recorded in close collaboration with producer David Kahne (Regina Spektor, The Strokes, The Bangles, Sublime, and countless others) in New York City, and features a diverse and adventurous track listing of songs as interpreted by one of the world s great voices. Fleming, the superstar soprano known as "the people's diva," says of the songs on 'Dark Hope': "One of the ways that you keep people interested is by taking risks and what could be a greater risk than this?" Producer Kahne was a true collaborator during the recording process, driving most of the arrangements and pushing Fleming to learn how to sing all over again. Also joining Fleming on the album are her two daughters and sister, who sing backup on several songs.

The album features a voice that's been called "superlative" (Denver Post) and "radiant" (Chicago Tribune). But Fleming says that for the recording of this album, "Singing in a small, acoustic booth, with a microphone that s very close, in this very intimate style, is the complete opposite of what I [usually] do." There were similarities to how she prepares for an opera role, however. Fleming points out that for each track on 'Dark Hope' "we found an interpretation that enabled the point of view to sound authentic coming from me. Every song has a story like that, so this whole idea of enacting or playing a role is doubly true for this music." Renée Fleming, a Fulbright Scholar and three-time Grammy award winner, is one of the world's most famous and accomplished vocalists. A New Yorker who made her professional opera debut in 1986 and her Metropolitan Opera debut in 1991, she has had star roles at great halls worldwide and last year was a featured performer at President Obama's Inaugural Celebration. Fleming has also had an interest in jazz since her college years at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY, and has recorded jazz repertoire throughout her career including 'Haunted Heart', the lauded collaboration with pianist Fred Hersch and guitarist Bill Frisell.

T r a c k L i s t i n g s
1. Endlessly
2. No One's Gonna Love You
3. Oxygen
4. Today
5. Intervention
6. With Twilight As My Guide
7. Mad World
8. In Your Eyes
9. Stepping Stone
10. Soul Meets Body
11. Hallelujah

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elizabeth marvelly - elizabeth marvelly (2007)

A soprano classical crossover vocalist from New Zealand, Elizabeth Marvelly achieved a great deal of success by the time she turned 18. Signed to EMI, Marvelly released her debut album, Elizabeth Marvelly, in December of 2007 (in New Zealand) and March of 2008 (in Australia). A worldwide release was soon to follow for this star on the rise, and in April of 2008 Marvelly toured in support of her Top 30 full-length, supporting Paul Potts on his Australian and New Zealand tours.
~ Chris True, All Music Guide

18-year-old singing sensation from new zealand, elizabeth marvelly's self-titled debut cd was released late 2007 in new zealand, went gold in five days and debuted at number 8 in the pop charts! Elizabeth was discovered by gray bartlett, who nurtured the early career of hayley westenra. Her debut album was recorded under the guidance of carl doy with the new zealand symphony orchestra and gray bartlett. Elizabeth marvelly was chosen to perform for hollywood superstars during a glittering gala in hong kong in december 2007 where she sang at the premiere of nicole kidman's latest blockbuster 'the golden compass'.

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

1. There You'll Be [From Pearl Harbour]
2. Love Can Build a Bridge
3. Tarakihi
4. Flower Duet [From Lakmé]
5. When You Are Sad
6. Road and the Miles to Dundee
7. Stranger in Paradise [From Kismet] - Alfie Boe, Elizabeth Marvelly
8. Far Away
9. Vie en Rose
10. It Is You [From Shrek]
11. Suo Gan [From Empire of the Sun]
12. Parlez-Moi d'Amour
13. He Wawata