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Renee and Bryn: Under the Stars ~ New CD |
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In these days of the crossover, it is hardly surprising to find two great opera singers making a foray into numbers from Broadway musicals by such composers as Cole Porter, Stephen Sondheim, and Andrew Lloyd Webber. What's remarkable is that they seem completely at home in this music. Both say they grew up listening to it, and indeed they approach these songs with no less care and seriousness than they'd give the most demanding operatic arias, and without a trace of condescension. However, their vocal, expressive, and interpretive styles are very different, both in the solos and the duets. Terfel projects assertive manliness, tender, intimate affection, and rollicking humor without external effects, using only his incomparably sonorous voice and powerful personality. His diction is impeccably clear, and though he has sometimes let his theatrical flair spill over into Schubert songs, he is the soul of simplicity here. This is in stark contrast to Fleming's tendency to exaggerate colors and dynamics and to turn sentiment into sentimentality. Moreover, though she claims a background as a jazz singer, her "crooning" sounds artificial and unnatural. However, her top notes, culminating in a triumphant high C at the end of the final number, ring gloriously. Her voice glows and shimmers with irresistible luster, soaring from seductive whispers to thrilling climaxes. The program features a great variety of love songs, and includes an antiwar protest (from Beautiful Game), a celebration of the American dream (from Ragtime), and a rousing fun piece (from The Music Man). Unfortunately, even the best songs are marred by thoroughly corny arrangements. Listeners will find their own favorites, but the real "stars" on this record are the two singers. --Edith Eisler
Title Artist
1. Not while I'm around [Sweeney Todd] Renée Fleming
2. Moonfall [The Mystery of Edwin Drood] Renée Fleming
3. I don't remember you / Sometimes a day goes by [The Happy Time / Woman of the Year] Bryn Terfel
4. The Beautiful Game - All the love I have Renée Fleming
5. I wish I could forget you / Loving you [Passion] Renée Fleming
6. Stars [Les Misérables] Bryn Terfel
7. The Phantom of the Opera - All I ask of you Renée Fleming
8. Hello, young lovers [The King and I] Renée Fleming
9. Pretty women [Sweeney Todd] Bryn Terfel
10. Roméo et Juliette - Aimer Renée Fleming
11. All the wasted time [Parade] Renée Fleming
12. Seventy-Six Trombones [The Music Man] Bryn Terfel
13. How could I ever know [The Secret Garden] Renée Fleming
14. So in love [Kiss me Kate] Renée Fleming
15. Wheels of a dream [Ragtime] Renée Fleming
Details
Performer: Lucy Simon, Cole Porter
Composer: Renee Fleming, Bryn Terfel, Stephen Sondheim, Rupert Holmes, John Harold Kander, et al.
Audio CD (February 11, 2003)
Number of Discs: 1
Label: Decca
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