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List Price: $16.98 | | Label: Deutsche Grammophon
Salesrank: 116179
Released: October 14, 2003 |
| Our Price: $10.12 |
| Used Price: $6.59 |
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| Media: Audio CD |
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Bryn Terfel Sings Favorites Track Listing:
1. Toreador Song: Votre Toast, Je Peux Vous E Rendre [From Carmen]
2. Shenandoah
3. Bugeilio'r Gwenith Gwyn
4. Pearl Fishers' Duet: C'Était le Soir/Au Fond du Temple Saint [Les ...]
5. Lord Is My Shepherd (Psalm 23)
6. Danny Boy
7. Bella Notte [From Lady and the Tramp]
8. New World: Goin' Home, Symphony, No. 9, Second Movt.
9. Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
10. Home Sweet Home
11. Ave Maria, D 839 (Ellens Gesang III)
12. Mio Cuore Va (Love Theme) [From Titanic]
13. Old American Songs: At the River, Set, No. 2
14. None But the Lonely Heart, Op. 6, No. 6
15. If I Can Help Somebody
16. Wiegenlied: Lullaby, Op. 49, No. 4
17. Abide with Me
18. Lazy Bones
Editorial Review:
The title of this CD tells it all. Here is one popular classic after another, some folk or traditional, some operatic, some religious or inspirational, some pop. The result in the throat/mind/sensibility of any other singer might be soupy, sappy, or simply uninteresting, but Bryn Terfel--he of the rolling bass-baritone voice who can smoothly deliver notes and phrases at any dynamic level--turns this generous, somewhat sentimental recital into something beautiful and special. After a rousing "Toreador Song" from Carmen, sung with just the right weight (most baritones find it too low, most basses too high) comes a ravishing version of "Shenandoah"; a fine Welsh song is followed by the stunning duet from Bizet's The Pearl Fishers, with Andrea Bocelli singing the tenor part gleamingly and Terfel considerately underplaying his hand. And so it continues through Brahms' Lullaby and Schubert's Ave Maria; the "Love Theme from Titanic" sung with great restraint; renditions of "Danny Boy" and "Home Sweet Home" which are just beautiful; the spirituals "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" and "At the River," slightly anachronistic but still effective; the gluey "If I Can Help Somebody"; and a few more. It's amazing that Terfel can bring such variety to material which is temperamentally so similar. Some of the arrangements are a bit sticky and overdone, but overall, this disc is a beauty for all seasons. It will make a lovely gift to music lovers of all types. --Robert Levine
Bryn Terfel Sings Favorites Reviews:
Magnificent singing doesn't quite cure the indigestion 
2009-12-08 - There are some unforgivable arrangements on this crossover Cd. Even if I could imagine someone who wanted to hear both the duet from Bizet's Pearl Fishers and Home, Sweet Home (didn't Nelly Melba or Jenny Lind insert that song into the Marriage of Figaro?), the tasteless pop arrangements are almost unbelievable. Shenandoah begins with something that sounds like synthesized whale songs, or are they bagpipes? for pure schmaltz, Terfel tries a Josh Groban, turning the love theme from Titanic into an Italian wow-the-crowds. He's a sing I love, but this mix isn't something for everyone, just a lot for those who don't bother to discriminate good from bad. The great Bryn Terfel needs to exercise some quality control.
Bryn shares his varied musical tastes 
2009-06-09 - On this album, Bryn sings a selection of classical pieces, folk songs, movie songs, hymns and the occasional popular song that doesn't fit any of these categories. There's even a Christmas song (Ave Maria - the Schubert version, which features the brilliant Sissel as a duet partner.
The set opens in great style with Bryn's recording of the Toreador song (from Carmen). Other songs from the classical repertoire include Going home, None but the lonely heart and Brahms' lullaby. The two featured movie songs are Bella notte (from Lady and the tramp) and Il mio cuore va (from Titanic). Bryn is particularly good at singing hymns, here represented by The lord is my shepherd, Swing low sweet chariot and Abide with me. Shenandoah and Danny boy represent the folk song tradition in America and Ireland respectively. The set closes with Lazybones, a song co-written by Hoagy Carmichael and Johnny Mercer. I've heard several versions of this song and while this isn't my personal favorite, Bryn sings it brilliantly and I'm glad he recorded it.
This is yet another Bryn Terfel album that maintains a high quality from the very first track to the very last. If I haven't mentioned your favorite track, it's because they are all so great.
Excellent Voice, Cheap Music
2006-04-26 - Bryn Terfel sings everything beautifully. The difficulty with this CD is that some of the music is extremely tawdry.
"The Lord is My Shepherd" and "Abide With Me" are very nicely sung, although the arrangements (like almost all hymn arrangements) leave a good bit to be desired.
The big surprise was to hear him sing "Lazybones" to perfection.
But on the whole it is far better to hear him sing music whose quality matches that of his voice.
Bryn Terfel, the Magnificent, sings 'Something for Everyone' 
2005-06-27 - Surely one of the most beautiful baritone voices on the opera stage and in the recital hall today is that of Welshman Bryn Terfel. He is one of those rare artists who has a magnificent voice, intense musicality, and magical stage presence. Terfel could sing the telephone book and make it beautiful.
And sadly that is what this album resembles: the choice of songs and the arrangements and friends with whom he elects to perform raises some concern about his artistic integrity. Having purchased this CD based on hearing 'Toreador Song' from 'Carmen' - clearly the finest, most highly nuanced performance of this famous aria ever sung! - this listener expected a concert of similar arias. Wrong! This is like a summer night at Hollywood Bowl with bits and pieces of all manner of songs, some tasteful, others less so, but whatever Terfel sings it is good to hear his voice.
Some of the more successful tracks include 'Shenandoah', 'Danny Boy', Brahms' 'Lullaby', and a Welsh tune 'Bugeilio'r Gwenith Gwyn' sung in Welsh. But then Terfel opts to sing Tchaikovsky's 'None but the lonely heart' in English rather than Russian, a Disney song (from Lady and the Tramp) in Italian, and for some reason includes duets with a soprano by the sole name of Sissel ('Ave Maria'), an awful pairing with Andrea Bocelli for The Pearl Fishers duet (terrible to compare these two polarized voices!), and some choral and jazz ditties. Whew!
If you can get past the pick and save repertoire here and just relax with Terfel's artistry you are in for a treat. Not for the purists, but definitely a find for the 'crossover crowd'. Grady Harp, June 05
Bryn Terfel's voice is magnificent, this album superb.
2005-05-04 - I am hoping every possible purchaser of this album will read this review. Bryn Terfel is a singer whose voice has been touched by God. Rich, powerful, masculine, elegant, emotionally moving. His taste in music is varied and wonderful. I listen to him more often than any other vocalist in my vast vocal music collection. Therefore, I get more value out of his CD's than any other I own. If you love great vocal music sung by one of the greatest baritones of all time, buy this CD immediately. It will quickly become one of your treasured favorites. And Mr. Terfel, please know that your voice touches people all around the world. Thank you for the great music and inspiration, Sir.
