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List Price: $17.98 | | Label: Deutsche Grammophon
Salesrank: 122140
Released: November 3, 1998 |
| Our Price: $4.89 |
| Used Price: $0.80 |
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| Media: Audio CD |
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Hymn for the World 2 / Bartoli, Bocelli, Terfel, Chung Track Listing:
1. Vespro Della Beata Vergine: Domine Ad Adiuvandum
2. Mass in B Minor, BWV.232: Qui Sedes Ad Dexteram Patris
3. Vesperae Solennes de Confessore for Soloists, Chor: Laudate Dominum
4. Requiem for Soloists, Chorus, And Orchestra, K. 62: Lacrimosa
5. Creation: Stimmt an Die Saiten
6. Mass in E Flat Major, D.950: Sanctus
7. Locus Iste
8. Nabucco: Va' Pensiero Sull'ali Dorate
9. Ave Maria
10. Requiem, Op.48: Pie Jesu
11. Requiem, Op.48: Libera Me
12. Requiem, Op.9: Sanctus
13. Gloria: Gloria in Excelsis Deo
14. Song for Athene
15. I Believe
Editorial Review:
This is the second installment in a recording project originally inspired by Pope John Paul II's visit to Paris in 1997 to celebrate the Worldwide Days of Youth. A surprisingly effective anthology of mostly sacred liturgical music, the selections here occasionally give the impression of "bleeding chunks" (as in the majestic opener from one of Monteverdi's sublimest creations, the 1610 Vespers) but have been chosen with imagination. Chung coordinates his forces in larger choral pieces with power and vertical balance, making a standout of the Beethovenian mystery and drive apparent in the "Sanctus" from Schubert's Mass in E-flat. Contributions by Cecilia Bartoli find the mezzo in top form--listen to her finely spun line interweave with the oboe d'amore in a selection from Bach's B Minor Mass--and as evocative as bright stained glass in Fauré's "Pie Jesu." Bryn Terfel brings charismatic presence to his one selection here (also from the Fauré Requiem). Also included are the interminable "Song for Athene" by John Taverner and a sentimental but earnest performance by Andrea Bocelli in Eric Levi's hymn for the world, "I Believe." --Thomas May
Hymn for the World 2 / Bartoli, Bocelli, Terfel, Chung Reviews:
Just regular 
2004-11-18 - I am giving only 2 stars to this CD because, though featuring really "famous" names such as Bartoli and Terfel, the overall sound is not as good as one expects it to be, maybe due to sound technicians, I could not say.
But what I think it's WORST about this album, is the Laudate Dominum (from Visperae de Confessore, by Mozart) performance by the Santa Cecilia Academy Choir. Being a choir alt singer myself and having sang the piece a few times, it pierces my ears to hear the altos out of tune IN THE FIRST LINE OF THE CHOIR SCORE!!!! How could the recording company put this in the market? Did nobody in the recording notice it? And the choir conductor? I would be ashamed of having a recording of my choir out of tune.
Uniformly good, except for one rather nasty exception 
2003-11-05 - This collection (Also released as "Voices from Heaven", I believe) provides a nice retrospective of 400 years of sacred music. The choir is strong overall, and Bartoli and Bocelli (in his one song) prove admirable soloists, especially in the "Pie Jesu".
Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for Terfel, and for the "Libera Me" in general. What was the purpose of Faure carefully cutting most of the Dies Irae and hellfire passages if the singers attempt to put it all back in in an overdramatic rendition?
Knocked My Socks Off! 
2002-10-11 - As a choral singer, I am familiar with most of these works, but this recording knocked my socks off when I heard excerpts from it on a local classical music radio station. Not only does this CD group together some of the best music anywhere, but the performances are fantastic. The choral group has a remarkable precision and clarity in their sound that is admirable. And wonderful soloists. In summary, you might have heard many of these pieces elsewhere, but the impact of having these great performances all on one CD is amazing.
Worth One Song
2001-09-03 - This CD is worth having JUST for "I Believe" sung by Andrea Bocelli. Enough said!
ATTENTION, FANS: NEW BOCELLI CD RELEASE IN OCTOBER
2001-06-16 - I'm not actually "reviewing" this album. Andrea's got a new CD debuting in October. Watch out for it. The end.
