Title : The Andrew Lloyd Webber Collection
Author : Lloyd Webber, Andrew
Release Date : 19990601
Binding : Audio CD
Regular Price : $18.98
Amazon.com Price : $5.99
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Editorial Reviews : Sarah Brightman's career was launched by her success in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera, so it's no surprise to hear the soprano paying homage to the composer on this disc. Really a Brightman best-of, the album includes the Phantom theme (a duet with Michael Crawford), the light-opera fare of 'Chanson D'enfance' from Aspects of Love, 'Don't Cry for Me, Argentina' from Evita, and numerous other Lloyd Webber classics. Throughout, Brightman's diminutive voice lends a fragility to these musical theater tunes that you'll either love or despise. On Evita's 'Another Suitcase, Another Hall' and Cats' 'Memory,' she literally chirps through the vocal lines. No matter. The growing legion of Brightman fans wouldn't have it any other way.
Buyer Reviews : Sarah Brightman has three different voices. One is her pop voice, which predominated on Fly and Dive. The second is her classical music/opera voice, which shot her to fame on Time To Say Goodbye. The third is her theatre/stage voice, which is stronger than her pop voice, but rich and resonant nevertheless.
It is this third which reigns supreme on this compilation of songs by Andrew Lloyd Webber, her mentor, former husband, and still very good friend. One exception is 'Pie Jesu' from Requiem.
She does justice to all the tunes here, including the song that put her on the top of the UK charts in 1986, 'All I Ask Of You,' from Phantom of the Opera.
I bought this soon after Time To Say Goodbye and it was an extra treat. She shines triumphant on uplifting tracks like 'Love Changes Everything' and 'Amigos Para Siempre' and on more sadder ones like 'Don't Cry For Me Argentina,' 'Memory,' 'Tell Me On A Sunday' and 'Music Of The Night,' which I list as my favorite cuts on this collection. Her voices resonates with such beauty and power on 'Memory' from Cats.
The string accompaniment on these songs are a welcome enhancement. 'Tell Me On A Sunday' has become a favorite with heartfelt words like 'Don't leave in silence with no word at all/Don't get drunk and slam the door/that's no way to end it.' And she is incredible on the bridge: 'Don't drive off in the pouring rain/don't call me as they call your train/take the heart out of all the pain.' (Hope I got that right.)
With Sarah veering more into the realms of classical and pop, I hope one day she'll do a collection of songs done in this third vocal style, before it's too late for her to do so. Cheers again!
