Customer Reviews

Born in Atlanta

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Jennifer Larmore's strong, intense voice is at times overwhelming because it positively fills the room. Best played at the highest volume your neighbours can tolerate, this lush, gorgeous, and bewitching compilation of Larmore's treatment of many opera standards is truly stunning.

I love opera but must admit that I am far from an aficionada about it. I try my best to learn on my own, and I feel that this collection was a great introduction by a great American opera singer. The entire CD flows together seamlessly, begging the listener (relentlessly!) to bury him or herself in its styling and in, of course, the key asset of the CD, Larmore herself. My favourite here is the intoxicating "J'ai perdu mon Eurydice" from the opera Orphée et Eurydice (which is an excellent complete opera... the version with Larmore and another brilliant American opera star, Dawn Upshaw.)

This performance of a wide variety of classical compositions is indeed noteworthy. The beautiful mezzo-soprano voice that filled the Olympic Stadium in Atlanta with the "Olympic Hymn" is at its best in this lush, delightful selection that includes standards like Handel, Mozart, and Rossini as well as not-so-commonly-heard names such as De Falla and Duruflé.

Larmore's performance is not only noteworthy for its esquisite rendition and mood, but also for the fact that Larmore is reassuringly American. Breaking away from the sometimes icy rendition of her more traditionalist European counterparts, Larmore displays a vivacity that gives these beautiful classics a warm, comforting ring - without losing the power that has been composed into them.

Above all, this is best listened to at volumes high enough so that the power and feeling of her performances may fill the room - and not only fill the room, but sweep you up in this rich musical experience.

- Benjamin Gardner