Bryn Terfel - Simple Gifts

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Composer), Stephen Sondheim (Composer), John Rutter (Composer), Cesar Franck (Composer), Charles Gounod (Composer), Stanley Myers Giovanni Pergolesi (Composer), Barry Wordsworth (Conductor), London Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra), Bryn Terfel (Performer), Simon Keenlyside (Performer)

Product Details

• Performer: Bryn Terfel, Simon Keenlyside
• Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: Barry Wordsworth
• Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Stephen Sondheim, John Rutter, Cesar Franck, Charles Gounod, et al.
• Audio CD (October 11, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Deutsche Grammophon
• ASIN: B000B8ISN2
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #59,786 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Everything about Bryn Terfel is over-life-size: his physique, his personality, his breath-control, and of course his extraordinarily beautiful voice. This recording displays his stunning vocalism and versatility to full advantage, but its title belies its content. Alhough it does include some simple pieces, the execution is fussy, overdone, and calculated for maximum external effect. The program ranges from Mozart, Pergolesi and pseudo-Bach to Sondheim in arrangements that are pure Hollywood, complete with throbbing strings and rolling drums, often destroying the spirit as well as the letter of the original compositions. It begins with Mozart's heavenly "Ave verum" arranged for baritone solo and chorus, frustratingly cut off after a few phrases (another setting of the same text by Karl Jenkins, written for Terfel, is more satisfying, being complete and original). The splendid baritone Simon Keenlyside joins him here as well as in the opening number of Pergolesi's "Stabat Mater;" originally for soprano and alto, this must be the baritones' revenge on female singers who usurp songs written for men, like Schubert's and Schumann's cycles. Franck's "Panis angelicus" also inexplicably becomes a duet; unfortunately, Terfel's and tenor Aled Jones' voices do not match. Bach-Gounod's popular "Ave Maria" is all swells and exaggerations. The rest of the program consists of folksongs, hymns, show and film tunes, inflated to operatic proportions and generally ending in a fade-out or a flourish. Even the title song is anything but simple. This record is not for purists who like their music performed the way the composer wrote it, but aficionados of great singing will love it. --Edith Eisler

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Simple but Worthy Gifts, November 16, 2005

By	Akimon Azuki - See all my reviews

One does not live on Baroque operas alone, and sometimes it's nice to hear a big voice tear into a classic like- "Send in the Clowns"? And I'm not talking about Bono here...
Opera superstar Bryn Terfel brings us another sentimental journey into the vaguely defined popular music, and it's a good one. Sacred/devotional/musical albums are always selling well, and many stars are tempted to record such collections, but these are not easy to do right, I have certainly heard certain disastrous attempts recently. Terfel has a good sense of what works and what does not, and plain good taste, and I really enjoyed this album.
Vocally, he achieves something many opera stars really struggle with in such non-operatic material: his singing is simple and natural. Only in some high tones he gives in a little bit, but his instinct must be kicking in; to protect that great voice is an important thing. Such beautiful, unaffected singing coming from someone that can walk the Wagner planes and really let it rip as Wotan, this is quite a feat. And always sounds emotional engaged in what he's singing. And on top of all that, his diction is crystal clear, that is from what I can hear in English, German and Latin tracks, but I bet there are no problems with his Welsh!
There are twenty songs in total, and some selections are more interesting than the others: the spirituals like Deep River don't work quite as well as the other songs, but there are several real finds here, like Mozart's Ave Verum, in an unusual arrangement for chorus and solo voice, and Pergolesi's opening movement from Stabat Mater, arranged for two baritones. In Stabat Mater Terfel is joined by another great baritone and my personal favourite, Simon Keenlyside. This is a total tearjerker, and baritone heaven and I just wish these two would team up and do some NTA (No Tenors Allowed!) collection like Hampson and Ramey used to do. Keenlyside then returns in Jenkins' Ave Verum, another beautiful piece.
Terfel also sings Bach's Ave Maria and Panis Angelicus solo and he sounds just great in simple arrangements of these two classics. Such crossover friendly fare must be handled with caution, and Terfel knows how to approach this type of music and make it sound meaningful, without any saccharine aftertaste.
I don't know exactly what Sondheim's Send in the Clowns and the Deer Hunter Cavatina, and The Morning Has Broken are doing on this album, but they go with the flow nicely. And of course Terfel has to sing a Welsh song, and so we get beautifully arranged Mae Ehanger. And finally, he sings Amazing Grace in a heartfelt, simple way, which is just perfect.
If you would like a diverse, beautifully performed collection of sacred music and traditional songs, without extra double layer of cheese, this is a great choice.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Heartfelt Offering Reminiscent of An Earlier Era, February 15, 2006

By	merlin's mom (Germany) - See all my reviews

Bryn Terfel harkens back to earlier American operatic stars such as Richard Tucker and Robert Merrill who crossed grenres to satisfy their unquenchable need to sing any and all songs that moved them to an appreciative public. These great singers all had their origins singing sacred music from their respective religions and learned to lay their considerable talents before the altar of the simple inspirational song.

This recording is wonderful on many levels. The selections are an unusual mixture of classical sacred music, spirituals, hymns, Lieder, Austrian Christmas and Gaelic songs, musical numbers and movie theme songs harmoniously combined to touch the soul of the listener in a gentle ebb and flow of devotion, intensity and tenderness. All of these songs are beautiful in and of themselves and in his hands, we experience them anew.

Bryn Terfel sings with the commitment necessary to make the awesome challenge of simplicity look easy. To my way of thinking, he is the most communicative and articulate singer today, bar none. He is a poet who savors the sound, feeling and meaning of each and every word and marries it uniquely and faithfully to the music. He transports the listener into the life of a song and transfixes us each and every moment. His enormous talent is not overwhelming or distractive and is inextricably and wholly intertwined with the music. This is greatness and it is very, very rare today.

I like the inclusion of the choir in several of the numbers as it reflects on the nature and context of the songs. I am less fond of the selections with the guest soloists as I feel they do not match his ability to "get inside" a song. The orchestra and orchestations are sensitive and enhancing.

This recording is simply wonderful and should have a broad appeal. It will move and inspire the believer, satisfy and fulfill the otherwise spiritual, calm the troubled and renew a flagging soul.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bryn Terfel's Simple Gifts, February 24, 2006

By	Kay Holloway "Kay Holloway" (Cheverly, MD United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Simply superb. I don't know what our local (Wash DC) paper was talking about when they said Deep River was the weakest link. I was enthralled from beginning to end. I have had the pleasure of hearing Bryn Terfel live in recital at the Kennedy Center. I can assure you that his voice has only improved with age. He was wonderful then and is spectacular now!