Customer Reviews

Bryn Terfel - Simple Gifts

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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!

I bought this for my wife. She cried when she heard it. I then bought it for my Sister. She cried also. This is a wonderful CD.
Bryn Terfel has a voice for the ages and brings depth and emotion to songs both classical and sacred.

It goes without saying that almost every major opera star feels called upon to make a sacred song collection. Bryn Terfel can't be faulted for indulging himself, and his record company. If only the arrangements of classics like Deep River and Simple Gifts weren't so goopy -- this is Nelson Riddle and Mantovani redux. Simplicity would have worked so much better. Yet there are thrills even so. 'How great thou Art' is so deeply felt that George Beverly Shea himself is eclipsed.

I judge such albums by the number of spine tingles they create. There are quite a number here, when one can dive straight into a vat of warm religious sentimentality. Some "inspiring" pop songs thrown in for good measure ('Cavatina,' 'The Rose') belong on a different album and mix very oddly with Mozart and Gounod. Terfel sings everything with direct, manly fervor reminiscent of a more innocent age. Still, any prospective buyer expecting the great Bryn to rise to a higher level of dignity will be disappointed half the time.

Wales, the land of song, has produced many outstanding singers in a variety of musical styles. Bryn Terfel is doing much to continue that tradition by using his wonderful baritone voice to record a series of brilliant albums. Judging by his repertoire, Bryn enjoys several different, mainly traditional, musical styles.#

On this album, Bryn mixes classical pieces with folk songs, show songs, hymns and the occasional popular song that doesn't fit any of those categories. There are even a couple of Christmas songs (Ave Maria - the Bach / Gounod version - and Still still still). All the songs here are performed in Bryn's customary style with excellent musical support, so despite the contrasting origins of the various songs, the whole album hangs together well. The set opens with Mozart's setting of Ave verum corpus (a recording of the Karl Jenkins setting comes midway through the album) and ends with a song frequently used in Mormon services, God be with you. The title track is a song of American origin, written in the mid-nineteenth century.

Bryn is in great form throughout the album, so your favorite tracks are likely to depend on your particular tastes. Among my favorites would be The rose, most famously recorded by Bette Midler but also recorded by country singer Conway Twitty and several other great singers in various musical genres. Other favorites of mine include Send in the clowns, Morning has broken, How great thou art and Amazing grace. I've heard plenty of other versions of these songs but I never get tired of them; they are timeless, which is why Bryn recorded them. Yet there are so many great tracks here that your favorite might be one of those that I haven't mentioned.

If you love top quality crossover classical music, you'll enjoy Bryn's music in general and this album in particular.

Another wonderful recording by Bryn Terfel. I have given this cd as a gift to several members of my family and they have all loved it. I particularly enjoy Mr. Terfel's rendition of Send in the Clowns and Cavatina. What an amazing voice!

I was compelled to buy this CD when I heard a few tracks from it on Sirius satellite radio. I had never heard of Bryn Terfel before and the discovery of his magnificent baritone voice was a surprising joy. Whether you're into classical music or not, this is a must-hear CD.

I heard Still, Still, Still on Sirius Pops Christmas and was completely moved by it. It still brings tears to my eyes every time I hear it. Masterful!

Beautiful, moving rendition of some of my favorite music. Fantastically clear. Enjoyable as background or "just sit and listen music."

Bryn Terfel has a beautiful voice. Listening to him is very pleasant and definitely something to look forward to. I read a review saying he would replace tenor Pavroti. However, I believe that Mr. Terfel is a Baritone and not a Tenor. That does not detract from the fact that he should be considered one of the world's top male singers. His voice is truly impressive. This CD by Bryn Terfel is one from our collection that is outstanding and a favorite.