Customer Reviews

Isabel Bayrakdarian ~ Joyous Light

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This is a stunning recording. Isabel Bayrakdarian's voice is a wonderful clear soprano, rich and warm throughout its range and free of any roughness. Her long familiarity with this repertoire lets her shape each phrase beautifully and, apparently, effortlessly.

The disk derives from a concert that took place in Toronto in September, 2001 commemorating 1700 years of Christianity in Armenia. It consists of 18 pieces of liturgical music. In some Bayrakdarian sings a capella, but in most she is supported by a chamber orchestra. One is aware that this is not western music, but the modes in which it is written are just unusual enough to European ears to be a little exotic while remaining entirely accessible. It's not quite melodic, but not quite chant either. Bayrakdarian's melismas are always sensitive and subtle. The whole effect is soaring, haunting, ethereal, transporting, utterly wonderful.

This is a desert island disk for sure.

Isabel Bayrakdarian is a certified classical music diva today, an excellent Mozartian, Handelian, songs and lieder recitalist and overall a very bright star in the current line-up of young sopranos. And this is how she started her recorded career- with a disc of Armenian liturgical music.
For me it is actually very refreshing to listen to songs in language that I don't understand at all- and a nice break from the usual Latin, German, and my native ones- but at the same time, knowing that they are sung by someone who understands the texts and has a spiritual connection to them is a nice bonus. (And if you want to explore the meaning behind the sounds, the original Armenian texts and translations are included in the CD booklet...) It's also a new musical experience to my ears- I am used to certain melismatic forms of Indian music, and Soeur Marie Keyrouz records of Byzantine chants, yet this music still sounds quite exotic to me. And, at all times, very beautiful.
Like Gregorian chant in its pure form, it would get somewhat monotonous, if it wasn't for Bayrakdarian's heartfelt delivery. I find that the opening song is my favourite and often end up listening to it over and over again, but the whole album is very addictive. Not all the songs have the same joyous rapture feel- some are melancholy tinged, some are both at the same time. You need to listen to this music to appreciate its strange charms. It's beautiful and deeply spiritual, all in one. It is certainly Sacred Joy for my ears.

This is liturgical music for people who normally wouldn't touch it--pure, mystical, haunting, yet richly, deeply passionate, full of long, luxurious vocalises. Isabel Bayrakdarian, a very young Canadian soprano who has already made her debut in a number of the great opera houses, is sheer vocal magic with subtle artistry poignantly expressed in this elegant music.

It'd make a great Christmas present, incidentally!

Bayrakdarian's beautiful and captivating voice encapsulates the true meaning of classical music. "Joyous Light" consists of 18 songs in which love, compassion and morality are expressed. The songs are composed in such a way that it is next to impossible not to display any emotion while listening to it. Bayrakdarian's salient characteristic that transcends all her other great ones is her passion for opera. Because she exhibits this passion, the CD is gaining more and more popularity by the day even among people who have different musical tastes. I strongly encourage everyone to go and buy a copy.

Growing up in the Armenian church, it was impossible not to be powerfully moved by the music. Isabel Bayrakdarian was clearly also moved in the same way. Her singing is so flawless, yet it conveys the depths of her spiritual feelings. It is wonderful that people who have not been exposed to this music will have a chance to experience its power and beauty.

I first saw Isabel on an SBS programme and was amazed at the glorious sounds she was producing. This album is great, relaxing, full of strength and beauty. My only word of caution would be that unless you are in the right mood it can sound a bit repetitive by the time you get to the end of the album. However, I am very glad that I bought it.

Very beautiful melodies and a gorgeous voice - doesn't vary as much though as a whole cd -
can get monotonous after a few songs