Customer Reviews

Kiri Sings Berlin

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

OK. Full disclosure: I'm one of those helpless souls who is just madly in love with the sounds that emanate from Dame Kiri Te Kanawa's vocal chords. I suppose there are many artists who can interpret Irving Berlin's songs with more, what's the word, authenticity?

And I've heard many of them, and I love their work.

But Kiri Te Kanawa is different. She was given one of the most beautiful instruments in the history of sound recordings. Thank God the recording companies figured out what they had and put her in front of a microphone early and often.

We have had a rare opportunity to experience a great artist from almost the start of her career clear through to what now must be it's final stages.

I, for one, feel privileged.

Thank you, Dame Kiri. The world is a little better place because of you.

This album exemplifies Kiri's amazing, vast dose of talent for musical interpretation. Though I tend to enjoy mostly classical music, this album has opened doors to a wonderful world of classical-jazz, which I find quite beautiful! Perhaps for some, it is an aquired taste...yet I was hooked the moment I heard track one...and have since become quite the "modern Kiri" fan!~Brava once again~

If you like Irving Berlin and Kiri Te Kanawa you'll probably enjoy this album as much as I do!

I can imagine Nick and Nora Charles listening to this at one of Nick's favorite dives! It will transport you to a sophisticated time and place that may have never existed except in literature and debutante coming out parties.

Gatsby would have loved it, and surely would have invited Kiri to all his parties!

Kiri's voice has relaxed more and more over the years...this recording is her BEST to date! She interprets all these ballads with a wonderful amount of charm. If I was asked to listen to Fred Astaire sing 'Cheek to Cheek' again....I'd shake my head and say 'Kiri Te Kanawa does it better!'

The selection is wonderful - the sad songs are poignant, the happy ones make you smile and the rest make you want to dance.

Ms. Te Kanawa's voice was most riveting to listen to...one would almost imagine oneself in a different era...however I thought the ensemble overplayed her a bit...but, perhaps that is the way the sountrack was mixed...I would have rather heard a bit more of her beautiful voice...which I might add reminded me, somewhat, of another grand singer "Jeanette McDonald"...from the 30's-50's. still all in all I gave it a 4 stars...despite the musicians over playing Kiri... I am a relatively newcomer to Ms. Te kanawa's following ...but, hopefully will add to my collection of her tapes...

Kiri's glorious voice interprets Irving Berlin masterpieces beautifully with expression and respect for these American favorites.

I can tell the sad songs from the happy songs.

Kiri was very nervous about the fiddlers who were threatening to flee because they wanted more money for the gig that night.

Kiri really liked her hat that Easter morn. I mean a lot.

I would leave the jury sitting there if she came in the courtroom and told me It's a lovely day today. Even if it was raining, I would go.

Maybe it is a guy thing.

Just terrible! Although her voice has mellowed and is quite beautiful, Ms Te Kanawa has absolutely no instinct or feel for this distinctly American music. She's just lost in her own peculiar Kiwi wonderland. She is not aided but what have to be some of the worst arrangements of this music ever recorded.

Her version of "What'll I do" alone earns her a place on the top ten list of abominable recordings of American music.