Customer Reviews

Sacred Songs

5 star:		(43)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

As a voice and choral instructor, I have always been intrigued by artists who attempt music for which they are not primarily known. Renee Fleming is a superb operatic soprano. She had fun with "Haunted Heart", though I found some of the arrangements to be trite and at times totally out of the original style; it was literally saved by the final "Hard Times Come Again No More".
So I am doubly delighted with this album. Certainly, every one of these pieces has been recorded by a plethora of artists, and yes a couple of the arrangements are saccharine (I do agree that the addition of the flute in "Panis Angelicus" is superfluous and detracts from the beauty of the Franck piece),
but I think the Handel "Dank Sei Dir Herr" is breathtaking and most of the album is truly wonderful. Susan Graham is another of my favorite singers and the duet from "Hansel and Gretel" is
memorable. As for its being too heavy, the Humperdinck orchestration for "Hansel and Gretel" is as thick as anything Wagner ever wrote.
As for "Amazing Grace", which so many have trashed, this arrangement shows the folk quality of it, and I find nothing objectionable in Mark O'Connor's violin playing. The hymn itself has been played to death and is one of the favorite hymns of many people world-wide; I feel that she does it justice.
It is an album that I will listen to often...with some reservations but the whole a fine effort.

Though the title of this newest release from the prodigious output of Renee Fleming may suggest a recording of hymns and down-home revival songs, nothing could be further from the truth. This collection of sixteen works is gleaned from sacred music through the centuries and gives Fleming the opportunity to include in her recorded repertoire works she might otherwise not have had the opportunity to sing. While those who appreciate her gifts as a musician will treasure this very straightforward approach to some beautiful excerpts, there will be the usual detractors who find Fleming's glamour on the stage non-transferable to the CD. And it would be a shame to pass this recital by on that premise.

Fleming is in fine voice, free of mannerisms, and elegant in phrasing in a wide range of works by Handel ('Rejoice greatly', 'He shall feed his flock'), Bach ('Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben'), both Gounod's and Schubert's 'Ave Maria', Mozart ('Laudate dominum' from the Solemn Vespers and 'Laudamus te' from the Great Mass), Bernstein's Mass ('A Simple Song'), Fauré ('Pie Jesu'), Poulenc ('Domine Deus' from the Gloria), Franck ('Panis Angelicus'), and other composers. She even includes the 'Evening Prayer' from Humperdinck's 'Hänsel und Gretel' with exquisite surprise gift of support from Susan Graham.

The recital is conducted by Andreas Delfs with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Far from being a crossover ploy this album is a collection of beautiful music beautifully sung. Grady Harp, September 05

Finally a recording that is as stunning as her luminous Handel Album! Brava Renee!

The most prolific and gorgeous among all sopranos has released this collection of spitritual songs and true to her craft, has again stunned audiences with her pitch perfect golden tone, though her voice seems too creamy to some sone songs. I've always loved Emma Kirkby's "nun-like" version of Laudate Dominum. Curiously, when Madama takes over territories she hasn't trod before, she does always emerge triumphant. I think this is a hallmark of a genius. Yes, this isn't her masterpiece but still, it is La Suprema Fleming and even her harshest critics have to bow to the fact that Madama's voice ranks number one bar none.

I play the cd to relax and indulge. Ms Fleming is in her mid 40's but her voice doesn't show any hint of decline. Brava La Suprema! Brava!

Renee Fleming has followed up her great Handel recital from last year with this fantastic recital disc of sacred music. She truly does perform these with her illustrious lyric soprano voice, and she resisted being overtly operatic as many of these are chorale songs with melodic lines known the world over. She obviously wanted to focus on these beautiful melodies. Although she does many favorites such as both Ave Marias - Gounod and Schubert, she also records some lesser known gems such as the Bernstein track and the duet with mezzo Susan Graham. There are 2-3 Handel pieces for the Handel fans. I really believe she is the best soprano performing before the public today when you consider the whole package - vocal beauty, committment to acting craft, winsome personality, solid vocal technique and production, experimentation with lesser known operas, and her total presentation. The beauty of voice is here on this disc, and most of her vocal mannerisms that her detractors criticize her for are absent from Sacred Songs. It is recorded in beautiful digital sound with Andreas Delfs presiding over the Royal Philharmonic.

I'm by no means an expert but I really like this disc. My favourites are the Ave Marias and the Pie Jesu. I did prefer her Amazing Grace at the Charity even for 9/11 though. Still, a most enjoyable disc.

I don't care how "well trodden" this is, how "bland" it is to some...it's fabulous to me and- IT'S RENEE FLEMING. Our National treasure. Buy the CD, like everything else with her name on it you will not be disappointed. Classic songs, beautiful voice, what else can you ask for? Buy the cd, sit back, and enjoy.

Sacred Songs: 16 songs, beautifully arranged, starting with Ave Maria by Bach, and going through a vast repertoire in English, French, German, and Latin. Ms. Fleming again shows why she takes risks of taking the "road not taken" and making the songs unique. The Schubert arrangement of Ave Maria alone is enough reason to buy this beautifully constructed recording. Ms. Fleming is not afraid to explore well-known Choir music such as two selections from Handel's Messiah, as well as the lesser known "L'adieu des bergers" by Berloiz.

One of the most beautiful sounding releases in Classical Music for 2005.

Yes, this isn't standard Bel Canto repertoire, and yes, this is the second CD of "alternative repertoire" of this year that she has released that had nothing to do with opera.

Before you bash this carefully constructed collection of songs, take the time to actively LISTEN to the phrasing and the interpretation of each song. Then write your review.

Is this Renee Flemming's best effort? Not by a long shot, but it certainly doesn't deserve the thrashing it's getting here. What's wrong with a crossover album anyway? If it exposes more people to classical music, I think it's great.

OTOH, if you're the type that regards opera as some sort of elitist bloodsport, give it a pass. For the rest of us, sit back and enjoy.

First of all, never compare Renee Fleming to Charlotte Church!!! That is extremely disgraceful! Renee Fleming has one of the most beautiful, warm sounds in all of operatic history. I'm convinced that some reviewers buy famous opera stars' albums just to bash them. I am a professor of voice at a college in Louisiana, and I am here to say that Renee Fleming's voice is amazing. This album is wonderful!!! Her technique is solid and her voice is a blessing to the world. She sings with conviction without giving up her technique. Her sound is always beautiful, no matter if you agree or disagree with her interpretation of the music. So for you reviewers who obviously know nothing about classical singing, do the rest of us a favor and don't write anymore comments. Buy this album and you will be pleased. Also this music isn't meant to be sung at fortissimo, it's mostly prayers...so it should be sung with softer conviction. However, there are times when a declamatory section requires a burst of forte. Anyway, this is a fabulous album and you will be pleased.