Spirituals in Concert

Spiritual Traditional (Composer), Harry T. (Henry) Burleigh (Composer), Anonymous (Composer), American Anonymous (Composer), American Traditional (Composer), James Levine (Conductor), Mark Fax (Orchestra), Hale Smith (Orchestra), Sylvia Olden Lee (Performer), Jessye Norman (Performer), Kathleen Battle (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Sylvia Olden Lee, Jessye Norman, Kathleen Battle
• Orchestra: Mark Fax, Hale Smith
• Conductor: James Levine
• Composer: Spiritual Traditional, Harry T. (Henry) Burleigh, Anonymous, American Anonymous, American Traditional
• Audio CD (March 8, 1991)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Deutsche Grammophon
• ASIN: B000001GDC
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #31,827 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Spirituals in Concert

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A moving tribute African-American musical tradition, July 2, 2000

By 

Sean "OtaBenga" (WASHINGTON, DC USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spirituals in Concert (Audio CD)

I love every piece on this CD! In addition to the incomparable Battle and Norman as dueling sopranos, I also enjoyed the very American arrangement of "Great Day," which was reminiscent of Aaron Copland. I have to say that Battle seems to edge Norman (who clearly felt the spirit in "You Can Tell the World") in their respective solo pieces. Battle's renditions of "Over my Head," "Oh Glory," and "Talk about a Child" were luminous.

I am always moved by the weight of history when I consider the strength and determination of the people who created and believed in the central message of salvation in this beautiful Christian music. It's no wonder that African slaves adopted Christianity so readily. They had to believe that what came after their earthly suffering would be paradise compared to their oppressive lives in the New World.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Spirituals in Concert [Live]-Kathleen Battle & Jessye Norman, October 2, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Spirituals in Concert (Audio CD)

This is a fabulous CD. The ensemble pieces are wonderful, especially the opening jubilee spiritual "In that Great Gettin' Up Mornin'." This is an excellent beginning for what is an outstanding concert, and the divas are at their best. Particularly moving are renditions of "Over My Head/L'il David" and "Ride on King Jesus." Miss Sylvia Lee's arrangement of "Scandalize My Name" is engaging, soulful, and entertaining, especially in view of the way that Miss Battle and Miss Norman interpret it. The late, great Thomas Kerr's arrangement of "Great Day" allows both sopranos to show their voices off to high advantage. All in all, an enjoyable compilation and expression of the American spiritual.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Vocal and Symphonic Brilliance, November 10, 2001

By 

Sondra L. Archibald (Rockford, Illinois United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spirituals in Concert (Audio CD)

Each selection is filled with vocal perfection and brilliant orchestration. This shows the marriage of classical symphonic music with deeply soulful spirituals.