Kiri Sings Berlin [IMPORT]

Kiri Te Kanawa (Artist), Irving Berlin (Composer), Jonathan Tunick (Conductor), Abbey Road Ensemble (Orchestra)

Product Details

• Orchestra: Abbey Road Ensemble
• Conductor: Jonathan Tunick
• Composer: Irving Berlin
• Audio CD (January 20, 1998)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: EMI Classics
• ASIN: B000002RYP
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #38,649 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  Music > Opera & Vocal > Divas > Te Kanawa, Kiri

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
After several recordings of American popular music, Te Kanawa has become a very effective crooner, phrasing with heretofore missing panache. The easy, jazzy Riddle-like arrangements are bouncy and appealing. But after 15 selections, the mysterious dissatisfaction of eating Chinese food and feeling hungry an hour later remains. Tunick writes in his program notes that "the waltz ballads ... are poignant and moving, but never stray into sentimentality." But why not? A little mushiness would serve this recording well, and also contribute to a desperately lacking variety of interpretation. Still, the voice is consistently gorgeous; it would just be nice to distinguish the happy songs from the sad. --Barbara Eisner Bayer

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Get's my vote!, April 2, 2004

By	Good Stuff "noreasonableofferrefused" - See all my reviews

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.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jazzy and Beautiful, August 31, 2002

By	ColoraturaSoprano (my computer desk) - See all my reviews

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~

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I love it!, May 14, 2002

By	A reader/viewr in CA. - See all my reviews

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!