Sarah Brightman Symphony CD

Personnel: Sarah Brightman (keyboards, programming, background vocals); Sarah Brightman (vocals); Peter Weihe (guitar, guitars); Alex Grube (bass guitar); Carsten Heusmann (keyboards, programming, background vocals); Matthias Meissner, Kristian Draude, Michael Soltau (keyboards, programming); Curt Cress (drums); Roland Peil (percussion); Klaus Hirschburger, Carolin Fortenbacher, Amelia Brightman, Frank Peterson, Gunther Laudahn (background vocals); James Fitzpatrick, Crouch End Choir, Annie Skates, Metropolitan Voices, London Symphony Orchestra, Paul Bateman, Mike Reed , Steve Sidwell.
Additional personnel: Fernando Lima, Alessandro Safina, Andrea Bocelli, Paul Stanley.
Audio Mixers: Frank Peterson; Stefan Glaumann.
Recording information: Angel Studios, Islington, London, England (2004-2007); Clock Studio, Bologna, Italy (2004-2007); EMI Abbey Road Studios, London, England (2004-2007); H.O.M.E. Studio, Hamburg, Germany (2004-2007); Nemo Studios, Hamburg, Germany (2004-2007); Ocean Club Studio, Key Biscayne (2004-2007); Proloton Studio, Hamburg, Germany (2004-2007); The Nook, Los Angeles, CA (2004-2007); Vox Klangstudio, Bendestorf, Germany (2004-2007).
Editors: Dennis Preiss; Frank Peterson; Thomas Schwarz.
Illustrators: Philip Straub; Daniel Dociu.
Photographer: Simon Fowler.
Having solidified her DIVA status with the collection of the same name, Sarah Brightman returned in 2008 to reinforce that reputation with SYMPHONY. A dramatic offering that leans in a more rock-oriented direction, the album finds the British classical/pop crossover pairing up with both usual suspects--Andrea Bocelli on "Canto Della Terra"--and unlikely partners--Paul Stanley of Kiss on "I Will Be with You (Where the Lost Ones Go)"--for a fittingly orchestral set. Although the soprano singer is in fine form throughout SYMPHONY, its crowning achievement is arguably the closing number, "Running," which achieves a cinematic sweep perfectly suited to Brightman's resonant voice.
Sarah Brightman took five years between 2003's pop exotica outing Harem and Symphony. The over-the-top gothic excess in the artwork here seems like a cousin to Meat Loaf's Bat Out of Hell II, so much so that it feels like legendary theatrical rock excess king Jim Steinman -- a former associate of Brightman's longtime producer Frank Peterson (who wrote or co-wrote five of these tunes) -- is haunting the recording. Despite the big duet presences here -- Andrea Bocelli (again) on"Canto della Terra," tenor Alessandro Safina on "Sarai Qui," vocalist and actor Fernando Lima, and Kiss' Paul Stanley -- there are relatively few moments of real inspiration amidst the obvious kitsch. Symphony is trademark Brightman. It sits dead center at the crossroads of classical crossover, pop, and musical theater. Despite the star power on board, this is exactly what EMI wanted from her. The reprise of her first duet appearance with Bocelli is a firm showcase for both voices, and "Sarai Qui" with Safina is among best things here -- even if the arrangements threaten to do in all that vocal power. As for "Pasión," Lima's voice, with all of its high tenor acrobatics, is as lilting as her light soprano. It may work in the theater, or in the movies, but it doesn't here. "I Will Be with You (Where the Lost Ones Go)," with Stanley, is a bit of a campy cheat. Brightman originally recorded this for the Pokeman soundtrack with Chris Thompson of Manfred Mann. Stanley's vocal chops just don't equate with the former. With acoustic guitars all but drowned in strings, the emotional punch of the original is lost. Brightman simply soars, and if her ice queen vocal isn't believable emotionally, it contains enough drama to keep it from falling into the abyss.
Peterson and Carsten Heusmann's cool sound and synth loops on "Gothika" set up the meld of bombastic electric guitars and the London Symphony Orchestra in "Fleurs du Mal." It's full of sweeping textures where a lone clarinet sweeps in before th