Eden

by

Sarah Brightman

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I, like many, discovered Sarah through Phantom. After she left the show, I followed her solo efforts. From "Dive" on, she has made some very interesting choices during her solo career. Every one knows of her breakthrough smash, "Time to Say Goodbye" with Andrea Bocelli. The album with the same name was also very special for Sarah fans. We finally heard her go back to the heights of her voice that so wooed us in Phantom. As good as "Time" is however, "Eden" is better. If you are looking for an album that truly showcases Sarah and her magnificant instrument, that clear soprano, buy "Eden".

"Eden" is a journey into a wonderous world of beautiful music. Frank Patterson, her producer, understand how to blend Sarah unique styles into a collage of beauty. From the very beginning of the cd, Sarah begins to draw you into her world. Her "Eden". From the covers of some popular artist, Hooverphonic and Kansas, to the use of opera in Puccini, Sarah shows you why she is one of the finest sopranos in music today. My personal favorites on the cd are "Lascia Ch'lo Pianga" and "Deliver Me." Also, she gives great "girl power" to "Nessun Dorma" a song made for tenors. The only curious selection on the cd is her rendition of "My Heart Will Go On" in italian. However, that is the only weak point on the entire album. The duet with Richard Marx is another very fine high point, added only to the US version of the cd.

If you are just starting out with Brightman, buy this cd first. It is a better feel of her. She shows you more of her "pop" side, but that side of her in no way takes away from her operatic appeal. "Time to Say Goodbye" should be included in your purchase of Sarah, but if you are going one at a time, get this one first.

If you like the sound of Olivia Newton-John, you'll love most of this album. Brightman's voice sounds like Newton-John's on most of the tracks, but with a sparkle that Newton-John only wishes she had. If you want an album that shows off the power and dynamic range that Brightman's wonderful soprano voice can deliver, this is probably not the CD for you. A couple of times, she lets loose with a few measures of voice that would remind you of Frederica Von Stada or Kiri Te Kanawa and those few times it is enough to cause chills to run down your spine in its splendor. I just wish Brightman would put out a full CD of the work that she is capable of, using her voice to its fullest capacity.