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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Sacred Arias is Katherine Jenkins' last album in her deal for Universal before she moves to Warner for another six-album deal, and she has decided to go out with a bang--albeit a quiet one. While her previous outing, Rejoice, saw the Welsh mezzo-soprano striking out more than ever towards the world of pop, Sacred Arias, as the title suggests, sees her return to her religious-classical roots with comfortably familiar tunes like "Abide with Me", "Ave Maria", "Pie Jesu" and even "Silent Night". The mood on Sacred Arias is as refined and peaceful as you'd expect given the title, and though there's an abundance of well known material here, Jenkins also offers us the more obscure charms of "Missa Criolla", a dreamy version of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" and a soulful take on "Down in the River to Pray". Other classical pieces include "Panis Angelicus" and Barber's haunting vocal piece "Agnus Dei", which help make this a triumphant final flourish for both her and Universal. --Danny McKenna
CD Description
Katherine Jenkins is the alternative opera star and rightly referred to as ‘Britain's favourite singer’. For her eagerly awaited new album, Katherine has found inspiration from the music of her childhood in the valleys of South Wales. The result, Sacred Arias, is an intensely moving and heartfelt collection of pieces with a broadly spiritual theme, ranging from her favourite hymn "Abide With Me" to Leonard Cohen’s magnificent anthem, "Hallelujah". This is the sixth album from a remarkable mezzo soprano whose versatility has enabled her to tackle a wide variety of styles, from the great arias of opera to the classics of Hollywood. This special deluxe edition comes in a hardback book case. As well as the album, this edition contains an extra disc with Katherine reading a section from her autobiography "Time To Say Hello" plus exclusive pictures and stunning behind the scenes photographs from her video shoot.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I really looked forward to this album's release. It was worth the wait, I was not disappointed.
This album in my opinion, contains Katherine's best vocal to date. The vocal production is free and unhurried, giving the whole album a very relaxed feel. I really like all the repetoire chosen, my own personal favourites include: Goodall's "The Lord Is My Shepherd"; "Down to the River To Pray" "Ave Maria" and "May The Good Lord Bless You and Keep You".
I do agree that the choice of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah", seems a little odd. However, while Katherine's version is not as definitive as k.d. lang or Jeff Buckley's version - it is still well sung.
I would definately recommend this album, to anyone considering purchasing it.
This album in my opinion, contains Katherine's best vocal to date. The vocal production is free and unhurried, giving the whole album a very relaxed feel. I really like all the repetoire chosen, my own personal favourites include: Goodall's "The Lord Is My Shepherd"; "Down to the River To Pray" "Ave Maria" and "May The Good Lord Bless You and Keep You".
I do agree that the choice of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah", seems a little odd. However, while Katherine's version is not as definitive as k.d. lang or Jeff Buckley's version - it is still well sung.
I would definately recommend this album, to anyone considering purchasing it.
31 of 36 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Katherine Jenkins first impressed me when I heard her sing O Holy Night on the BBC. This new album is excellent, more in the style of her earlier albums Premiere & Second Nature then last year's Rejoice. I have listened to this brilliant album several times now.
I am glad that she has returned to songs and music that suit her voice best, a voice that is growing in richness and depth.
I am glad that she has returned to songs and music that suit her voice best, a voice that is growing in richness and depth.
58 of 71 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Sacred Arias is the final album in the £1million, six album deal with the Universal Classics and Jazz label which has seen a meteoric rise in the singers popularity since her debut album Premiere in 2003. So, while it's time to say goodbye to the old label, it's time to move on, and the departure from Universal heralds the start of another six album contract, this time with the Warner label, and this time worth a staggering £5.8million.
The farewell Sacred Aria album marks a return to the classical market where she has found such success. Her first four albums enjoyed lengthy periods at No. 1 in the UK Classical charts, while the fifth (Rejoice) with less than 60% of its content being classical making it ineligible for the Classical Chart still enjoyed favourable sales and reached No.3 in the UK Album Chart.
The return to classical also introduces us to some of Katherine's personal favourites from the decade she enjoyed as chorister in her childhood days at St. David's Church in Neath, South Wales. She describes the experience:
`It taught me about discipline and musicianship, and it gave me a huge knowledge of the sacred music repertoire. I don't think I'd be here without it'.
The track list is either comfortably familiar or too predictable, depending on ones taste. Those who complained that the previous album Rejoice strayed too far into the pop direction will be pleased to see this return to the classics, while those who liked that pop foray will have to wait for Warner to reveal the route for the future. Personally I think she generally makes a comfortable transition from each genre.
I think Sacred Arias scores highly over previous albums for its subtlety of arrangement (credit to Simon Franglen), keeping it a firmly choral-based (Crouch End Chorus and The Rodolfus Choir) themed selection of church style singing which succeeds in giving some of the songs a hymn like quality. Examples of this are 'Abide With Me' and 'The Lord is My Shepherd'.
`Down In The River To Pray' is a lovely arrangement by Steven Baker which provides an almost gospel choir backing to the song, and `Hallelujah' (Leonard Cohen's version not Handel's!) is wonderfully dreamy performance. `Panis Angelicus' and `In Paradisum' are beautiful arrangements of pieces by classical composers Franck and Faure.
My favourites are the lesser-heard version (by Simon Lindle) of `Ave Maria', and `Agnus Dei' which is a vocally haunting version of Samuel Barber's popular Adagio for Strings.
In summary, a terrific album to say `Amen' to the fruitful five years with the Universal label, and the start of a new chapter which will almost certainly see a further successful six albums, perhaps one of which may even see a foray into opera singing to satisfy the purists, you never know!
But for now, it's time to enjoy the Sacred Arias.
The farewell Sacred Aria album marks a return to the classical market where she has found such success. Her first four albums enjoyed lengthy periods at No. 1 in the UK Classical charts, while the fifth (Rejoice) with less than 60% of its content being classical making it ineligible for the Classical Chart still enjoyed favourable sales and reached No.3 in the UK Album Chart.
The return to classical also introduces us to some of Katherine's personal favourites from the decade she enjoyed as chorister in her childhood days at St. David's Church in Neath, South Wales. She describes the experience:
`It taught me about discipline and musicianship, and it gave me a huge knowledge of the sacred music repertoire. I don't think I'd be here without it'.
The track list is either comfortably familiar or too predictable, depending on ones taste. Those who complained that the previous album Rejoice strayed too far into the pop direction will be pleased to see this return to the classics, while those who liked that pop foray will have to wait for Warner to reveal the route for the future. Personally I think she generally makes a comfortable transition from each genre.
I think Sacred Arias scores highly over previous albums for its subtlety of arrangement (credit to Simon Franglen), keeping it a firmly choral-based (Crouch End Chorus and The Rodolfus Choir) themed selection of church style singing which succeeds in giving some of the songs a hymn like quality. Examples of this are 'Abide With Me' and 'The Lord is My Shepherd'.
`Down In The River To Pray' is a lovely arrangement by Steven Baker which provides an almost gospel choir backing to the song, and `Hallelujah' (Leonard Cohen's version not Handel's!) is wonderfully dreamy performance. `Panis Angelicus' and `In Paradisum' are beautiful arrangements of pieces by classical composers Franck and Faure.
My favourites are the lesser-heard version (by Simon Lindle) of `Ave Maria', and `Agnus Dei' which is a vocally haunting version of Samuel Barber's popular Adagio for Strings.
In summary, a terrific album to say `Amen' to the fruitful five years with the Universal label, and the start of a new chapter which will almost certainly see a further successful six albums, perhaps one of which may even see a foray into opera singing to satisfy the purists, you never know!
But for now, it's time to enjoy the Sacred Arias.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
sacred arias
Katherine Jenkins certainly has a beautiful voice but got a bit bored with the songs as they all sounded similar there was no light and shade in it.
Published 11 months ago by Chrissie
Sublimely Angelic
Although an ardent fan of Katherine Jenkins, and not generally being too fond of religious music, I only recently decided to purchase this album, as I thought that I might be... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Nostalgia
Superb recording
Originally bought this CD as a Christmas gift for a friend. A group of us listened to it on New Year's Eve and we were blown away! Read more
Published 15 months ago by Ms. GD Thomas
Outstanding
Katherine has a rich, wonderful voice and I remain firmly committed to the notion that I like her music. Read more
Published on 7 Feb 2010 by J. Harvey
Sings like an angel
Music: 10/10
Katherine Jenkins, as expected, sings beautifully throughout, and the music is wonderful. An absolutely fabulous collection of timeless arias. Read more
Katherine Jenkins, as expected, sings beautifully throughout, and the music is wonderful. An absolutely fabulous collection of timeless arias. Read more
Published on 17 Dec 2009 by Terrence W. Allan
Katherine Jenkins cd Scred Hymns
I have all of the cd's produced by Kaatherine with the exception
of the very latest Believe which I will be buying in a little while
when it has dropped out of the... Read more
of the very latest Believe which I will be buying in a little while
when it has dropped out of the... Read more
Published on 1 Dec 2009 by Mr. Gordon Tomlinson
Bravo Katherine!
This is a very fine album-and don't let the detractors tell you any different!Katherine has a beautiful voice and it is impossible to listen to the album with an open mind,without... Read more
Published on 22 Jun 2009 by Premiere04
Spiritual Songs with Secular Appeal
"This girl sings HYMNS! My, she looks so provocative!" my friend exclaimed when I handed her a copy of this CD and described its contents to her. Read more
Published on 11 May 2009 by Jennie Johanson
Sacred Arias - Simply a beautiful performance from Katherine
I've followed Katherine from the start & have absolutely enjoyed her voice & talents from day one. I've collected all her recordings & I have been more than pleased with each one,... Read more
Published on 8 May 2009 by JoViGo
Absolutely uplifting!!
Katherine's sings like an angel and looks like one too!! Listening to her recordings always enhance the moment and gives a proper perspective to life which should be full of... Read more
Published on 26 Mar 2009 by P. Foster
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