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Product Description
CD Description
Classical sensation Laura Wright presents her debut solo album The Last Rose, in which she sings brand new arrangements of British folk songs. The Last Rose includes favourites from across the British Isles including "Scarborough Fair", "Skye Boat Song", "Lavender’s Blue" and the title track, "The Last Rose of Summer". Composers John Rutter, Patrick Hawes and Paul Mealor have arranged the orchestral music on the album. "Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal" (based on the Tennyson poem) is a solo arrangement of Paul Mealor’s "Ubi Caritas" which was performed at the Royal Wedding as a choral work.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
38 of 43 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Being a fan of All Angels I have known about Laura Wright for a while and she was one of my favouries from that group so when I heard she would be releasing a solo album I knew I had to have it and I'm very glad that I bought it. This album consistis of folk songs which may seem like a given for a classical singer, but what makes this album so good is the mix that is on it and also the orchestration which was done by Mealor and Rutter and others and it is done very well. The opening of 'The Last Rose' is very LOTR like which I love. I usually do a track by track, but I won't for this because lots of these songs will be familiar to most people, however I will pick out a few that are my favourites:
I Know Where I'm Going- this one was new to me, I had never heard it before, but it is beautiful
Drink to Me Only With Thine Eyes- This again is one I had never heard, but again the melody and orchestration are beautiful
Lavender's Blue- I have not heard this song in a long time and it reminds me of primary School when we used to sing songs like this and The Skye Boat Song, both of these songs allow Laura to use her higher range which is a joy to hear.
Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal- I wasn't sure about this when I first heard it, but I have really grown to like this arrangement and the lyrics are beautiful.
Scarborough Fair- this is very good, its low which is a good contrast to the rest of the album and the guitar is a really nice touch, this one is not too orchestral as it is more stripped down with just srings and guitar.
O Wally Wally- many classical singers record this, but this one has lyrics I have never heard before and so adds something different.
Laura's voice is a really strong clear soprano and all of these songs suit her and show different aspects of her voice, I personally love folk songs and I think it is important to keep the tradition of them going especially the more unusual ones. This is an amazing album and really worth having- I would recomend it to everyone.
I Know Where I'm Going- this one was new to me, I had never heard it before, but it is beautiful
Drink to Me Only With Thine Eyes- This again is one I had never heard, but again the melody and orchestration are beautiful
Lavender's Blue- I have not heard this song in a long time and it reminds me of primary School when we used to sing songs like this and The Skye Boat Song, both of these songs allow Laura to use her higher range which is a joy to hear.
Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal- I wasn't sure about this when I first heard it, but I have really grown to like this arrangement and the lyrics are beautiful.
Scarborough Fair- this is very good, its low which is a good contrast to the rest of the album and the guitar is a really nice touch, this one is not too orchestral as it is more stripped down with just srings and guitar.
O Wally Wally- many classical singers record this, but this one has lyrics I have never heard before and so adds something different.
Laura's voice is a really strong clear soprano and all of these songs suit her and show different aspects of her voice, I personally love folk songs and I think it is important to keep the tradition of them going especially the more unusual ones. This is an amazing album and really worth having- I would recomend it to everyone.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a brilliantly recorded debut album with a high-quality content. Laura's voice, particularly in its lower registers, is particularly well suited to the traditional folk genre and her diction is perfect, allowing the words to be heard with clarity. Some of the arrangements, particularly towards the end of certain songs, force her voice into the upper registers for no apparent reason - other than to show her full capabilities.
With the exception of "Now Sleeps The Crimson Petal" (an excellent arrangement and performance of a Tennyson poem) and Lavender's Blue (delightful), most of the rest of the songs are fairly common on albums of this type. However there are atleast four outstanding versions of songs on this album; "Scarborough Fair" (where the haunting quality of her voice is well suited to a song about being in league with the Devil); "Drink To Me Only With Thine Eyes" (where Laura's pure voice and the simplicity of the arrangement allow the wonderful words to speak for themselves), "The Ash Grove" (the best I've heard, lovely touches on the harp appropriate to a song of Welsh origin) and My Bonnie Lies Over The Ocean" (wonderful sound and delightfully uncomplicated); the disc would be worth purchasing for the versions of these four songs alone. Excellent value too.
With the exception of "Now Sleeps The Crimson Petal" (an excellent arrangement and performance of a Tennyson poem) and Lavender's Blue (delightful), most of the rest of the songs are fairly common on albums of this type. However there are atleast four outstanding versions of songs on this album; "Scarborough Fair" (where the haunting quality of her voice is well suited to a song about being in league with the Devil); "Drink To Me Only With Thine Eyes" (where Laura's pure voice and the simplicity of the arrangement allow the wonderful words to speak for themselves), "The Ash Grove" (the best I've heard, lovely touches on the harp appropriate to a song of Welsh origin) and My Bonnie Lies Over The Ocean" (wonderful sound and delightfully uncomplicated); the disc would be worth purchasing for the versions of these four songs alone. Excellent value too.
19 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I listened to this album as a dyed-in-the-wool folk fan, and was initially unsure if I would enjoy what I had read to be traditional songs arranged for a classical singer and full orchestra. This was a brave thing to do, to put a whole new twist on a sacred tradition but it has more than worked. There is an ethereal quality about these songs that brings their tradition into sharp relief, the stories even better for the telling through these alternative renditions.
The voice is beautiful, with a quality that stays with you - the songs in the lower register more than others when one feels closer to the singer. There is a delicacy to the singers voice and occasional glimpses of the depth yet to come. The arrangements by Rutter are superb, as is Scarborough Fair, those by Patrick Hawes work well but at times they make the singer's voice exercise itself unnecessarily in octave leaps for no apparent reason save to do something new with the melody.
Listening to this album I learnt more about folk music, saw it through new eyes and how wonderful to have such a young person championing this type of music through her own genre.
Overall a beautiful, intriguing and rewarding listen.
The voice is beautiful, with a quality that stays with you - the songs in the lower register more than others when one feels closer to the singer. There is a delicacy to the singers voice and occasional glimpses of the depth yet to come. The arrangements by Rutter are superb, as is Scarborough Fair, those by Patrick Hawes work well but at times they make the singer's voice exercise itself unnecessarily in octave leaps for no apparent reason save to do something new with the melody.
Listening to this album I learnt more about folk music, saw it through new eyes and how wonderful to have such a young person championing this type of music through her own genre.
Overall a beautiful, intriguing and rewarding listen.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Lacking Passion
I decided to purchase this album after much promotion by Classic FM.
Firstly, I have to say I enjoyed the choice of song selections and the ethos of the album - I wish... Read more
Firstly, I have to say I enjoyed the choice of song selections and the ethos of the album - I wish... Read more
Published 10 days ago by Isaac Gibson
The Last Rose
A pure voice,singing beautiful songs,utter bliss! I couldn't order the CD 'DECCA' in Belgium,so hence I ordered it with no problem with 'Amazon.co. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Colin Nash
English song as it should be
A charming collection of english language songs, by no means all of them actually english, performed by a very talented and promising soprano. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Gaius Calvus
Laura Wright - The Last Rose
I was very pleased with this CD, it was exactly what I hoped it would be and I play it every day. I was also very impressed with the very prompt delivery from Amazon, especially so... Read more
Published 4 months ago by shirleymhigins
The Last Rose
This is a wonderful selection of British folk songs sung from the heart. Laura's voice is beautiful. This is an album that I will be playing quite frequently. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Steve
Pleasant listening to a modern young singer
A delightful vocal CD to cheer any day or evening. Laura Knight's very clear voice with old favourites is great anytime!
Published 6 months ago by Mrs. M. A. Renton
sounds lovely
the beautiful crystal clear voice was just lovely and so relaxing to sit back and listen to after a hard day at work
Published 7 months ago by bigskipper10
CD
this is a very good product and I have enjoyed every moment of it, a very good CD indeed and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Published 7 months ago by R. A. Beretta
a lovely record and a super birthday present
Laura has a lovely pure voice -all the songs are familiar, and the orchestral arrangements add an extra ambience. Very easy to listen to again and again
Published 7 months ago by liz price
Laura Wright
All the songs sung by Laura Wright on her first solo album remind me of my childhood. Beautifully sung, very clear voice, good diction and intonation, and a lovely pure voice and... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Silverroom
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