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Product Description
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This is music to dream by. Designed to bring out the singing quality of the cello, the program comprises folk music of many lands, art songs, arias from opera and operetta, and instrumental pieces. All of the 20 numbers except Fauré's "Sicilienne", which the composer himself transcribed for cello, are arrangements. All are slow, lyrical, similar in mood and very repetitious. The dynamics, except for an occasional mild build-up, are subdued; every piece ends in a fade-out. Contrast is limited to instrumental colors, including electronics, and idiomatic rhythms. Julian Lloyd Webber is a fine cellist; his style and temperament seem eminently well suited to this music. His tone is beguilingly sweet and flawlessly pure, but, staying mostly in the middle range of the cello, it lacks nuance and inflection. The intensity of his vibrato varies only in one piece, where he puts swells on all the long notes: Schubert's famous "Serenade," whose simple melody hardly calls for it. He is mightily abetted by some splendid partners, most notably harpist Catrin Finch and pianist John Lenehan, both of whom made several of the arrangements. The record's title comes from the closing number, part of a piece written for the cellist by his brother, Andrew Lloyd Webber, performed here as a song. --Edith Eisler
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
If, like me, you've never been a particular fan of the cello, then this is the album that'll change your mind! No deep, heavy classical stuff here, but instead a magical assortment of well-chosen and beautifully played tracks which you'll want to listen to over and over again.
Lesser-known 'songs' mingle easily with the more familiar and sometimes surprising titles, resulting in an album which can be enjoyed at any time, but especially when you're relaxing and just want to 'chill out'.
Wonderful stuff!
Lesser-known 'songs' mingle easily with the more familiar and sometimes surprising titles, resulting in an album which can be enjoyed at any time, but especially when you're relaxing and just want to 'chill out'.
Wonderful stuff!
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This is a beautiful album. I particularly like the fact that this isn't just another cello & piano disc. The introduction of the harp, ethnic percussion and Irish flutes & pipes really makes for a more interesting and varied sound. There are quite a few recognisable tunes, but perhaps the 'unexpected' in the title refers to the unusual arrangements of some of them. There are some lesser known gems to be discovered too. It's nicely produced, with a gloriously warm cello sound. Well worth a listen.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
If you're a fan of the cello you're going to love this album - Julian Lloyd Webber's cello is beautifully recorded - soothing, and velvet smooth. As for his playing, it's just effortlessly lyrical. Add to this some great musicians like Catrin Finch, 20 tracks of classics and some lost gems, and you've got a great album. Highlights for me are the In Trutina, simply gorgeous, and Hushabye Mountain from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, unexpected but a delight.
I was going to give it four stars but any album that has tracks that you can listen to time and time again deserves five. Chilled, intimate, emotional.
I was going to give it four stars but any album that has tracks that you can listen to time and time again deserves five. Chilled, intimate, emotional.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Lovely light cello music with great acoustic and excellent piano...
This is a lovely CD of beautiful tunes played by Julian Lloyd Webber. Not a disk for classical snobs, but for those that have a wide range of tastes and can appreciate classical... Read more
Published 4 months ago by N. L. Esq
Unexpected songs. Julian Lloyd-Webber.
This is the ultimate chill out album. Track 8 sums it up perfectly. L'Heure Exquise! (The exquisite hour). A great mix of traditional, classical and soundtrack tunes. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Graham
Sublime
Bought this becase I heard the Serenade by JLW on the radio and have been totally enchanted by absolutely all the tracks.
Published 16 months ago by S. Worsnop
Very something unexpected
A bit of a back to front review, I heard track 18 the theme from Braveheart on classic fm and was really impressed, so much so that I looked it up, and was further delighted... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Ruth M-L
brilliant performance of Piazolla tango
it is an excellent CD, i particularly liked the Oblivion by Astor Piazolla and the Sicilienne.
Published on 8 Mar 2009 by Calandra
Wow!
Welldone jules, another stunning one to add to my massive and ever-growing collection!
Absolutely brilliant!
[...]
Absolutely brilliant!
[...]
Published on 7 Aug 2006 by Claire
Beautiful disc
This is quite simply one of the most beautiful CDs I have heard.
The choice of music is superb and I can listen to it over and over again. Don't miss this one!
The choice of music is superb and I can listen to it over and over again. Don't miss this one!
Published on 26 July 2006 by R. Robinson
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