Does Charlotte have the polish of a diva (which would be inappropriate at her age anyway) who's had decades of training and experience? No. But her music has a purity that a fully trained soprano does not have. It's lovely music that's soothing to the soul, as well as sweet to those who have the priviledge of listening her devoid of judgemental concerns/comparisons. If you close your eyes when you listen to this girl, you can imagine yourself in a Cathedral with her beautiful voice coming to enlighten you as alluring echoes.

This young lady deserves a great deal of respect for her accomplishments so far, and I join those who urge her and her trainers to pay attention to her vocal resources, guiding her & letting her voice mature naturally. Charlotte Church is mesmerizing, charming, lovely to listen to, and hopefully will continue to be so for many years to come.

The music in this CD is inspirational and uplifting, as well as the songs in her other released CDs. The words to describe the sheer beauty of Charlotte Church's voice do not come easily: it is better to experience the collection of pieces sung by her with irresistible charm.

The problem is that she is marketed as a prodigy and expectations are set incredibly high. I her 2nd CD she tries the operatic repertory with Puccini's Gianni Schicchi: "O mio babbino caro" and the: "Jewel Song" from Gounod's Faust. Her pure and voice showing an amazing agility that some coloratura sopranos would certainly envy.


Charlotte Church: Voice of an Angel   January 3, 2000
21 out of 22 found this review helpful

Having enormously enjoyed Ms Church's first CD, and not having bought the second one yet, I read all the consumer reviews presented here, back through October. I'm glad I did.

On first playing Church's CD numerous times (and trying to sing along, as a 50+ year old whose hey-days were in the Oberlin College Choir..and not since) I was mesmerized by her sweet voice and most of her songs. I do still love her CD and I will buy the next one (and I don't feel like I am participating in the ruination of her voice by buying her second CD.)

But I was very glad to read some of the kinder, more constructive critical reviews here which reminded me that in all the enthusiasm for Charlotte Church's performance, we really are talking about a young voice which, with its very possible great potential, one hopes will not be abused and overused in its youthful stages, but given thoughtful training, mindful of the need for rest, so that this lovely resource will not be strained and spoiled.

It was interesting to read the reviews of the young (teenaged) singers who submitted reviews; some of them expressed their concern for the future of Ms. Church's voice. Others (and other reviewers) seemed simply disgruntled, jealous or spiteful.

This young lady deserves a a great deal of respect for her accomplishments so far, and I join those who urge her and her trainers to take care of her vocal resources, letting her voice mature naturally. Charlotte Church is guileless, charming, lovely to listen to, and hopefully will continue to be so for many years to come.


A promising start, I hope   February 20, 2000
David E. Waite (Knoxville, Tennessee United States)
15 out of 15 found this review helpful

I just got this CD yesterday after hearing so much about it. Before I comment, it is only fair for me to say that I am something of an opera fan, although I am certainly not a purist. I was impressed by this young lady, although I msut say that I quickly thought that she needs to do a lot of work to develop her fantastic gift. That is not to put her down, it is only to acknowledge that she is young and that the material she has decided to dedicate herself to singing requires a certain amount of life experience if one is going to give it the musical expression that it deserves. In that sense, she reminds me very much of Leeann Rimes, who is similarly gifted but who also needs time and experience to fully develop her talent. For that reason, Iwas delighed to see Ms. Church's own comments on her recording. She herself has apparently recognized that she has work to do. Nevertheless, having said all of that, I must confess that the CD has remained in my player for the last twelve hours and that I cannot, at the moment, bear to think of listening to anyone else. I think her voice is, at present, so special because it has such a boyish quality about it; it has that certain innocence that we usually associate with, for example, The Vienna Boy's Choir of old. That quality will, of course, be lost with time and it will be her job to replace it with the sound of experience, which is often the sound of lost innocence. Hopefully, she will be up to the task. My prayer for her is that her adult guardians do not push her too far, too hard, too fast. With good, patient, careful training (especially in how to round out, as opposed to belt out, those high notes) the sound of her voice should be gracing us for years to come.


Charming   December 10, 1999
22 out of 24 found this review helpful

...This recording is simply what it is -- a beautiful collection of pieces sung with irresistible charm by a thirteen year-old child named Charlotte Church. Nothing more, nothing less. Is this recording a pinnacle of artistic mastery? Decidedly no. Is there room for Charlotte to develop as a singer? Absolutely yes. But Charlotte's voice is beautiful in spite of whatever shortcomings there may be given her experience and training. Please enjoy this recording without the unnecessary comparisons to other vocalists. I hope that Charlotte continues to enjoy her success for many years to come. singer. Her phrasing, breath, and even basic sense of pitch leave a great deal to be desired. This has nothing to do with her youth; the tradition of the Treble (a child soprano whose voice has yet to change with puberty) stretches back even before the days of Bach and Handel. Even by Treble standards, she is merely mediocre. Moreover, the tension evident in her voice suggests that she is pushing it to the edge of its capabilities. If she continues like this, she will wear it out before it's fully matured.

* I wonder that this is marketed as a Classical album, as there is not a single Classical selection on it.

* The accompanying orchestra and chorus are crafted to the very peak of saccarine, mindless cheesiness, with no depth or thought whatsoever.

* I'm glad the lyrics are included, as her singing of them is indecipherable.

* In the last verse of "Amazing Grace", she attempts Black-Gospel-style appoggiaturas, an octave higher, in her soprano range. The result is nothing short of laughable.

This has nothing to do with "jealousy", and one reviewer supposes. I am not bitter, cynical, or mean-hearted. It's just that Church is nowhere near the artist her hype claims she is. There are wonderfully talented young musicians out there. Seek them out. Don't let the marketing insanity gull you into cheering "talent" as poor as this.


HEAVEN SENT!   July 24, 2000
Soaring Heart
21 out of 23 found this review helpful

It is hard to express in words the depth of purity which transcends through Charlotte's voice. This CD will forever remain close to my heart. Heart! From heart to heart--that is the way a true artist should speak; Charlotte does. She's definitely a prodigy-very impressive.

I love the way she sings in Latin yet inside the CD pamphlet it is translated in English for us to understand (not all the songs are in Latin, only about 1/3.) The first time I heard her was on television singing "Pie Jesu." I wasn't even watching; just doing chores in another room and I was drawn like a magnet into the room where the most beautiful voice I had ever heard was coming and sat down right in front of the television with my mouth dropped to the floor.

I highly recommend it to everyone of all ages, but if you have an appreciation of classical music and/or opera this is not to be missed! Charlotte is like a breath of fresh ocean air to me. Allow her to transport you to your favorite place as well!