| A Winter Symphony | 
 enlarge | Artist: Sarah Brightman
Label: Manhattan Records
Category: Music
List Price: $18.98
Buy New: $9.77
You Save: $9.21 (49%)
New (34) Used (7) Collectible (1) from $9.47
Avg. Customer Rating:  29 reviews
Sales Rank: 15
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 5.5 x 4.9 x 0.4
EAN: 5099923412323
ASIN: B001E12ZF2
Release Date: November 4, 2008 (New: Last 30 Days)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | Arrival | | • | Colder Than Winter | | • | Ave Maria (duet with Fernando Lima) | | • | Silent Night | | • | In The Bleak Midwinter | | • | I've Been This Way Before | | • | Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring | | • | Child In A Manger | | • | I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday | | • | Amazing Grace | | • | Ave Maria | | • | I Believe In Father Christmas |
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| Customer Reviews: Read 24 more reviews...
A Winter Symphony November 4, 2008
25 out of 33 found this review helpful
Never let it be said that Sarah Brightman doesn't know her fans. This is exactly the kind of record that fans of the opera-crossover artist (and Christmas) should enjoy. Brightman is, of course, an incredibly talented singer, and that's no less true on this release than it has been on any album she's put out. Essentially, there's little to say about this record other than that if you like holiday music and Sarah Brightman, you will like A Winter Symphony. Her voice is powerful as always, and the arrangements are bright and spry, making it a solid winter-season record. If you're not a big fan of either Brightman or the holidays (you Grinch), then bloody stay away. It really is as simple as that.
7.7/10
A Merry Winter Solstice!!! November 8, 2008
15 out of 17 found this review helpful
This is a great album you can listen to during the winter months. Sarah has created it so that you are not stuck with it for the holidays only, you can well listen to this into January and February. I think this album is alot like Sarah McLachlan's "Wintersong", in that it's got a few Christmas tunes, but it is not really a "deck the halls" sort of album.
The music is very beautiful and flows nicely. I miss winter, and this does help in that I can meditate and see the wintery landscape, in particularly with track 6 "Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring". I do agree with some of the other reviews in that I wish Sarah would not sing in that new "Wispy" sound she's done with the "Classics", "Symphony", and now this album. But variety is what she is known for, and she'll make many more beautiful albums such as this one. Add this to your "Wintery Collection", you'll love it.
 Pretty, but...where's the joy? November 5, 2008
14 out of 19 found this review helpful
I have to agree with the reviewer who found this album lacking in holiday spirit. It was a bit of a letdown for me as well. If you're more the melancholy Christmas type, there is a lot to enjoy here. Not to say the album isn't pretty...it is. It's just not quite what I was expecting. Sarah's voice seems a little strained throughout and only truly soars on a few occassions, most notably "Ave Maria". I would recommend picking up the Barnes and Noble "exclusive" version though. For a few dollars more, you get 3 extra songs (the duet with Mario Frangoulis is beautiful) and a dvd.
I am still a huge Sarah fan and will be seeing her live next week in Orlando!
Mostly ballads but still nice November 4, 2008
10 out of 14 found this review helpful
Even though I'm a huge Sarah Brightman fan, I have to be honest. A Winter Symphony is lovely, but a let down for me. Hopefully Sarah's website forum-members will understand and know what I mean. I was expecting a whole lot more, unfortunately. Don't slander me for saying what I've said and will say. For now, I'm not loving the CD, but it will eventually grow on me. I will upload it to my ipod and will listen to it on my stereo over the course of the holidays just the same. The main reason why I feel this way is because of the love-song style ballads. Tracks 2 and 3 are really ballads and didn't do anything for me.
It's nice music and all, and nice production, but lacks the joyful holiday spirit. Where are the traditional holiday songs? Ave Maria (duet with Fernando Lima) could've very easily been replaced by a fun duet like 'Santa Claus is Comin' To Town' or, perhaps 'O Holy Night' re-recorded for this album. 'Silent Night' is beautiful and ethereal though. Even track 1 (Arrival) is beautiful in it's "Abba-Esque" sort of way. I just don't feel in the Holiday Spirit yet, having played the first 5 songs. Too bad, because this album could've offered so much more. Track 6 (I've been this way before)....another ballad, just doesn't work for me. If they wanted to put many ballads on a new Sarah album, why didn't they make the "Symphony" album a 2-disc edition? Both my partner and I don't see Christmas yet, while track 6 is playing. Sorry but it's true. I'm just not as impressed as I would've liked to be.
I'll talk about the packaging, booklet and photos for a while. The standard CD (Navy Blue with silver lettering) comes in a stunning digipak with a 12-page booklet and features some really stunning photos of Sarah dressed all in white. There's a lot of lovely photo-retouching going on here too, which really makes the photos very sexy and holiday-inspired. I didn't expect the booklet to feature such lovely photography (by Simon Fowler). All lyrics are there for each song and lots of production info is included for those who are interested, at the end of the booklet. I'm wondering what the deluxe edition booklet (20 pages) is all about, if this booklet is so nice.
'Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring' is lovely but I didn't hear any church organ and there's supposed to be one in the accompaniment. 'Child in a Manger' is pretty too, but slow as well. At least this song is meant to be slow. And then, finally...we get a fast song with 'I Wish It Could Be...'. Now this is what a happy, holiday song should sound like, and it's the first time I've heard a Sarah Brightman song of this style. Really cool! 'Amazing Grace' is pretty and the way she changes key from verse to verse is a nice touch. All the songs so far have been sung in an angelic voice. We need some Bel-Canto though, because Sarah sings it so well.
'Ave Maria (Gounod)' has to be one of my favorite versions of this song, of all time. Sarah sings it very well and her vocal attack on the high note is right on, though it's a bit high for her angelic range. Makes me wish it were sung in another key. 'I Believe in Father Christmas' is fun and very fanfare. Too bad it's at the end of this ballad-filled album. Oh well, it's not all that bad, but just not Sarah's best. Thank You Sarah anyhow, for releasing a holiday album, because for a long, long time, that's what her fans have been asking for.
It's a Winter album, not exactly for Christmas... November 11, 2008
9 out of 14 found this review helpful
Just hold it before you pick up the stone, listen first.
True, this album is released just before holiday season, but it does not mean it's necessary to be a Merry Christmas album. I think that's the general miss-expectation about how this album should be like.
It's a S.B. album, you can expect the big production, high standard selections of pieces and it does represent the "winter" feeling, more or less.
I made a huge mistake to order a copy from AMAZON.com, perhaps I can return it and get a refund later.
Barns & Noble has an Exclusive release with 15 songs total plus a DVD. 6 dollars more.
Boarders also has an Exclusive release with 1 bonus song but not included in the Barns & Noble release.
Yeah, I am such a sucker and bought both releases, one for each of my cars. That leave the AMAZON.com release totally "meaningless".
This album is OK, it's not as impressive as Symphony to be honest, but much better than the past "Classic" ( the one that recycles the old songs she has recorded in the past ).
I probably will listen to it through out the winter season, but when spring comes, it's likely the time to switch to something else. Perhaps she can release a spring album......
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