Harem

1. Harem
2. What A Wonderful World
3. It's A Beautiful Day
4. What You Never Know
5. The Journey Home
6. Free
7. Mysterious Days
8. The War Is Over
9. Misere Mei
10. Beautiful
11. Arabian Nights
12. Stranger In Paradise
13. Until The End Of Time
14. You Take My Breathe Away

I've been a fan of Sarah Brightman since the release of 'Eden' back in 99 and have since then acquired many of her albums and concert DVDs and, imho, this is by far her best work to date (although many will disagree because it's so experimental). She's a true angel of music and 'Harem' (forbidden places) explores the exotic with beautiful, crystalline singing and ethereal, wordly-pop meets middle eastern beats that will keep you entranced until the very end (and then you'll probably start it again because world music can be very addicting if it's done the right way and if you've got the ear/taste for it). This album is hypnotic and enchanting and very different from her successful predecessor 'La Luna' but it definitely rises above anything she's ever done before and it showcases her love of varied styles. Operatic singing is pretty much nonexistent here but she still incorporates her old roots with a well-trained classical voice on "A Stranger In Paradise" and a great adaption of Puccini's "Un Bel Di" (It's a Beautiful Day). Frank Peterson continues to guide Sarah's career in the right direction by producing the sweeping, dance-infused "Harem" (the title being a song in which she wrote herself) while bringing in some new faces to spice the mix up, like keyboardist Jaz Coleman (ex-Killing Joke who also worked on the highly praised New Zealand project, Oceania) to breathe life into the soaring string orchestrations.

'Harem' also features a lot of guest artists, such as the passionate Iraqi vocalist Kadim Al Sahir on "The War Is Over" and classical violinist Nigel Kennedy who recently worked with crossover star Josh Groban. The late Ofra Haza appears on "Mysterious Days" while Natacha Atlas lends additional background vocals on "Arabian Nights" (the theme for this record) which, lyrically, is separated into five different parts that fuse together seamlessly.

Since the entire album is absolutely stunning, it's nearly impossible to choose favorites here but "What You Never Know", "The Journey Home", "Free", "The War Is Over", and her breathtaking remake of Mandalay's "Beautiful" seem to standout the best with me. The Asian-influenced, U.S. bonus track "You Take My Breath Away" is another notable mention but it's hardly new to me. It was originally released on her import album "Fly", which would probably be the best of her previous albums to compare this to as it was her first real venture into the pop-rock genre.

Sarah may be singing simpler tunes on 'Harem' but she's never sounded better. This album is like a trip on a magic carpet ride to foreign lands that breakthrough to the peaceful paradise of your inner dreams - only your still awake - and it's sure to elate and exult your spirit. -- Autumnal Enchantress (Ontario, California)

Release Date: 06/10/2003

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The Andrew Lloyd Webber Collection

1. The Phantom Of The Opera
2. Unexpected Song
3. Chanson D'enfance
4. All I Ask Of You
5. Don't Cry For Me Argentina
6. Another Suitcase In Another Hall
7. Love Changes Everything
8. Amigos Para Siempre
9. Memory
10. Gus: The Theatre Cat
11. Anything But Lonely
12. Macavity: The Mystery Cat
13. Tell Me On A Sunday
14. Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again
15. Pie Jesu
16. The Music Of The Night

Not many people have a musical written around their voice, but that's what Andrew Lloyd Webber did for ex-wife Sarah Brightman, by creating the classic "Phantom of the Opera" musical. And in "The Andrew Lloyd Webber Collection," Brightman sings various songs from Webber's works -- some mesh with her voice, and some don't.

It starts off on a strong note with the gothic "The Phantom Of The Opera," a duet with Michael Crawford. Following that is the ethereal "Unexpected Song," the rich but forgettable "Chanson D'Enfance," and the enchanting "All I Ask Of You," a duet with Cliff Richards. Following a few dud songs are the warm "Love Changes Everything," the Latin-tinged "Amigos Para Siempre (Friends For Life)" with Jose Carreras, and the entertaining duet with John Gielgud, "Gus the Theatre Cat."

Brightman starts to falter with "Don't Cry For Me Argentina," "Another Suitcase in Another Hall," and "Memory." Her voice sounds restricted and uneasy, and at times her crystalline vocals sound shrill. "Maclivity: The Mystery Cat" is perhaps the lowest point of "Collection," with Brightman sounding completely weird. But the album rises again with the gently melancholy "Tell Me on a Sunday," soaring "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again," and finishing up with the majestic "Music of the Night."

Certain voices are best suited for certain songs, and Brightman's vocals are clearly suited for songs from "Phantom of the Opera" and "Aspects of Love." Some of the songs sound astounding and heartfelt, but some of them just sound strange coming in her rich soprano.

Brightman's voice is given a good range -- she can sing in a little high girlish voice, soar like an operatic diva, or just sound sweet. At her best, Brightman can give you goosebumps. In many of the songs, she emotes subtlely, as if she really feels the heartbreak, joy and fear behind the songs. But when her voice is poorly used, as in the "Evita" songs, she just sounds confused.

The selection itself can't be faulted -- there's stuff from "Cats," "Phantom," "Evita," and other Webber musicals. And Webber's writing is just beautiful, simple and heartfelt: "In all your fantasies/You always knew/That man and mystery/ Were both in you..."

Sarah Brightman is not in top form in the "Andrew Lloyd Webber Collection," but in several songs she is simply astounding. Flawed but definitely worth checking out. -- E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA)

Sarah Brightman and Andrew Lloyd Webber are no longer married to each other, but as I stated above, she's still happily married to his music. I was raised during the Rodgers & Hammerstein era nd it took me time to grow to apprciate Webber's influence on musical drama. Sarah Brightman's performances of Webber's music has been instrumental in my tastes maturing with the development of Broadway musical plays. No matter how often I listen to them, "Phantom of the Opera", "All I Ask of You", "Music of the Night", "Don't Cry For Me, Argentina", "Memory", all remain fresh while the less familiar works become more precious with repeat listening. Also outstanding is the theme song Webber wrote for the Barcelona games and sung by Sarah and Jose Carreras, "Amigos Por Siempre". And don't overlook the devout rendition of "Pie Jesus", a duet with Paul Miles-Kingston, from "Requiem". Other notable voices on the CD are: Michael Crawford, Cliff Richard, and Sir John Gielgud.

There are those who might not like this CD which is one of my favorites, but the only people I would advise not to buy this are those who just don't like the modern theater music as represented by Andrew Lloyd Webber. -- Neal Clark Reynolds (E. Taunton, MA United States)

Release Date: 06/01/1999

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Time to Say Goodbye (Con Te Partirò) (Piano Vocal, Sheet music)

by Andrea Bocelli, Sarah Brightman

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Love Changes Everything: The Andrew Lloyd Webber Collection, Vol. 2

1. Probably On A Thursday
3. Only You
4. Love Changes Everything
5. Seeing Is Believing
6. Think Of Me
7. Any Dream Will Do
8. I Don't Know How To Love Him
9. Too Much Love To Care
10. The Phantom Of The Opera
11. Make Up My Heart
12. No Llores Por Mi Argentina
13. Everything's Alright
14. Whistle Down The Wind

First of all, the CD showcases some of Sarah's most memorable songs which haven't received as much recognition as others have. This compilation features different versions of songs we're already familiar with...starting with "Love Changes Everything"...which isn't annoying & tinny, compared to the version on the "ALW Collection #1". I can't stand that version! This one has a heavier bass-line with a nicer, softer ending.

Just a little note...in case you read the review that "Superman" posted. The version of "Love Changes Everything" is NOT the same version as on the ALW Collection #1. Also..."The Phantom of the Opera" isn't the same version as on the ALW Collection #1 either. And of course...where else will the "Think of Me" come from, if it wasn't from 18 years ago? Why complain about stuff like this when you don't even talk about the new material on the CD? Why don't you get your facts straight, Superman?

"Only You" is a track which I only heard as a poorly downloaded mp3 from a cracking, scratchy vinyl. So...I never really had the chance to enjoy it. But now that it's been re-mastered onto CD, I like it. It's a wonder this one got to see the light of day at all...seeing ALW has released so many compilations of Sarah's music. Why hasn't this song come out to us sooner? Moving on, "Any Dream Will Do" appears on the Japanese Version of "Sarah Brightman Sings the Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber"...and is harder to find, due to it's rarity in some parts. I'm pleased to have it on an up-to-date compilation of ALW's finest music written for Sarah's voice.

Can't understand why "Think of Me" appears on here...if it's on the "Encore" CD...even though it's part of Sarah's repertoire which made her the star she is today. "The Phantom of the Opera" with Steve Harley is rock-based and showcases Sarah's early "duet" talents. Anyone whose seen this video will agree it's got that certain edge.

All the new songs are simply stunning and are a treat to the ears, considering we've seen & heard so many repeated songs on all of ALW's "Sarah" compilations. Finally, we hear stuff which hasn't received the attention is so very well deserves. I love John Barrowman's voice better than Steve Barton's (God Rest Steve's Soul).

Finally, ALW has put together an "SB Compilation" worth every penny. With a few odd's & ends thrown in among a collection of stunning "earlies", I don't regret owning the album.

About the artwork & booklet...it's simple, yet polished, just like the other SB/ALW compilations. The inner tray is blood red, which brings out Sarah's lip color. The front image is stunning and was taken with a screened effect on the camera. Sarah's eyes tell it all. Everything's beautiful about this item. Even the one solitary picture inside the booklet, helps tell the story of a long, musical journey inside a young singer's early career. For all the diehard Sarah Brightman fans...this album is for you. Great for a stocking stuffer or as a gift for that unsuspecting music lover. -- Anthony Morelli "Woofbear" (Montreal, Canada)

Release Date: 10/25/2005

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Sarah Brightman Classics

1. Ave Maria (new recording)
2. La Wally (from Time To Say Goodbye)
3. Winter Light (new recording)
4. Anytime, Anywhere (from Eden)
5. Alhambra (new recording)
6. Lascia Ch'io Pianga (from Eden)
7. Dans La Nuit (new recording)
8. Serenade/How Fair This Place (from La Luna)
9. O Mio Babbino Caro (new recording)
10. La Luna (from La Luna)
11. Pie Jesu (new recording)
12. Figlio Perduto (from La Luna)
13. Nessun Dorma (new recording)
14. Bailero (from Eden)
15. Time To Say Goodbye (New solo version--previously unavailable)

Don't expect this to be a collection of top opera stars. It is Sarah Brightman. And it is a great Sarah Brightman. At first it seems relaxing. However you can get caught up in the music and find that instead of backgrounds music you are listening to Sarah. A real plus is the fact that all the tracks fit together; you are not going to find the odd track that has horns or drums. I am not going to go through the list or the technical of this CD. Let's just say that it is well worth the price. -- B. Chandler "xyzzy" (Arlington, Texas)

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Andrew Lloyd Webber - Requiem / Domingo, Brightman, ECO, Maazel

1. Requiem: Requiem & Kyrie
2. Requiem: Dies Irae ... Rex Tremendae
3. Requiem: Recordare
4. Requiem: Ingemisco ... Lacrymosa
5. Requiem: Offertorium
6. Requiem: Hosanna
7. Requiem: Pie Jesu
8. Requiem: Lux Aeterna & Libera Me

I have no idea what Verdi would make of this. I don't even know what I make of it most of the time- I don't listen to this CD for any religious reason, in fact I'm as reactionary an atheist as you will ever meet. So I'm immune to whatever religious pull this may have. I just don't hear it that way and I honestly don't care how it was intended.

Having said that, this music is unlike anything else you will ever hear. It is grandiose, triumphant, sanguine, and full of anguish. It is one of the most luxuriously evocative pieces I have ever heard. This is the sound of a forgotten world trying to make sense of its looming oblivion. It conjures strange and desolate landscapes in my mind... Hordes of libertines crashing through a city in masks, burning themselves alive and shrieking as they throw themselves from smoking spires... A lonely stooped prophet crossing a desert in some post-apocalyptic world, blindly beseeching the terrible sun for penance... An infernal machine, once abandoned, uses a woman as a musical instrument, invades her mind, body and soul and tries to make sense of the world through her plaintive sighs and disjointed memories... Orphans rummage through the shards of what was once a grand floating-city made of crystal... A ship of fools travels the open seas ceaselessly- in their eyes the ocean is a desert... A small child with bright eyes and a rucksack meanders through these scenes, immune to the chaos, narrating the events with solemn pity, watching over the doomed souls who pass through the story.

I first heard this in a college philosophy class (thanks Dr. Haist!), and was simply awestruck. Again, I've never heard anything like it. Listen briefly to the samples and see if it has a similar effect on you (especially if you care for religious music of this kind). This is something rare. -- C. Roark "tri-zeta" (from under the floorboards and through the woods...)

Release Date: 11/14/1995

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La Luna

1. La Lune
2. Winter In July
3. Scarborough Fair
4. Figlio Perduto
5. A Whiter Shade of Pale
6. He Doesn't See Me
7. Serenade
8. How Fair This Place
9. Hijo De La Luna
10. Here With Me
11. La Califfa
12. This Love
13. Solo Con Te
14. Gloomy Sunday
15. La Luna

Congrats Sarah! I've been taken to the moon & back. The long awaited Brightman disc has arrived. The songs are ranging from her amazing classical renditions to her angelic versions of pop hits. Sarah is dreamy & laid back in her new cd "La Luna".Don't let the idea of Sarah brightman singing cover versions spoil your likes for her.

The first track "La Lune" brings the hair up on my neck just by listening to the keyboard intro. The 2nd track, "Winter in july", is one of Sarah's "pop married to classic" tracks. The lyrics are heartfelt & reflect her feelings about life. "Scarborough fair" is light and dreamy and "A whiter shade of pale" is operatic and revisited "à la Sarah". Beethoven's "Figlio Perduto" is my 2nd fav. track, I love how Sarah rearranged it to fit her voice. "How Fair this place" is pretty, but too short. The tracks continue into one another, like a multi-mood story of music. I find that tracks like "Here with me" and "Hijo De La Luna" are different tunes all together because "Hijo De La Luna" has a ballroom sound to it, with Spanish lyrics. It is sung à la Kate Bush. "Here with me" is more rock or "Dive-ish". "Gloomy Sunday" tones down the pace resulting in a bluesey, rainy-day track. Keeping with the moon theme, the title track "La Luna", is absolutely amazing. Sarah builds suspense in every breath of this track. Her voice soars as the song reaches its climax, wowing me every time. Unfortunately, the orchestra slightly drowns Sarah out at the end. The disc also features a hidden track. It is a breathy, up close & personal version of "Moon River". Sarah knows how to catch the attention of her fans.

The photos in "La Luna" are breath-taking, right down to the album cover.I dig the space-age lettering of her name on the cover. In comparison, Eden took on a heavier classical flavour, as so with "Time to say good-bye". Nevertheless, "La Luna" balances Sarah's career between "Dive" back in '93 to the present. Don't consider her slowing down even though the thought of a greatest hits double set sounds quite interesting.

I've had the golden opportunity to see Sarah in Montreal at the Molson Center on september 18 for her "La Luna" tour. Describe it, you say, Well, I have one word......EXTRAORDINARY! To hear her is one thing, but to see this woman perform was simply amazing. Definitely worth the money! Sing on Sarah! Hers is definitely one of the glorious voices. -- Anthony Morelli "Woofbear" (Montreal, Canada)

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Eden (US Release - 16 tracks)

1. In Paradisum - Brightman/Peterson
2. Eden - Callier
3. So Many Things - Traditional/Brightman
4. Anytime, Anywhere - Albinoni/Brightman
5. Bailero - Traditional
6. Dust In The Wind - Livgren
7. Il Mio Cuore Va (My Heart Will Go On, From 'Titanic') - Horner/Jennings
8. Deliver Me - Marsh Listen
9. Un Jour Il Viendra - Yared/Jonasz
10. Nella Fantasia - Morricone
11. Tu - Cano Listen
12. Lascia Ch'io Pianga - Handel
13. Only An Ocean Away - Andreason
14. Scene D'Amour - Lai
15. Nessun Dorma - Puccini
16. The Last Words You Said (This track only on US release)

I, like many, discovered Sarah through Phantom. After she left the show, I followed her solo efforts. From "Dive" on, she has made some very interesting choices during her solo career. Every one knows of her breakthrough smash, "Time to Say Goodbye" with Andrea Bocelli. The album with the same name was also very special for Sarah fans. We finally heard her go back to the heights of her voice that so wooed us in Phantom. As good as "Time" is however, "Eden" is better. If you are looking for an album that truly showcases Sarah and her magnificant instrument, that clear soprano, buy "Eden".

"Eden" is a journey into a wonderous world of beautiful music. Frank Patterson, her producer, understand how to blend Sarah unique styles into a collage of beauty. From the very beginning of the cd, Sarah begins to draw you into her world. Her "Eden". From the covers of some popular artist, Hooverphonic and Kansas, to the use of opera in Puccini, Sarah shows you why she is one of the finest sopranos in music today. My personal favorites on the cd are "Lascia Ch'lo Pianga" and "Deliver Me." Also, she gives great "girl power" to "Nessun Dorma" a song made for tenors. The only curious selection on the cd is her rendition of "My Heart Will Go On" in italian. However, that is the only weak point on the entire album. The duet with Richard Marx is another very fine high point, added only to the US version of the cd.

If you are just starting out with Brightman, buy this cd first. It is a better feel of her. She shows you more of her "pop" side, but that side of her in no way takes away from her operatic appeal. "Time to Say Goodbye" should be included in your purchase of Sarah, but if you are going one at a time, get this one first. -- Jennifer French (Garland, TX United States)

Release Date: 04/20/1999

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Time to Say Goodbye

1. Time To Say Goodbye (Con Te Partiro) - Andrea Bocelli
2. No One Like You
3. Just Show Me How To Love You
4. Tu Quieres Volver
5. In Pace
6. There For Me
7. Bilitis-Generique
8. Who Wants To Live Forever
9. La Wally
10. Naturaleza Muerta
11. En Aranjuez Con Tu Amor
12. In Trutina
13. O Mio Babbino Caro
14. Alleluja

I am sick to death of the opera purists deriding Sarah Brightman and belittling her accomplishments for absolutely no justifiable reason. What's this about a small voice? The orchestra drowning her out can be attributed to poor mixing. Go see her in concert and your opinions will change.

That aside, this album stays in my CD player, I can never quite bring myself to take it out. It's got a place in my heart, and it's easy to see why. She pays tribute to Queen with her stunning rendition of "Who Wants to Live Forever." Doyle's "In Pace" is one of the most fantastic songs I've ever heard. I enjoyed "Naturaleza Muerta," "La Wally," and her rendition of the Gipsy Kings "Tu quieres volver" absolutely took my breath away.

Of course all of these songs pale in comparison to the title track, the absolutely classic duet with Andrea Bocelli. The orchestra supports their voices beautifully, each singing their own part, and at the coda, where the two voices join as one, I feel as though I've touched the stars. Very few songs have ever elicited that kind of response (always bringing on chills and tears) from me, and even fewer continue to do it after all this time.

So please folks, don't let the purists turn you away from this album. Listen to it and judge it on it's own merits. -- Donn Hart (Boston)

Release Date: 09/23/1997

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Fly

1. Time To Say Goodbye (Con Te Partiro)
2. The Fly
3. Why
4. Murder In Mairyland Park
5. How Can Heaven Love Me
6. A Question Of Honour
7. Ghost In The Machinery
8. You Take My Breath Away
9. Something In The Air
10. Heaven Is Here
11. I Loved You
12. Fly

Sarah uses her 2nd side in this album. At first, I thought this was a B-side album, but it is an album from her German label EastWest. The material differs from the '93 album "Dive". Sarah's style is much more pop rock. The album was produced sometime in '96, by Frank Peterson. The record label never released this disc in america, therefore making it an import. "Fly" starts exactly like Sarah's album "La Luna". To me, the album is like the preview of "La Luna". The entire album reminds me of Sarah's creative/fantasy world. Here is my review of the album, track by track.

"Time to say goodbye" appears as track 1. I have no idea why. Either Peterson decided to change the pace, or this was to be the preview of the song. Track 2, "The fly", is space-age. It starts with a fly buzzing too. The musical arrangements are fantastic. "Why" is very rock/pop. The songs are mostly upbeat, as with this one. The guitar solo is great. "Murder in mairyland park" is almost totally boring, except for her latin chant "agnus", repeated 4 times. Track 5, "How can heaven love me", is one of the best. She duets this track with Chris Thompson. The last minute of the song is my fav part. NOTE: Before I continue, out of 12 tracks, eleven are done à la Kate Bush.

Track 6, "A question of honor", is absolutely amazing. If anybody had to complain about Sarah being drowned out by the orchestra, singing "La Wally" in "Time to say goodbye", then eat your words. This track is haunting, breath-taking and Sarah has reserved her full opera voice for it. The orchestra and sound effects are simply outstanding. I can picture her in a huge gown, standing on a mountain top, doing this video. The high notes are to die for.

"Ghost in the machinery" is good too. There's a lot of rock/pop here. The lyrics are thrillingly haunting. "You take my breath away" is great to listen to at full volume. You can see her in another world, lost in her paradise. Her voice is soft & sweet. This track should be used for a travel tv ad. "Something in the air is vibrant, with Tom Jones' crooning powerful lungs. Simply breath-taking. "Heaven is here" is one of Sarah's toned down tracks. She's relaxed and little girl-ish. The soft tones of this song make for good wedding reception music. "I loved you" is oh so different. This is what you call Sarah-rap. The beat & style are funky, giving a bouncy, airy feeling. "Fly", the last track, is a sequel to "The fly". It's spacey, andI can picture her looking at a huge chunk of amethyst, turning in a showcase, as she's singing. She builds my imagination every time I hear the track. I love the way they loop

The over all feeling of this album give me a free feeling. There are no holds barred, when Sarah creates music. She is my #1 idol. This cd is great for collectors, for one, it is an import. 2nd, it is Sarah. -- Anthony Morelli "Woofbear" (Montreal, Canada)

Release Date: 01/10/1997

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Dive

1. Dive
2. Captain Nemo
3. The Second Element
4. Ship Of Fools
5. Once In A Lifetime
6. Cape Horn
7. A Salty Dog
8. Siren
9. Seven Seas
10. Johnny Wanna Live
11. By Now
12. Island
13. When It Rains In America
14. La Mer
15. The Second Element II

I bought this CD on a whim, having been a fan of Brightman and her clear coloratura soprano since her "Phantom" days. I loved her show tunes and arias but found it difficult to listen to them for hours -- NOT so with "Dive." Within an hour of receiving this CD, I was absolutely hooked. "Dive" is by far Brightman's best -- and most personal -- work. The entire CD paints a hypnotic portrait in colors grey, blue and green, a world seen through water -- sweet, bright, sensual, deftly layered music. Brightman gets the chance to play mermaid while showing off her pop roots (and after this I wish she'd return more often), and her sweet, clear voice and emotional delivery combine with the song-to-song flow of the album to make it a must-repeat experience. I've been playing it for a week straight and can't get enough. Every single track is a jewel, from the haunting title track, to the beautiful intricacy of "Second Element" or the sexy sensuality of "Once in a lifetime." A must for listeners to such diverse artists as Enya, Kate Bush, Enigma, or even Mike Oldfield. -- Angela D. Mitchell "Paranoid PR" (Jacksonville, FL United States)

Release Date: 04/20/1993

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Surrender

1. Surrender
2. Unexpected Song
3. Chanson D'enfance
4. Tell Me On A Sunday
5. Nothing Like You've Ever Known
6. Macavity: The Mystery Cat
7. Gus: The Theatre Cat
8. Piano (Memory-Italian Version)
9. Everything's Alright
10. The Last Man In My Life
11. Pie Jesu
12. Amigos Para Siempre
13. No Llores Por Mi Argentina (Don't Cry For Me Argentina-Spanish Version)
14. Guardami (With One Look-Italian Version)
15. There Is More To Love
16. Wishing you Were Somehow Here Again
17. The Music Of The Night

This work is better than The Andrew Lloyd Webber collection. I'll keep this review short.

Personally, I think "Surrender" is excellent. The tracks are recorded in different languages, giving Sarah's voice a whole new edge. The heavy-toned vocals are just what I like to hear. One track in mind is "Piano"(Italian version of) "Memory". Sarah uses her full range and voice. "Guardami",the sister track of "Piano", is also one of those aria type of pieces. Webber chose some interesting pieces for her to sing. There's nothing she can't do.

Those who prefer quiet, relaxed songs will like the title track "surrender". The orchestra is light. The music fits well with ballet. "Unexpected song" is great. The best is saved for the last seconds of the track. "Surrender" is unlike Sarah's other material. Look for songs from "The phantom", the original cast of "cats" and "little-known" tracks. The disc sets me to believe that it is a second version of The cd "The A.L.W. collection.

The photos inside are "behind the scenes" with Sarah& Webber. There are notes about when and why these tracks were recorded. It's nice to read about Sarah's musical background and her previous performance repertoires. Buy the cd. -- Anthony Morelli "Woofbear" (Montreal, Canada)

Release Date: 10/30/1995

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The Phantom of the Opera (Original 1986 London Cast)

Disc 1
1. Prologue (The Stage Of Paris Opera House, 1905)
2. Overture
3. Think Of Me Sarah Brightman
4. Angel Of Music
5. Little Lotte.../ The Mirror... (Angel Music)
6. The Phantom Of The Opera
7. The Music Of The Night
8. I Remember.../ Stranger Than You Dream It...
9. Magical Lasso
10. Notes.../ Prima Donna
11. Poor Fool, He Makes Me Laugh
12. Why Have You Brought Me Here
13. All I Ask Of You
14. All I Ask Of You (Reprise)

Disc 2
1. Entr'acte (Act Two - Six Months Later)
2. Masquerade / Why So Silent
3. Notes .../ Twisted Every Way
4. Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again
5. Wandering Child .../ Bravo, Monsieur
6. The Point Of No Return
7. Down Once More .../ Track Down This Murderer ...

Release Date: 02/06/2001

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Memory from Cats

by Sarah Brightman

- Diskette
Yamaha; Dsk edition (February 1, 2005)

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Sarah Brightman - Live from Las Vegas

Highly entertaining!
Before my actual review is even to begin, I feel compelled to dispel nonsense about Sarah's supposed lip-synching. She doesn't. I made a road trip when she visited the west coast and saw three of her shows consecutively. If she lip-synchs, she must record a new track every night because each show was different. These allegations come about because sometimes, her lips don't synch perfectly with the singing. You'll notice that these instances occur almost always with close-up shots. The reason for this is this: Her concerts are recorded twice. She goes through the entire show without an audience so the director can get some nice close-up shots, then she does it for real in front of a live audience. The reasoning for this method is quite simple. To get the type of close-ups desired, the camera would be parked up on a crane with a film crew surrounding it right in front of the artist. A paying audience would riot if cameramen and stagehands were right there on stage hovering around Sarah. I know this isn't what people really want to know, but the editors have done an absolutely fantastic job putting the show together in a way that is totally seamless. It really is Sarah singing live, and while the method isn't what people want (I know we all want a DVD that shows footage only from the live audience show), but it's either we get to see her up close this way or we don't. If you go to her official site's fan section, you'll see they make absolutely no secret of this fact. In fact, there are photos from the first closed-set taping, which I believe a select group of lucky fans were able to sit in on and watch happen. Her official camp is absolutely candid about this process, and those who discredit her in their reviews are just ignorant of this process. Now, on to the review...

While One Night in Eden has more undeniable charm and La Luna drew us into another world more effectively, this latest concert hallmarks a great period in Sarah Brightman's career. She pulls all the stops in this one, and the sheer scope of what she puts together is a perfect accompaniment to this point in her career: she is at the top. If you think only getting the abridged soundtrack is enough to give you a taste of the Harem experience, you're dead wrong. You'll have to see this DVD, because the audio alone cannot portray the wonderful costumes, dances, and pure theatrics Sarah brings on stage.

The costumes are sheer decadence (meaning, of course, they are luxurious and fantastic). The diva is in top form, both vocally and physically, despite her age of forty-four, which she doesn't look anything like, mind you. The show is a lighting extravaganza, with the lighting director using each and every method and trick in his arsenol to use each and every bulb to highlight Sarah's presence. Together with the entourage of dancers who dance around her, Brightman is portrayed almost as a queen straight out of 1001 Arabian Nights. This, however, is how her fans know her best. Her shows almost always showcase her as the aloof goddess hovering on stage where her fans may best worship her. Despite all this, however, she still manages to come across as a warm, personable, charismatic performer.

While this concert was a little bit more 'showy' than I prefer seeing her, it was nonetheless dazzling. Sarah does not share a stage well, though, and she's best when she's the sole object of attention. The best performances feature her in this way: Who Wants to Live Forever, La Luna, Nessun Dorma (which was amazing), What a Wonderful World (probably the most memorable performance of the concert). The dancers, however, were terrific during the interludes. (My only gripe with the dancers was the 'biker chick' number where not only the dances, but the costumes were horribly out of place during the performance of 'Arabian Nights.) Featured vocalists Violet (née Amelia Brightman, Sarah's youngest sibling), Shwetta Shetty (indipop artist who contributed vocals on the Harem album), and Eli Barak were each brilliant. Shwetta, especially, is a powerhouse talent that brought much-needed 'ooomph' to Arabian Nights and What a Wonderful World.

Harem is a wonderful ride from beginning to end. She starts off strong with Harem then ends with the ever-crowd-pleasing Question of Honour. The camera captures each song very well. There is none of the fast camera changes, funky camera tricks, and downright schizoid camera handlings we've come to know and hate from recent concert releases -- thank God. (On a side note, I really wish that trend would die.) The camera is handled reverently, respectfully, and, most of all, maturely.

Video noise is the downfall of this DVD. It was destined to be the pinnacle concert DVD, but the director chose to use film that was subpar to what we expected. Pictures are not as crisp and clear as they were on La Luna, and the video noise is worse on this DVD than it is on One Night In Eden. Strangely enough, many scenes seem to be a bit 'smokey' in color. The color is not as vibrant or clear in some scenes because of this foggy quality. The worst is during far-away shots, because you can barely make out her face due to the video noise. For this reason, La Luna still ranks #1 as being the best DVD. Sound, however, on Harem Live is lush, rich, and everything I expected it to be. You can definitely see the images, and the only reason it was distracting for me was because I was expecting something just as good (or better) than La Luna when it came to video quality. Everything does show up well and it is watchable, don't get me wrong. I just wish video quality was better, because Brightman's concerts are such a visual feast for the eyes.

The extras on the second disc include some entertaining interviews with her entourage. It also includes a photo sequence that shows various photos, and while it plays, a few remixes of Harem songs play in the background -- worth listening to if you enjoyed the Harem album! There's also a video quiz that is quite infuriating, but the prize is a password to access a prize on the official site (this offer may or may not be still available, since it was a limited time offer). I finished the quiz and got my prize from the official site which was free photos of Sarah in concert from the Harem Tour called 'The Signature Collection.' I paid for s/h, of course, but that's more than fair.

All in all, this concert is still a must-have. It is a triumphant extravaganza sure to please fans and non-fans alike. It's a spectacle, and ranks high as one of my favorite concerts. - Furiae (USA)

Release Date: 10/19/2004

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Sarah Brightman - Diva: The Video Collection

I recieved this DVD and CD from Amazon today and the DVD has been in constant rotation since I opened the package. We fans have been waiting a long time for these videos and even though it doesn't include every video Sarah has ever done, it certainly satisfied me. First of all, the cover and the inside booklet(which is similar to the one in the CD) look amazing and is very high quality. Having Sarah give commentary about every song and video is so fantastic and gives us a lot of insight about the time each video was filmed. There are quite a few funny moments. Like when Sarah tells what the director of the "Phantom of the opera" told her to get her loosened up. The story she told about the director of "How can heaven love me" and how he was swinging around in his wheel chair got me giggling. She also tells of the video that is not really her favorite (Who wants to live forever). Plus in the interviews, she changes three times and looks fantastic each time. This is one of the first times, the fans have seen her shorter hair other than in the Live Chat and in pictures and it looks beautiful.

When I saw these videos, I realised how campy Sarah can be. A lot of her earlier music videos have that kind of campy feeling to them. I guess since she is so polished now, the earlier videos show a more unpolished and Sarah. "How can heaven love me" is the perfect example of this. About that video-I think you're either going to love it or hate it but I love it. I don't know why exactly. I've always loved the song and the video does seem to fit with it. "Eden" is probably my favorite. The Eden cd is my favorite Sarah cd and so I love everything from that period. The dark feeling of the video really does go well with the song. About "Ave Maria", I don't really see the big deal about it. I thought most fans knew that the almost naked with gold on the body look was the look of the video but people seemed to be acting all surprised. Everyone interprets a song differently and the video is how Sarah chose to interpret it and if you don't like it-don't watch it. Plus the gold on the skin look that is in the video is just like the pictures in the 2001 "Classics" cd, so it's not like we haven't seen that anything like that. And of course the "Beautiful" video in the Harem Desert Fantasy DVD, has Sarah dressed in a similar fashion. Any seasoned Sarah fan knows that sometimes Sarah has a different fashion taste.

Pie Jesu-4/5 >a young Sarah freezing while a cold wind blows in Ireland

Phantom of the opera-5/5 >this is the Steve Harley version. Love the Cleopatra look

Wishing you were somehow again-5/5 >watching this video made me like the song again since after all the concert performances of it, I was getting a little tired of it

Amigos para siempre-5/5 >Sarah tells a good story about this one.

Captain Nemo-5/5 >you can tell it's an early video-it doesn't have the high-tech look of todays's videos. I've always loved this song

A question of honour-4/5 >The game kind of look kind of takes away from the song but Sarah looks lovely.

How can heaven love me-5/5 >A little out there but I like it

Time to say goodbye-5/5 >a gorgeous Sarah in this video.

Just show me how to love you-5/5 >I was familar with this one since it was included in Sarah's Classic PBS special. It was show in Paris and yet again, Sarah looks beautiful

Eden-5/5 >There's one shot of Sarah in this video when she's sitting on the throne near the beginning of the video that I find really beautiful. Again, I really love the Eden era

Who wants to live forever-4/5 >I can kind of see why this is not one of Sarah's favorites-especially in the beginning.

Deliver me-5/5>this is from Sarah's One night in Eden tour but it's not just the live performance. It gives some different angles and some footage from South Africa. I forgot how powerful this song is.

Anytime, Anywhere-5/5 >the same video from the Harem Desert fantasy DVD but without the couple in it.

Nella Fantasia-5/ >I'm not this songs biggest fan but I love the Eden shots in it. Also interspersed is some shots from the Harem videos.

Whiter shade of pale-5/5 >I've always loved this song and video. La Luna was a great period.

Ave Maria-5/5 >The controversial video. But I got what she decided to convey and I like it

Karma Sutra-4/5 I would have preferred less couple and more Sarah

Harem- 5/5 I love this video, especially the beginning when Sarah is in the stairway. The colors in it are so vibrant.

Free- 5/5 One of my all-time favorite Sarah songs and this video is a little different than the one that's on the Harem Desert fantasy DVD. It includes some different shots from the various videos on that DVD.

Starship troopers-4/5 >This video and the song is not the orginal version but the dance version with clips of the cheesy "Starship trooper" movie that came out in the 90's. But it's still fun and the remix is great.

Music of the night (taken from the Andrew Lloyd Weber's 50th birthday Celebration)-5/5>I have the other two performances featuring Sarah from this show on tape but I was missing this performance. Sarah's perfomance of Music of the night has always been fantastic and moving and this is no exception. I much prefer this to "Wishing you were somehow here again"

It doesn't matter if you're a new Sarah fan or a seasoned one-this DVD is a must for all Sarah Brightman fans. - Come what may (Illinois)

Release Date: 10/03/2006

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Amazon Price: $19.98 (as of 07/20/2008)
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Sarah Brightman - Harem Desert Fantasy

a delightful journey that's sure to enchant you!
I was already a huge aficionado of Sarah Brightman's work and knew I'd eventually come around to buying this DVD but seeing her in concert just a few weeks ago is what truly inspired this purchase. When you catch her live it's really important to have up-close seats, if you can get them, and I was fortunate to be near enough to the stage to see the wonderful set as well as the goddess in action. She put on a phenomenal show and, as always, looked and sounded like an angel.

It's rare for an artist to do this but "Harem: A Desert Fantasy" features 12 videos filmed around Morocco and Egypt. The track listing says 13 songs but "Nessun Dorma" was actually taken from a live performance she did, which can be found on her "La Luna" DVD, seemingly a bit out of place.

From the outfits to the settings to the sites and props used, every video is a dazzling feast for the eyes but a few stood out in particular with me. "Harem" is understandably a very energetic video because of the lively Middle Eastern beats and soaring strings that make me want to jump in and join them in dance for the song is so infectious! In "Beautiful" Sarah is scantly clad as she lay upon a bed of roses as the vibrant petals descend like softly falling rain. I also love the part where she's surrounded by a wall of licking flames... "Un Bel Di" is prob