Charlotte Church - Dream a Dream
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Free Music Notes for Dream a Dream
Free Music Review: Quality operatic Christmas album
Hit: 5 Stars
I rarely listen to operatic music but there's no doubt about the quality of this album, mainly filled with carols. All the carols are well known in Britain but only some are famous in America so American listeners will get a chance to hear songs they are unfamiliar with.
Note that the UK edition of this album (which I have) includes First Noel, omitted from the American version. The two versions also have different cover artwork. The title track, not really a Christmas song, is one of two duets that Charlotte recorded with Billy Gilman - the other (Sleigh ride) can be found on Billy's Christmas album. Except for Winter wonderland and Christmas song, the rest of the songs focus on the religious aspect of Christmas.
All over the world, people will recognize classics such as O come all ye faithful, Little drummer boy, Mary's boy child, Hark the herald angels sing, Joy to the world, What child is this, God rest ye merry gentlemen, Ave Maria, O holy night and Silent night. Of the remaining songs, several American singers have recorded When a child is born - these include Johnny Mathis (who had a UK number one hit with it), Kenny Rogers and Judy Collins, but the song is not especially well known in America.
Charlotte is in fine voice throughout, supported by excellent orchestral backing. While this is not typical of the various styles of music I normally listen to, I can appreciate the sheer quality of this album and it's always good to have something different to listen to, especially at Christmas.
Free Music Review: O Hear the Angel Voices
Hit: 5 Stars
It's in the a cappella opening stanza to "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" that Charlotte's new album gets especially interesting. Your attention focuses, knowing you'll be able to hear Charlotte's voice straight-up, without a competing orchestra or chorus. What has that fascinating angel's voice become? But there's a distinctly different quality in this new voice, something clearly deliberate. A smoky accent perhaps -- appealing, not affected.Each song from this point has very special qualities: Charlotte's rich Welsh in "Draw Tua Bethlehem", her operatic depth of voice in "Ave Maria", the Renaissance taste of "Gabriel's Message" ... "most highly favor'd lady" ... where the smoky voice has returned.
Charlotte has developed a palette of different voices, all powerful, and draws from them to suit the spirit of the song.
"Dream a Dream" climbs to an emotional apex with Charlotte's awesome performance of "O Holy Night". Now, Charlotte's voice has become resonant, transparent beyond words. I can't imagine the thoughts in the minds of those present at the conclusion of the actual recording.
This album is an unequaled performance. And it would also be undescribable, were it not that it contains its own review:
"Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices."
Indeed.
Free Music Review: Charlotte triumphs!
Hit: 5 Stars
I am going to take the other nine Christmas CD's that I have in my collection, pack them up and send them to my favorite charity. Then I am going to put this offering by Charlotte Church into my disk changer...and leave it there."dream a dream", the third offering by the remarkable Charlotte Church is an absolutely luminous collection of well-known (and not so well-known) carols and songs. But beyond being just another Christmas CD, this one just happens to be performed by what some people believe is the most beautiful voice in the world today.
My favorite track on the CD (so far) is "Draw Tua Bethlehem", sung in Welsh and English and showcasing the remarkable growth her voice has undergone in power and color in the past two years. However, Charlotte is now able to employ a wide variety of vocal styles, ranging from the angelic "When a Child is Born", to the triumphant climax of songs like "Joy to the World". She also performs a truly astonishing rendition of "Ding Dong Merrily On High", and a touching version of "Gabriel's Message" - with only a harp as backup.
"dream a dream" is by far the best work Charlotte has recorded so far. If you buy one Christmas CD in the next ten years, this should be the one. Thank you, Charlotte!
Free Music Review: Powerful stuff
Hit: 5 Stars
Let's be real. Dream a Dream has sold over 2 million copies. On this site there is just a tiny sampling of all possible reviews. The ones you see here, both good and bad, are for the most part posted by highly opinionated people who want their views listened to.So that leaves us with the vast majority of people who bought "Dream a Dream." Who speaks for them? If I may be so bold, I will try.
This album is a work of genius. Charlotte has a voice that no other singer can come close to. Her surpassingly pure sounding of the word "hear" (the angels' voices) from "O Holy Night" ranks up there with the most beautiful sounds any human voice has ever produced.
People are basically blown away by this album. Sopranos have a tough time winning fans because all that high-pitched singing becomes tiresome to most listeners, yet somehow Charlotte escapes that problem. She serves up what must be the only soprano voice that actually relaxes instead of agitates. That alone is a major development in music history.
Buy this album and join the club of people who revere this young woman as having the most perfect voice on the planet.
Free Music Review: Charlotte Church reigns supreme!
Hit: 5 Stars
Don't believe a word of what any voice students tell you about "Dream a Dream." For them not to mention the transcendent "Draw Tua Bethlehem" or the beyond brilliant "Gabriel's Message" is proof enough they haven't actually listened to this album and are sending in uninformed, totally bogus reviews like the Charlotte-obsessed Rosemary has below. Charlotte's voice is healthy and strong as her concerts have amply demonstrated. This album is by far her best work but equally by far not the best she will ultimately accomplish. It's a voice that gets better by the hour and has better coaching than anyone else in the world. If anyone who thinks they know a lot about soprano voices still has trouble with her training and career after truly listening to this album, I suggest they seek counseling as soon as possible. This is an album that will guarantee Charlotte a favored place in music history, much like Sgt. Pepper did for the Beatles.