Sarah Brightman
Symphony

That Sarah Brightman had one of the most beautiful and delicate voices in the entire music scene (particularly in the pop-new age one) was well known; after participating in soundtracks such as "The Phantom of the Opera" and after releasing several albums (including the beautiful "Harem" and the acclaimed "La Luna"), our artist releases "Symphony", published in February 2008.

Without dwelling too much on Sarah's history and her countless participations (let's remember the chemistry created between her and Andrea Bocelli), let's start discussing the subject of this review.

The CD begins with the intro "Gothica" and for a minute and a half the music takes the lead; first sweet and weak, then more resolute, to then give way to the first real track, "Fleurs Du Mal" (trans. the flowers of evil, taken from the namesake work by Charles Baudelaire, the cursed poet). Gothica, Fleurs du mal... immediately bring to mind gothic cathedrals, times long past, images also suggested by the cover (much more "dark" than previous ones). And indeed, the song begins with a powerful riff that harks back to that gothic rock so in vogue right now. The chorus sticks in the listener's mind so quickly that it's almost impossible not to be tempted to listen to "Fleurs du Mal" for the rest of the day (the choir in the chorus certainly helps).

It continues with the title track, a sweet ballad based on a very delicate melody and accompanied by Sarah's voice, but it pales a bit in front of the next song, "Canto della terra"; yes, you read that correctly, a song in Italian! Strange? Not at all, she even sang with Bocelli Time to say goodbye (con te partirò) and several other songs! Coming back to us, this is definitely one of the strengths of the CD: and finally, our artist makes her vocal power in the lyrical field very visible (or perhaps better audible?). And so the chorus carves out a space in the listener's heart. The following "Sanvean" is slow and atmospheric, and although Sarah is in stunning form, it perhaps remains the weak point of the album.

With "I will be with you (where the lost ones go)" the British singer duets with the former Kiss singer, Paul Stanley, and for a moment our mind can recharge with a more "pop" and less new age-ambient song (like Sanvean); this song remains very pleasant and beautiful.

 We restart with "Schwere Traume" which adds little or nothing to Brightman's musical background in the ambient pop stream. Nothing particularly brilliant, therefore.

Another duet in Italian with Alessandro Safina is "Sarai qui", another gem where Sarah delights us with an incredible voice, on the verge of lyrical.  And it's not over! Again in Italian is the following "Storia d'amore", which travels on ambient shores and is played on the dreamy atmosphere and obviously on our artist's very delicate voice.

"Let it rain" is a small pop gem reminiscent of Captain Nemo from Dive; sweet, dreamy, slightly melancholic; a must listen. With "Attesa" the highest level of the CD in terms of lyrical singing is reached: it's incredible how Sarah managed to make this song so sweet. And between one high note and another, we reach the only song sung in Spanish on the album where our artist duets with Fernando Lima: this "Pasion" personally did not convinced me as much as "Canto della terra" or "Sarai qui", but remains a pleasant moment of the CD.  

And here we arrive at the closing track, the monumental "Running"; over 6 minutes of high notes, rhythm, and melody that leaves no escape: and it is precisely with the last song that Sarah gives her best in live performances. Rhythm, rhythm, and more rhythm (and melody) are the main ingredients of the track; and a minute after the song ends, here comes the final instrumental-orchestral piece of the CD, Brightman's farewell in closing a new album destined to climb charts and position itself among the most appreciated CDs of the beautiful British artist.

Little post scriptum, I rate the CD with the highest marks. And I recommend to anyone wanting to deepen their knowledge of Sarah Brightman the songs Running, Fleurs du mal, and Canto della terra.

Also noteworthy are the incredible concerts held by our artist, often in gothic cathedrals, often in ice palaces accompanied by choreography by ice skaters.