Healthy Living Books Music

Rating: - Best of Bryn (original version)

There are two versions of this album, this single disc release and a `special edition' 2CD set.

It makes a change to hear a collection of familiar music sung by a baritone rather than the more popular tenor and Bryn fans should be pleased with the selection of music, it's a good range of styles, with the emphasis on classical and opera excerpts plus a few traditional folk style songs. Bryn's voice works well on the opera favourites like Bizet's Toreador song (lots of rolling r's here) and sounds good with Andrea Bocelli on The Pearl Fishers duet `Au Fond du temple saint'. The folk songs and traditional like `Swing Low, Sweet Chariot' and `Danny Boy' are well suited to the deep baritone voice, and the `Ave Maria' duet with Sissel is an unusual pairing which I really think works well.

One choice I think doesn't work, simply because the music is more suited to a female voice, is James Horner's `Titanic' film theme and just doesn't come close to the emotional Celine Dion version. `The Lord is my Shepherd' is a version of the popular hymn and `Goin' Home' is a nice transcription of Dvorak's symphony No. 9.

Harpist Catrin Finch plays on `Bugeilio'r Gwenith Gwyn' and the London Symphony Orchestra provide the orchestral backing.

I would probably recommend the 2 disc version of this album for its lovely rendition of the Christmas carol `Oh, Come all ye Faithfull' plus a few other pleasant traditional folk songs included on the bonus CD.

The sleeve notes provide a few notes on the tracks plus lyrics where needed. As an introduction or a `best of' Bryn Terfel this is a good choice.

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Rating: - Wonderful singer and lovly music
i was really sad when my grandad past away and this album was bought by my grandad and couple of the songs on this album was played and it made me and my nan thing of the good times and the bad times weve had and my grandad is home grow from pontyprith in wales and when we had the funeral the songs played was Goin' Home, Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, danny boy, Home Sweet Home and all these song have a huge effect on me and my family the reason we choose these songs they all had a meaning for our dearly beloved grandad husband and dad and great grandad truly missed willam john hibbert thanks bryn your songs hold alot of memorys for me and my family thanks again

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Rating: - Wonderful singer - Bryn
Why have I decided to write a review of this CD? Well, I have found such happiness and peace listening to this music, I wanted to let anyone out there know it is a wonderful CD.
The song "The Lord is my Shepherd" on this CD is a lovely version, with a great choir singing in the background. Sometimes this makes me cry, sometimes it raises me up - I would recommend anyone who has not heard this, to give it a go - it is so uplifting and joyous. Bryn is a fabulous singer, he puts real feeling into his songs! Good man!

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Rating: - The Welsh Hills Are Alive
Bryn Terfel, what a fantastic pair of lungs this grand Welshman has and I'm a relatively new fan, as I only discovered Bryn's booming timbre a couple of years ago. He sings with great passion, very "POWERFUL" delivery but also can be extremely gentle.
This is how a baritone should sound and I'm not all surpised to see Wales has again produced a singing son to be proud of.
I enjoyed all the tracks on this particular CD and feel Bryn Terfel is comfortable singing in many different meduims from Verdi to Show stoppers. A classic voice and a welcome addition to my collection of CD's.

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Rating: - Bryn Rocks!!!!
As a die hard classical fan i feel this album is a real compliment to Bryn. His heavenly voice mixed with such beautiful composistions is a must have album for christmas to relax you around the busy festive season. And as usual he is giving credit to the composers with his great talent. I highly recommend this album to any classical lovers such as myself