Katherine Jenkins

This is the BEST Christmas collection that I have ever heard. I would like
to purchase 15 more to give as gifts this year; however, it appears that
Decca is out of stock or no longer releasing it. HELP!!

this was one of the best assortment of classical holiday songs that i have ever heard. it contains a marvelous array of the best composers and performers that the world has to offer. if you are a fan of classical music, i think this cd will be a positive addition to your music collection

Beautiful Adagios and a rich selection for the price. Audio travels to Vienna, London, Cambridge etc

What a delightful surprise this 2 disc album was and I'm not a big fan of Christmas music. I loved all the selections and felt they were well performed. This is a true "must have" for any Christmas collection. Superior to many other compliations on the market. This one is a keeper! It is the one album I'll pick first to listen to after Thanksgiving.

Great CD. The reviewer who calls him/herself POCOCAT says he/she is an opera singer. Wonder how much work an uninformed singer gets?
A "fast spinning" vibrato,as you describe Ms. Price, is not the same as a wide vibrato. The former is a speed issue, the latter a width issue. Therefore, 4 variables exist: fast, slow, wide, slim. Thus, 4 types of voice exist: fast/wide, fast/slim, slow/wide, and slow/slim. Most often a singer leans toward fast/slim or slow/wide, in varying degrees. A matter of taste, yes, but learn more about the voice before you expound.

I first heard of this cd when I heard the glorious El Rorro on a mix of christmas music which I got with a copy of a magazine called Classic CD. I looked everywhere for the cd but had trouble finding it anywhere and even heard from one record store that the cd had been deleted. I checked here on Amazon and saw that it was only available used for $32.50. I seriously considered buying it even for that price.

I was therefore ecstatic when I found it on iTunes for $11.99 and instantly purchased it online. You can find it there, not under the US title but the original UK title which is Once as I Remember. For those who enjoy old English choral music, then this cd can become one of those you will have to listen to every christmas. This is one of mine.

I originally bought this CD merely because it was on sale from a record club. I had no idea at the time how astonishingly good it was. It has quickly become perhaps my favorite albumn of Christmas music, and in fact it is one of the CDs that gives me most pleasure throughout the year. The range of selections is incredibly broad and extremely tasteful. The songs are alternately joyous, rousing, subtle, and very moving, and the perfomances are superb. It would be wonderful if this CD were reissued in an inexpensive format; I would love to be able to give this as a gift to many friends. I particularly recommend selections 5, 22, 23, and 27. The last two of these, especially, deserve to be much better known and more widely performed than is presently the case.

John Elliot Gardiner has brought us a great deal of wonderful music and has been a leader in what used to be called early music performance practice (nowadays it is just the way the music is performed). Apparently, he came from a well to do family and for some period of time they had their own Christmas pageant that told the story of the Nativity with a mix of various musical numbers that ranged the ancient to the relatively modern.

This is a terrific album all on its own, but it may spark some ideas for your own Christmas celebrations and introduce you to some new pieces new approaches for the Holiday. The music is all excellently performed, I suspect far more professionally than when he was a child, but we always idealize our fond memories don't we?

The disk comes with all the texts for the pieces along with his explanation of how the pageant worked along with the spoken parts (not included on the disk) and that is a nice touch. If you wanted, you could simply use the disk for the musical portions and take turns in your family of just reading the spoken parts. Just a though.

Enjoy!

This recording is a personal memoir of John Eliot Gardiner's childhood. His family put on an annual Christmas pageant involving a large cast of family, friends, neighbors, etc. The selections on this CD are the selections that were used for the pageant, plus a few of Mr. Gardiner's new favorites added as well. (The readings that were part of the pageant are included on the liner notes.)

On my first listen to this recording the music was beautiful, but it seemed like an ad hoc collection. The cause for this seemed to be the variety of fairly diverse styles from one selection to the next. There are high Renaissance pieces, contemporary pieces, traditional carols, some Medieval selections, and a few other odds and ends. Most of the works are a cappella, but some are accompanied. All are executed with the flawlessness of the Monteverdi Choir. But the album didn't seem to have a flow or direction.

Then I read the readings that went between the selections as well as the liner notes about the pageant. Ever since then the CD "clicked." The flow of the selections made wonderful sense.

If you by this CD I suggest you read the liner notes first and the readings in the order they are intended. At least for me it made the CD a complete work of art.

This CD is a glimpse into what "made" the conductor John Eliot Gardiner. It is also a universal statement of Christmas.

The Monteverdi choir sounds very well and all the melodies are sweet. Listen the third theme or ONCE AS I REMEMBER.

I will admit that when I first saw the track listing for this CD, I felt disappointed. "Come on!" I thought, "Katherine should be more original than this! Practically every soprano records `O Mio Babbino Caro' at one point or another, and here are two common songs from the classical crossover genre, `Nella Fantasia' and `The Prayer'. Should I even invest in something that will only be a re-hash of things I have already heard many times?" In the end however, I decided that even with the unimaginative song selections, I would buy this CD.

I am very glad I did! There are so many gems here that I now consider this Katherine's best album. Surprisingly, "Nella Fantasia" instantly became a favorite of mine. Her rich, warm tones really brought this song to life in a way I had never heard before. It could have been written for her! Ultimately, I concluded that she did justice to every single track, from the rousing gypsy dance ("Chanson Boheme") to the beautiful hymn, "Dear Lord and Father of Mankind." I would not have left out a single one, not even "O Mio Babbino Caro" (which I still think is sung too often.)

One thing people seem to be arguing about is what genre Katherine belongs to. With arias like "One Fine Day" in her repertoire, she can hardly be called a pop singer, but seeing that she has never actually performed in an opera, she can't rightly be called a legitimate opera singer, either. Instead, she is a part of a growing community of what we call "Classical Crossover" singers. Some people like this, some people don't. I just accept her for who she is - a classically trained recording artist who consistently produces wonderful music.

katherine jenkins is not an opera singer but a pop singer who for some reason has made it big here in the uk. if you want to listen to a real mezzo please try janet baker.

Que maravilloso y precioso ejemplo de como una pieza grandiosa debe ser cantada!!; nunca me cansare de escuchar a la Diva jenkins, sus discos son la mas excquisita musica que pueda escucharse, y le transportan a uno a lugares etereos y magicos; GRANADA es mi cancion favorita del cd (que soberbio comienzo, que entonaciones mas bellas, que grandiosa interpretacion), joyas musicales como CHANSON BOHEME, IL CANTO, el AVE MARIA de Bach, las lindas entonaciones de PACHELBEL'S CANON y la solemnidad de BE MY LOVE; en conjunto, uno de los mas bellos discos clasicos que se tienen hoy en dia... y que nunca pasara de moda.

Well done Katherine!This fine voice of Katherines is reaching maturation,paticularly for her age.When this voice reaches maturity I predict she will be one of the top Divas.Her repertoire on "Serenade"will hopefully appeal to younger followers and give some of the popular opera's more exposure to a younger generation of listeners!
We look forward to the release your next CD and a tour of New Zealand soon

Thank you Katherine. What a beautiful voice. We have bought all of Katherine's CD's now and look forward to the next one. Only wish I was in London in the next couple of days to see her perform live. Hurry on back to New Zealand!

katherine jenkins is not an opera singer but a pop singer who for some reason has made it big here in the uk. if you want to listen to a real mezzo please try janet baker.

Una de las mas maravillosas voces que he escuchado en toda mi vida, este es uno de esos albumes que nunca se olvidan y le llegan a uno al fondo del corazon; Katherine le ha dado un nuevo lugar en el mundo a la musica clasica; temas magnificos como el NESSUM DORMA, grandes baladas como OVER THE RAINBOW, ALL THINGS ARE BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL o AMAZING GRACE, la tonada clasica italiana TORNA SURRIENTO (una excelente competidora de la version de Elvis Presley "Surrender"), en resumen, una preciosa coleccion de bellas melodias de ayer y hoy en una voz que pareciera venir de los ángeles; imprescindible para todo amante de lo clásico y las melodias romanticas.

What a beautiful voice! I enjoyed the selection of traditional and contemporary songs, particularly "Do Not Stand At My Grave and Weep", which I had not heard sung before.

This album is really spectacular. I've read some reviews of Katherine Jenkins that are less than complimentary, and I don't get it. What's not to like? Her voice is truly beautiful, rich and powerful. True, many of the songs on her albums cannot be called operatic, but that makes them no less valuable. I think "popera" is a legitimate style of music, and if it gets more people to appreciate some of the classics, what's wrong with that?
If you enjoy a beautiful soprano voice, like opera or broadway music, and are not confined to a narrow mindset, you'll enjoy this album.

There is just one thing to say about this album:

Katherine Jenkins' voice is fantastic, and onoe of the tracks are better than the first one.

She will have a great future as an artist.

katherine jenkins is not an opera singer but a pop singer who for some reason has made it big here in the uk. if you want to listen to a real mezzo please try janet baker.

Katherine has a very beautiful soprano voice, but it lacks what Callas had. Those of you who appreciates Callas will know what I mean.

This is a beautiful album with popular and operatic favourites. The standout track is the Flower duet from Lakme, where Katherine is joined by Dame Kiri te Kanawa, who sounds amazing at 64 years of age!

I first heard Katarine Jenkins voice on an airplane audio system enroute to Africa in May. I was mesmerized with the beauty of her sound. When in Africa, I met several couples from the UK and asked them if they knew of his British singer named Katarine Jenkins.....to which all responded in the affirmative and told me how popular she was there. A Scot pointed out that she was Welsh. Well, I ordered her CD from Amazon immediately on my return to the US and have been delighted to be able to listen to her daily in my automobile.....a wonderful range, clear, crisp, lilting voice. The songs she sings in Rejoice are wide-ranging - show tunes to neo-classical. She is magnificent.

katherine jenkins is not an opera singer but a pop singer who for some reason has made it big here in the uk. if you want to listen to a real mezzo please try janet baker.

La quinta y maravillosa entrega de la Diva Jenkins, es un album que contiene mas melodias pop pero sin perder el enfoque clasico tan caracteristico de ella; desde piezas que nos recuerdan Broadway como la dulce SECRET LOVE (mi favorita del cd) y la monumental SOMEWHERE, la solemne REJOICE, una version muy hermosa de la cancion de Seal KISS FROM A ROSE, baladas tiernas como LE COSE CHE SEI PER ME hasta culminar con la monumentalmente encantadora VIVA TONIGHT; un gran disco de una gran cantante que nunca me ha dejado de cautivar.

This album is one of the best from 2004. Katherine Jenkins is a great new talent! Her voice is warm and beautiful. She'd make a perfect Carmen. Time to say goodbye is gorgeous and she sings my favourite carol, O holy night really beautifully! Katherine Jenkins is a lovely, warm hearted girl and you can hear that warmth in her voice. She sings the best Arenjuaz and Caruso! Song to the moon is hauntingly beautiful and her voice totally shines on it!

Go to a local music store and listen to this album and you will buy it. I am sorry that Amazon dosen't have samples here.

I must say this is by far my favorite album. She has improved her vocal skills from her first album to this album. Katherine Jenkins definitely impressed me with her singing of Seguidilla, she sings with an exquisite technique. I have the "LA Diva" album and I had to get this release because of the added tracks of Vide Cor Meum, Barcarolle, and O Holy Night!

I find Second Nature to be a better CD from Kathrine then her frist.Songs on this one are better and show off her voice more then her first Cd.My fave song's on this Cd are Time To Say Goodbye,House of No Regrets,En Aranjuez con tu amor,Song to the Moon,Calon Lan,Hymn to the Fallen, O Holy Night,You'll Never Walk Alone.

THIS IS HER BEST ALBUM SO FAR AND A MUST HAVE. HER VOICE IS ABSOLUTELY LOVELY. I LIKED HER ALBUM PREMIERE VERY MUCH, BUT THIS ONE IS EVEN BETTER AS THE CHOICE OF SONGS IS EXCELLENT. HER PERFORMANCE OF HOUSE OF NO REGRETS, CALON LAN, LAUDATE DOMINUM, O HOLY NIGHT AND YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE IS GREAT AND NOT TO BE MISSED.

katherine jenkins is not an opera singer but a pop singer who for some reason has made it big here in the uk. if you want to listen to a real mezzo please try janet baker.

I kept passing a poster on the Metro, showing "Katherine Jenkins, opera singer" pushing Rolex, on my way to work. I decided to find out just where and in what productions did she ever sing live, unamplified opera- apparently, not in this galaxy. How about this album?
All I can say is: the ample talents of this young lady are on full display on the cover of the album, but what is most impressive, apart from the "operatic" song selection that puts Philly Cream Cheese to shame, is that wonderfully developed, distinctive wobble in her voice. Fully trained opera singers often work years, decades actually, to develop such a mighty wobble; as a matter of fact, they often don't achieve it until they are well into their eighties. Thus, I gather, Ms Jenkins' claims to being a diva and an opera singer.
Of course, it could be that Miss Katherine is simply channeling her namesake, the legendary Florence Foster Jenkins (hear the The Glory (????) of the Human Voice for yourself). In that case, she is getting there, slowly, one fuzzy note at a time. She seems to have a nice smile and, given the success of her albums, plenty of money, so it's doable. Good luck!

Si los dioses tuvieran el deseo de cantar sin duda utilizarian una voz como la de Katherine; que disco tan maravilloso y exquisito; uno de los mejores discos clasicos que he escuchado, piezas tan grandiosas como TIME TO SAY GOODBYE (mi favorita del disco), desde excelentes valses como VA PENSIERO (soberbia) y SEGUEDILLA (me transpota a la epoca de los elfos), preciosas baladas como la trascendental EN ARANJUEZ CON TU AMOR (la mas preciosa del disco), la melancolica CARUSO y la tradicional y encantadora O SOLE MIO (la cual Elvis Presley grabara con el nombre IT'S NOW OR NEVER en los 60's, pero la version de Katherine es una muy digna competidora); impresionantemente solemne es HYMN TO THE FALLEN (dedicada a los soldados que dieron su vida en la segunda guerra mundial), brillantes himnos sacros como LAUDATE DOMINUM, muy bonitas melodias suaves en ingles como HOUSE OF NO REGRETS, SONG TO THE MOON (recuerda mucho a Enya) y CALON LAN (puro clasisismo barroco) y para cerrar con broche de oro la popularisima YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE (de la cual Ray conniff hizo una magnifica version en los 60's) que en la voz de Kathy es sencillamente gloriosa; una maravillosa e impactante orquestacion, destacando los conocimientos que la diva tiene del italiano, español e Inglés; un disco IDEAL para todo amante de la musica clasica y una forma excelente en que se pueden iniciar los principiantes de este género.

I brought your ablums and I listen to them all over again, I love your voice so beautiful charming,and alot of people havent heard of you and dont like you, your a beautiful girl katherine jenkins, and I am sure you are best friends with charlotte church,the rock singer,I hope if you hear about church going back to opera, you might go back with her to do an ablumn,but you have got much more class because I know she went into a alot of bad stuff,but it would be good to meet you, because your voice is just abolsetly beautful,i wish that you could see the pope because he is a wonderful man, thankyou.

I paid for this item but never received it! A month and a half later I'm still waiting! Can anyone help?