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6 of 6 found the following review helpful:
 Surprisingly Fine Crossover from Fleming and Terfel Apr 18, 2006
By NMdesapio
Bryn Terfel and Renee Fleming are two of the most acclaimed opera singers of our day. But the musical theatre fan who puts on their Broadway CD, RENEE AND BRYN: UNDER THE STARS, expecting to hear a carelessly compiled hodgepodge of songs sung by voices ill-suited to them is in for a big surprise, beginning with the first phrases of the duo's warmly sung "Not While I'm Around" from SWEENEY TODD. True, these singers' beautiful voices have greater power and range than even the best of the Broadway stars', but this is an asset in these songs, most of which are either semi-operatic in nature or call (like THE MUSIC MAN's "Seventy-Six Trombones") for such an outsize personality as Terfel's. Fleming's sensuous and tonally gorgeous rendition of "Moonfall" from THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD can be placed among her very finest recordings, operatic and otherwise. And Terfel is ideally suited to both "Pretty Women" from SWEENEY TODD and "Stars" from LES MISERABLES; few if any Broadway Javerts could match the impact of his "This I swear by the stars!" Kander and Ebb's "I Don't Remember You" and "Sometimes a Day Goes By" make a perfect medley here, as do Sondheim's "I Wish I Could Forget You" and "Loving You" from PASSION. And though I don't care for the Andrew Lloyd Webber selections (ersatz Puccini) or the Jason Robert Brown one (which sounds too much like a pop song), Terfel and Fleming's singing of them is beyond reproach. The program ends with a bang: a rendition of "Wheels of a Dream" worthy to stand beside the now-classic one by Brian Stokes Mitchell and Audra McDonald on the original cast album of RAGTIME. Welshman Terfel's natural accent is noticeable here; but if one imagines him as, say, an Irish immigrant married to an African-American woman (as Fleming here sounds uncannily like McDonald or like Leontyne Price) his accent is appropriate and his voicing of the "bridge" section ("Oh Sarah, it's more than promises/Sarah, it must be true...") especially moving. Fleming's ecstatic final high note makes one want to applaud and cheer, both for the song and for the successful "crossover" effort.
8 of 9 found the following review helpful:
Incredibly beautiful May 27, 2004
By Annabelle Legarski
Broadway Musicals are a secret passion of mine. And with Renee Fleming and Bryn Terfel we get a luxury cast for these hits. Terfel would be an amazing Javert if he ever chose to have a career as a musical-singer. (Not likely to happen) Fleming sounds beautiful as Christine but my fave is the duet from "The secret garden", a unison of two of the most exquisite voices ever recorded.
8 of 9 found the following review helpful:
How I heard it Apr 04, 2003
I was in Virgin Records in Times Square last night. In the classical department. They had this CD on one of the preview stands; you know, where you push a button and listen to one or more tracks from new releases on headphones. I picked up a set of headphones out of curiousity and punched a track number. I know these tunes. I know these voices (from opera recordings). But the combination is really something to listen to. Terfel is perfect. His diction and intonation are exemplary. Fleming is close to perfect. While she doesn't seem quite as comfortable as Terfel with the genre, her range is incredible. The vast majority of the singing on the disc is in the octave just above middle C, which is really low for a soprano who just released an album of bel canto arias. But she makes it work.The arrangements might be considered schlock, but hey, it's broadway, not opera. Needless to say, I bought the recording. Highly recommended.
5 of 5 found the following review helpful:
Under the stars Apr 15, 2004
By Emma de Soleil
"I moved to the UK for another year! YAY!"
This is crossover how I like it. After hearing Fleming's really not good "Somewhere" I worried about this recording but her Christine and Fosca (Passion) swept all my doubts and fears away. Luscious, creamy with perfect diction and much involvement! WOW! Terfel sounds magnificent as Raoul!! If you love those two or if you're just a Musicalfan, this is the one to buy!
10 of 12 found the following review helpful:
BREATHTAKING VOCAL MAGNIFICENCE~BRAVO!!! Oct 11, 2004
By Bradly Briggs
So captivating are these incredible singers in the glorious live concert "Under The Stars" creating an unforgettable musical masterpiece of epic proportions that is so moving and great to watch that I ran out and purchased this studio recorded Compact Disc the next day!! The brilliance of the live broadcast carried over into the recording studio capturing Renee and Bryn at the peak of their incredible powers emotionally and vocally making them the most effective crossover artists since the great Barbara Cook who like Miss Cook sing with emotion that is accurate for this type of material which is usually not the case with classical voices. Renee Fleming sings with genuine passion and stirring emotions and her timing is absolutely flawless and this lady has alot of soul and the Torrie Zito arranged "Moonfall" is a stunning masterpiece that clearly illustrates this. A dazzling medley each show both singers in glorious peak form with Bryn splendid in the enchanting "I Don't Remember You/Sometimes A Day Goes By" and Renee spellbinding and haunting in the gorgeous "I Wish I Could Forget You/Loving You" which will make anyone who loves a great voice fall in love with this amazingly gifted singer. "Stars" features a commanding performance from Bryn that raises the roof and this is so refreshing and inspired in these musically tired times!!! This superb showcase is full of wonderfully exciting performances which are capable of making people feel again and this is what is sorely needed in music today and BRAVO to Bryn Terfel and the gorgeous Renee Fleming for achieving this with complete artistic brilliance. Captivating duets fill this wonderous collection and never have classics such as "Not While I'm Around" or "All I Ask Of You" been sung more brilliantly than here. Renee is magical with "Hello, Young Lovers" while Bryn is commanding and winning with "Pretty Women". Renee's stunning "All The Wasted Time" is a vocal and emotional tour-de-force that is like a wild roller-coaster ride that you won't want to end as this is one of the most riveting songs that I have ever heard from a Broadway score and this certainly must be the definitive performance of this great song. This lady can really really sing and this is some deeply serious singing~WOW!!! Gorgeous together again in the beautiful "How Could I Ever Know" which is hair-raising and wonderfully soulful and sophisicated together in Cole Porter's "So In Love". A grand finale by these two awesome vocal wonders lives up to expectations being a complete blowout vocal festival and they definitely do not disappoint here!!! "Wheels Of A Dream" is mesmerizing and soars to magnificent heights with Bryn and Renee in peak form singing to the skies and hitting notes that I swear I have never heard before~BRAVO!!!!!!! You are both magically inspired and simply put as good as it gets!!!! Highly recommended if you love two awesome vocal wonders at their absolute peak in a magnificent beautifully orchestrated setting!!! Thank you Bryn & Renee...
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