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More from Sarah Brightman

Classics	Diva: The Singles Collection	Eden
Diva: The Video Collection	Live from Las Vegas	La Luna (Live in Concert)

That aside, this album stays in my CD player, I can never quite bring myself to take it out. It's got a place in my heart, and it's easy to see why. She pays tribute to Queen with her stunning rendition of "Who Wants to Live Forever." Doyle's "In Pace" is one of the most fantastic songs I've ever heard. I enjoyed "Naturaleza Muerta," "La Wally," and her rendition of the Gipsy Kings "Tu quieres volver" absolutely took my breath away.

Of course all of these songs pale in comparison to the title track, the absolutely classic duet with Andrea Bocelli. The orchestra supports their voices beautifully, each singing their own part, and at the coda, where the two voices join as one, I feel as though I've touched the stars. Very few songs have ever elicited that kind of response (always bringing on chills and tears) from me, and even fewer continue to do it after all this time.

So please folks, don't let the purists turn you away from this album. Listen to it and judge it on it's own merits.


Lovely....but there's more out there than this   June 30, 1999
 166 out of 198 found this review helpful

Sarah Brightman has a beautiful, clear soprano voice. For the most part, she sings with graceful ease and a sweet purity of tone. Her legato line is marred at times, unfortunately, by an unmannerly habit of scooping into high notes.

Some of the selections are just too heavy for her light lyric voice. Catalani's aria from "La Wally" is a good example. This pieces calls for a much bigger voice and loses its pathos when sung by a voice like Ms. Brightman's.

Brightman shows a nice penchant for coloratura singing in the Mozart "Alleluia." She is dreamy and heartrending in less operatic selections like "Who Wants to Live Forever?"

I think that the unfortunate problem with Brightman is that people don't realize that she is not the only light soprano out there with an angelic voice. Give the following a try:

Natalie Dessay: "Vocalises"

Ruth Ann Swenson: "i carry your heart"

Dawn Upshaw: "I Wish it So"

Heidi Grant Murphy: "Twilight and Innocence"

Kathleen Battle: "So Many Stars"

These sopranos possess voices that are in a similar category to Ms. Brightman's. Please give them a try. You will not be disappointed.


Best CD I've ever bought   August 17, 1999
 25 out of 26 found this review helpful

I've listened to this CD every day since I bought it about 2 months ago! It is so beautiful, particularly "No one like you" and "Tu Quieres Volver". It is so relaxing to listen to. As for the critics who snobbishly talk about her "small" voice and less than perfect opera technique, I find Ms. Brightman's silvery voice incredibly refreshing to listen to after hearing all those screeching divas out there! I hope she puts out more operatic CD's in the future. I would also love to have a CD of duets with Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli. This CD is worth every penny. I also enjoyed the CD's Surrender, Eden, Romanza and Sogno which I keep in my 5 carrousel CD player and play continuously on the weekends!


Quality Entertainment from Sarah Brightman   September 25, 2000
 25 out of 26 found this review helpful

My... how Sarah Brightman has progressed. Since The phantom of the opera, her voice has matured very much. Her style,technique and choice of material are beyond words. The album, "Time to say goodbye" is an inspirational collection of classic/pop crossover material. Purchasing the disc was worth it all the way. I like the way Sarah balances the two styles of music evenly, throughout the disc. One moment, she's an angel of music.Next, she's a full fledged opera diva. "Time to..." is definitely not an opera cd, but she has that quality in her voice. The orchestra is great too.

This is my review of the disc, going in order by tracks

Who can forget this amazing song? "Time to say goodbye", that is. It's sentimental as well as romantic. Right up to the last spine tingling notes, that leave me teary-eyed every time. The duetting pair sang this love song in tribute to (Henry Maske). "No one like you" does the same. Sarah seems to know where her heart should be. The lyrics are deeply moving. Her voice soars in the last few seconds of the track. It's a must hear. "Just show me how to love you" is powerful in every way. I call it "the sequel to "Time to say goodbye". Jose Cura's lends his lovely tenor voice to hers, letting us hear rare beauty.

"Tu quieres vovlver" is the one track I don't particularly like as much.Sarah sings in her little girl voice, going into a shrill cry at one point. The acoustic guitar solo is romantic, though. "In pace", pronounced "inn-paw-chay", is lovely. The track is sung in Latin. Sarah lets her voice go in the conclusion of the piece, bringing me to tears. "There for me" is almost like the track "just show me...". Again, I think Jose Cura lends his voice brilliantly in this duet. Bravo Jose! "Bilitis" is another tear jerker. Sarah doesn't sing words, but she vocalises in this track. That's what makes it so pretty. It was written by the composer Generique. "Who wants to live forever" is deeply moving. Sarah brings her rendition to new heights. Picture her on a misty shore at early dawn. That's what I see. "La Wally" is probably the only (slight) flop on the disc. That is because Sarah sings fine until the conclusion of the track, then the London Symphony Orchestra drowns out her high note at the end. You can't even hear it at all.

"Naturaleza Muerta", written by J.M. Cano, whom is the head of the popular Mexicain group Mecano. Sarah pays homage to Mr. Cano, by delivering a gorgeous and breath-taking piece. The vocalise toward the end is great. "En aranjuez con tu amor" is but another one of Sarah's tear jerking pieces, sung in Spanish too. There are heavy parts written for string arrangements, therefore building great body for this track. "In Trutina" is an excellent track, which I love to hear full blast on a rainy day. Sarah certainly can make a song fit my creative imagination. I think it will do the same for you.

There are two Encore tracks included. One is Sarah's amazing rendition of " o mio babbino caro", which she sings live. Her high notes are clear and magestic. The 2nd Encore track is "Alleluja" from the "Exultate Jubilate" by Mozart. Sarah sings this track in a way that amuses me. She has a warble way too fast for this piece, yet she is fantastic at the same time. Her orchestra is at their best, as always too. The high C that she hits makes her sound like she's inhaled helium. The crowd roared their applause just the same. I did too. Before the start of "Alleluja" you'll hear her voice, as she introduces the piece. It's like she's there, guiding you along. I like it.

Unfortunately, There are no liner notes in this album, except for "Time to..." The photos are small but nice. The chain of gothic Sarahs inside the front cover is a nice touch. I highly recommend this disc to a new fan of Sarah. The jewel-case is a nice touch too. Best of all, The front cover. It sets the mood entirely for me. Buy this disc. It's perfect addition to one's collection. Did my review help you?


Say "Goodbye" to this one...   February 20, 2001
 21 out of 30 found this review helpful

I have decidedly mixed feelings about this CD. On one hand, it brought talented and lovely Sarah Brightman HUGE success. On the other, it forever cemented her name to a type of campy, faux-opera music mostly associated with Andrea Bocelli and Charlotte Church. This after three incredible pop CDs that went largely unnoticed in the US. How sad.

Where does "Time To Say Goodbye" go astray? Well, for one...it's wildly uneven, including a mix of styles that don't exactly work together. Classical, pop-opera, Spanish pop...it's all here.

Perhaps Miss Brightman would have been better off doing a straight classical release...despite what her detractors say, Sarah's delicate voice gives a special touch to the classical pieces she chooses here.

Not so good is a cheesy duet with the overbearing Andrea Bocelli, he of the fanatical cult following. "Con Te Partiro" has to be the most annoying drivel since "You Light Up My Life" and "Endless Love". I'm sorry, this is not classical, it's easy listening.

Jose Cura's songs are better, but still jarring when placed alongside lovely ballads like "Who Wants To Live Forever". Someone tell these guys to chill...it's not about shattering champagne glasses evey time.

Rounding out the CD are three beautiful Spanish-language tunes, that give a hint of what direction she should have gone. So, yes, there are good songs on this CD, but overall I must say this CD did as much to tarnish Sarah's reputation as it did in bringing her fame.

Thankfully, her latest release, "La Luna" is an understated, moody masterpiece that baffled "Time To Say Goodbye" fans, but pleased her true admirers...also recruiting new listeners to boot! This is the real Sarah...sophisticated, mysterious and beautiful.