Sarah Brightman- Sarah Brightman- Harem World Tour- Live From Las Vegas(CD-Album- 2004)
Genre: Vocal | Album | FLAC 450MB + Sample
September 2004| Publisher: Angel | Language: English - Italian - French | RapidShare
Genre: Vocal | Album | FLAC 450MB + Sample
September 2004| Publisher: Angel | Language: English - Italian - French | RapidShare
While the sales of Sarah Brightman's ambitious, Middle Eastern-themed 2003 album Harem may have fallen short of its predecessor, the veteran UK chanteuse's popularity as a live performer has only mushroomed. This live recording of her ambitious, sold-out Harem World Tour engagement at Las Vegas' MGM Grand Arena is testament to that appeal, begging the question: Will Brightman become the Grateful Dead of classical crossover? Indeed, abetted by the rich sonic textures of longtime producer/collaborator Frank Peterson, the worldbeat conceits of her recent studio recordings are folded into a larger, even more expansive live vision here. Brightman's overt dramatic instincts and oft-chaemeleonic vocal abilities drive a slate of material that stretches from the Arabian Nights/Madame Butterflypastiche of Harem's seductive "It's A Beautiful Day" through surprisingly effective classical/rock reinventions of Kansas' "Dust in the Wind" and The Moody Blues' chestnut "Nights in White Satin" to expected classical bowings "Nessun Dorma" and the obligatory nod to "Phantom of the Opera"Harem's East-meets-Eurodisco sensibility will also welcome the melodic new studio bonus cut, "Snow in the Sahara."–Jerry McCulley
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Track Listing
1. Kama Sutra
2. Harem Overture (Cançao Do Mar)
3. It's a Beautiful Day
4. Dust in the Wind
5. Who Wants to Live Forever
6. Anytime, Anywhere
7. Luna
8. Nessun Dorma
9. War Is Over
10. Free
11. Whiter Shade of Pale
12. Phantom of the Opera Suite: Twisted Every Way/Phantom …
13. Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again
14. Time to Say Goodbye
15. Question of Honour
16. Snow on the Sahara
I was fortunate enough to have experienced a very surreal evening with the angel of music, Sarah Brightman, last March on her Harem World Tour concert in Anaheim, CA and just had to acquire her first live recording, which took place in Las Vegas here, so that I could relive the experience whenever I wanted to. I was naturally skeptic as there aren't many live albums that can capture the magic of the event as it's actually happening but this nailed it quite well. Sarah's voice is in perfect form and the production is superb! Crank up the volume, close your eyes, and you'll be taken to Sarah's harem…
"Kama Sutra" is a nice two minute intro into "Harem", which brings me to my one and only gripe about this album, and that would be how they chose to cut out most of the good parts and pretty much make this an overture instead of using the entire song. Also, I could have lived without "Who Wants To Live Forever". It seems she includes this song on every tour she does when in fact it is one of my least favorite songs of hers. I was, however, thrilled to hear "Phantom Of The Opera Suite" and, even though I would have loved to hear "Music Of The Night" as well, "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again" was probably the better selection. I also enjoyed "Anytime, Anywhere" (always a highlight for me) and the somewhat extended version of "Dust In The Wind", which I prefer over the original found on EDEN. Granted, Sarah also closed her LA LUNA set with "A Question Of Honour", this is hands down the best version I've yet to heard of that song. I could really feel the energy of the crowd with their harmonious clapping to the beginning drum section after the brief "La Wally" aria.
Many complain about the music being too loud but, HELLO!, that's how it is when you attend a live concert! And Sarah handles the ethereal power of her vocals like the pro she is; never failing to soar above it all without sounding as if she's trying too hard. This is a wonderful live recording that I recommend all fans get - even if it's only for the brand new studio track, "Snow On The Sahara", which I've been playing excessively as of late… It is absolutely gorgeous and has quickly become a favorite of mine!
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