Kiri Sings Kern: Dame Kiri TeKanawa [Soundtrack]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
As Hammerstein writes in the opening song, "Many dames with lofty aims strive for lofty goals"--and Te Kanawa strives for successful crossover. Her beautiful singing exhibits impeccable diction and excellent phrasing; but "A Fine Romance" lacks anger and humor, "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" lacks a storyteller, and "All the Things You Are" lacks romanticism. However, happy songs like "All Through the Day," "Look for the Silver Lining," and "The Folks Who Live on the Hill," are successfully interpreted. Jonathan Tunick's orchestrations enhance Kern's beauty through his captivating use of obbligato instruments. A pleasant, if not wholly satisfactory, listening experience. --Barbara Eisner Bayer

Tracks:

The Songs Of Jerome Kern: The Folks Who Live on the Hill
The Songs Of Jerome Kern: I'm Old Fashioned
The Songs Of Jerome Kern: The Way You Look Tonight
The Songs Of Jerome Kern: The Song Is You
The Songs Of Jerome Kern: Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
The Songs Of Jerome Kern: All Through The Day
The Songs Of Jerome Kern: The Last Time I Saw Paris
The Songs Of Jerome Kern: A Fine Romance
The Songs Of Jerome Kern: Yesterdays
The Songs Of Jerome Kern: All The Things You Are
The Songs Of Jerome Kern: Bill
The Songs Of Jerome Kern: Long Ago And Far Away
The Songs Of Jerome Kern: Look For The Silver Lining
The Songs Of Jerome Kern: Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man

Amazon.com

As Hammerstein writes in the opening song, "Many dames with lofty aims strive for lofty goals"--and Te Kanawa strives for successful crossover. Her beautiful singing exhibits impeccable diction and excellent phrasing; but "A Fine Romance" lacks anger and humor, "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" lacks a storyteller, and "All the Things You Are" lacks romanticism. However, happy songs like "All Through the Day," "Look for the Silver Lining," and "The Folks Who Live on the Hill," are successfully interpreted. Jonathan Tunick's orchestrations enhance Kern's beauty through his captivating use of obbligato instruments. A pleasant, if not wholly satisfactory, listening experience. --Barbara Eisner Bayer

Customer Reviews:

kiri kern.......2007-03-29

Kiri is sensational on this CD. Jerome Kern music is stupendous and the arrangements superb. Three top esses.

Kiri sing Kern is a great experience.......2004-01-18

I love the way she sings Kern's songs. Though certainly not opera, Kern's songs benefit from an an operatic approach--not all of them, but certainly ones such Smoke gets in your Eyes, The song is you, All the things you are. I love Kern;s songs sung in many styles but Kiri's way is one of the best.

On the other hand, I did not like Kiri singing Berlin.

Lacks Splendor.......2002-09-01

Though I do enjoy Kiri's interpretation of most music, and this CD was decent, I did not find any piece particularly memorable.

The voice is undeniably beautiful, and Kiri has managed to keep her maturing voice sounding somewhat young, yet I find that I much prefer her rendition of "The Laughing Song" to that of "Smoke Gets in YOur Eyes."

If you love Kern, and couldn't care less who performs it, than purchase this CD. If you are a fan of Kiris', then perhaps it would be best to avoid this purchase...for it is not a shining star in her vast collection of CDs. All in all, it was a disappointment.

White Glove Kern.......2001-05-20

I am the first to admit that most "crossover" albums, be they of classical performers singing pop or vice versa never quite cross over. This album does splendidly. Kern's music is the most related to classical operetta , and therefore the least jazziest. Operatic soprano Kiri Te Kanawa gives luscious, heartfelt readings of these wonderful songs, backed by glamorous orchestrations. Hearing a voice of such opulence and beauty in this music is a rare treat. Just listen to "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" ,"Long Ago and Far Away" or "The Song is You" and prepare to be swept away to another, more elegant time.

mildly disappointing.......2000-09-30

Sometimes cross-over works, sometimes not. While Kiri te Kanawa has a beautiful voice, she never gets into the idiom of these Jerome Kern masterpieces sufficiently to convey their stories or their subtleties. Smoke Gets in Your Eyes especially stands out, she sings it with none of the pathos the song demands and her version pales compared to the Platters. The orchestral arrangements are decent and in many of the songs the purity of her voice is enough to carry them, but overall I would say this is a disappointing example of a crossover record. Ms. te Kanawa should stick to what she does best.

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