While the English crossover singer Sarah Brightman was depicted on the CD cover as an oriental beauty with black locks on her previous album Harem, on the album Symphony she wanders like a blonde goth through a ghostly ruin and forest. The album starts with the mysterious instrumental Gothica, which is the lead up to the bombastic Fleurs Du Mal, complete with orchestra, rock guitars and backing
… vocals. Brightman does not limit himself to this style, however: Symphony is a very varied album of pop / rock songs, classical arrangements (of music by Mascagni, Holst and Handel) and songs in pop opera style. She and producer Frank Peterson chose covers of Silbermond, Dead Can Dance, Faith Hill and Sissel, among others. And she sings duets with the singers Andrea Bocelli, Paul Stanley, Alessandro Safina and Fernando Lima. You shouldn't expect a deep, emotional interpretation from Brightman; she is praised for her ethereal soprano voice. Symphony offers something for everyone, from gothic and light classical to pop (Let It Rain) and new age (Sanvean). (SvdP)more
