ANNA BERGMAN'S "SOUVENIR", STILL ONE OF THE BEST CABARET CDs OF THE YEAR. Rating: 5 Stars.
Anna
Bergman's "Souvenir" is still one of the best Cabaret CDs for the past 2
years. And this year, once again, it was voted by our readers and WACJ's
editorial staff as one of the best CDs of the year in the category of cabaret
and international music.
A world
class performance!! You listen to
this CD, and your heart is delicately transported to Paris and its lyrical
mysteries. Her repertoire is overwhelming, for it includes the best of the
best of international music from Austria, Germany, France and Italy, as well
as, America’s favorite tunes and standards. Fabulous arias, ballades, tunes
and songs by Puccini, Sondheim, Weill, Gershwin, Strauss, Sondheim and Poulenc.
Anna Bergman’s “SOUVENIR” is an indispensable addition to your music
collection. This CD is your given passport to world music. When Anna sings in
French, you are instantly convinced that she is as good as Catherine Sauvage,
Barbara and Edith Piaf. When she sings an aria, you will have the company of
Maria Callas. When Anna begins to tease you with Sondheim and Gershwin songs,
you will realize that you are grabbing in your hands, all the wealth and
beauty of America’s all time favorites and best tunes. Anna Bergman is a
musical phenomenon, for when she sings Puccini, Anna becomes an Operatic Diva.
When she sings “Sous Le Ciel De Paris”, Anna becomes the heart and soul of
Paris, Montmartre and Rue Le Pic!! When Anna sings Broadway show tunes, Anna
becomes Broadway in a human form. Bergman’s “SOUVENIR” enriches our world
music collection. This is a must buy CD. Two thumbs up, all the way. Buy it!
CINDY BENSON’S “OUT ON A WHIM”: EXCELLENT, SUPERB! Rating: 4 Stars.
Cindy
Benson’ Out On A Whim” CD is a refreshing bouquet of songs which should appeal
to people from all walks of life. They are funny, humoristic, dramatic, deep,
multi faceted and particularly warm. It is like a beautiful necklace
glittering with beads of all colors, shapes and sizes, yet, they are
harmoniously blending in a true cabaret character and feeling. Some songs
reminded me of the style and magical eras of great French singers like Edith
Piaf, Catherine Sauvage and Juliette Greco as well as truly cabaret
international superstars like Marlene Dietrich and Eartha Kitt. I loved all
Cindy’s songs, I loved them with passion, but my favorite is “If You Love Me,
Really Love Me” which is magnificently arranged by Alex Rybeck and superbly
accompanied on the piano by the virtuoso and maestro John Boswell. This song
is a masterpiece. Absolutely delightful. Cindy Benson’s crystal clear voice,
warmth, beautiful vocal projection and artistic sensitivity come to life like
strong but tender splashes of light, romantically glittering in a fresh breeze
murmurs. In that song, thanks to Cindy’s captivating voice, all the mysteries,
the magic and the nostalgia of cabarets, all cabarets, suddenly appear before
you and begin to haunt your imagination, feelings and expectations. John
Boswell on the piano added his magically romantic touch to this song (and to
other ones as well) and surrounded it with elegance, style and lyrical
vitality. And Alex Rybeck who wrote the arrangement for that song, did a
magnificent job. He made the song breath, develop, metamorphose and bloom with
a lot of musical sensuality and artistic finesse.
