.com This program seems designed primarily to display soprano Sumi Jo's fabulous singing and famous stylistic eclecticism. However, it also exhibits an admirable religious inclusiveness, encompassing expressions of faith from the Latin liturgy to Negro spirituals; there is even a Richard Strauss song that is essentially a paean to love. An incongruous note is struck by a nun's song from an operetta by Benatzky that is a corny Viennese waltz and by a soundtracklike arrangement of a 16th-century Ave Maria. Ranging from Mozart to Broadway, this musical mix is held together by Sumi Jo's ravishingly beautiful, pure, warm voice and the way she can color and inflect it, and by her mastery of every style (though not every language; her German in particular is unintelligible). Her intonation is impeccable, her breath control incredible. Jo's top notes soar triumphantly, and she can sustain them indefinitely, with enough power left to make a crescendo at the end. Highlights include Ravel's "Kaddisch," which sends shivers down the spine; arias from operas by Rossini and Donizetti; and arias from sacred works by Gounod and Fauré. Of two spirituals, the second one is simpler and more convincing. The accompanying forces are excellent; James Conlon doubles as pianist when not conducting. Susan Graham also makes an appearance in the moving invocation "Take Care of This House" from Bernstein's 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. --Edith Eisler
L**E
A spectalce of voice and vocalization
I bought this used from an Amazon.com dealer and it came with a cutout on the left side of the CD box. Can this specacular CD possibly have gone out of print by Christmas 2004? If so we have lost one of the benchmark recordings of this splendid artist.Never is there a weak moment in this incredibly beautiful collection of classical bleeding chunks and spirituals. I don't think you'll confuse Sumi for your favorite spiritual singer in "Amazing Grace" and "Sometimes I feel like a motherless child" but she is magnificent singing the complete and incomplete tunes elsewhere on the CD by famous classical composers including Mozart, Richard Strauss, Rossini, Schubert and Donizetti, to name some of them.She is in wonderful voice and fresh-faced for the Loewe-Lerner "Say a prayer for me tonight" and does an equally nice job with Susan Graham accompanying Leonard Bernstein's "Take care of this house" from "1600 Pennsylvania Avenue". I'm not much for this kind of music -- I bought this exclusively for her rendition of Mozart's "Laudate Dominum" -- but it adds a dimension to the concert that brings it into the realm of popular Broadway tunes.This is a wonderful concert of familiar and not so familiar songs from a singer whose voice is eloquent, beautiful and rich, with significant range and span from PPP to FFF. Sumi Jo controls her voice well throughout the concert, giving everyone something to think about regardelss of musical preference. This might have been improved if she'd included a Beatles tune -- maybe "Elenor Rigby" or "Yesterday" -- accompanied by the orchestra and James Conlon's direction. But it stands with any similar collection by any singer as it is.
P**E
Prayerful and beautiful
It is a refreshing change to have a collection of arias on a CD with a title that actually bears some relevance to the contents. This is indeed a prayerful collection. That means, of course, that you have to be in the appropriately contemplative mood in order to appreciate it.Another nice change is that the orchestral accompaniment enhances the singing rather than just tagging along as an afterthought, which often seems to be the case. It is fitting that James Conlon gets equal billing here. This is splendid singing to splendid music.Sumi Jo is comfortable in any language and in a broad range of styles. I was uncertain how she would tackle songs like Amazing Grace and Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child. I need not have worried. In the latter she reveals a soulfulness that fits the lyrics perfectly.The only track not worthy of this collection is Bernstein's Take Care of This House. I suppose, as it is a prayer, it was an obvious song to include, and Jo sings it very well, but it is just a very poor song. That still leaves 14 excellent tracks that, if you are a lover of good singing, you will want in your collection.
A**R
Inspirational
As a used CD the disc flawless but the plastic case was broken and falls apart when you open it. You get what you pay for.
H**E
A Beautiful Voice
I bought this after watching her performance on YOUTUBE. I hadn't felt that Sumi Jo had such a beutiful voice until I heard her "Ave Maria" and "Breit' uber mein Haupt dien schwarzes Haar". Her Ave Maria has spiritual resonance. In this album her voice is a little more matured than the early 1990's, around her debut. A minor flaw: the albume jacket does not fit for the title "Prayer" (her matalic make-up fits more for futuristic image).
G**N
Sumi Jo's voice is a sheer delight. For anyone that wants a resource for meditation ...
Sumi Jo's voice is a sheer delight. For anyone that wants a resource for meditation and prayer, this is the most eclectic collection of meaningful prayers and heavenly music that I have found in a long time. People of all faiths will find this to be a treasure. --Rev. George Thompson
C**R
Heavenly music
One of my favorite CD's. I already have one so I bought another one as a surprise gift for my friend. She loved it. Can't hear it enough!Price was great and prompt delivery....
L**N
Wonderful
We are so lucky to have this great singer.
T**N
Five Stars
I love this CD!Purchased this as a gift for a friend.
D**T
Lovely
Lovely album and great delivery.
M**S
Will get more of here! music heavenly voice!
Will get more of here !music heavenly voice!
G**S
Five Stars
An excellent disc provided by first clas service at an excellent price. Thank you.
B**Z
Five Stars
Super.
S**E
loved this album
loved this album. Just to sit in the evening with a glass of something and listen to this album....pure joy.
Trustpilot
3 days ago
2 days ago
