Natasha Marsh

2008 sophomore album from British soprano Natasha Marsh, the acclaimed vocalist chosen to sing the Queen Of The Night aria for is ITV Sport's Euro 2008 football (soccer) coverage. Natasha, who is fast becoming the UK's favorite soprano, enjoyed massive success last year when her debut album Amour went straight in at #1 in the UK Classical Chart. Natasha has also toured with the likes of Il Divo, Russell Watson and Classical Brit Award winners Blake. 13 tracks including 'Prayer', 'Autumn Leaves' and the single 'Der Holle Rache (Queen Of The Night)'. Angel.

Notes & Reviews:

Personnel: Natasha Marsh (soprano); Alfie Boe (vocals); Fridrik Karlsson (guitar).

Recording information: Eastcote Studios, London, England; EMI Abbey Road Studios, London, England; Strongroom Studios, London, England; Studio 1 Bulgarian National Radio.

While Charlotte Church has all but abandoned her operatic beginnings, and Katherine Jenkins has recently started covering the likes of Evanescence and Queen, it's quite refreshing to see that there is a Welsh soprano who hasn't jumped on the classical pop bandwagon just yet. She may have recorded Ewan MacColl's "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" on her classical chart-topping Brit Award-nominated debut Amour, but so far, that's her only concession to the increasing dominance of the more commercial and pop-friendly subgenre. Indeed, you certainly won't find any nu-metal cover versions or new tracks written by Gary Barlow on her self-titled sophomore album which, like its predecessor, concentrates on a combination of traditional arias, classical film scores, and 20th century standards. Unfortunately, what you will find is five tracks that were also included on Amour, a bizarre and rather lazy state of affairs considering that the material -- so successful the first time round -- hardly needed introducing to a new audience. But away from the logistics of the track list, Marsh continues to show why she's becoming one of the classical crossover world's leading female artists on these 13 pieces, which perfectly complement her exquisite and versatile vocal range. Backed by John Haywood and Craig Leon's lush production and appearances from both the Bulgarian and London Symphony Orchestra, she performs the classic operatic pieces such as "La Ebben, Ne Andro Lontano" from Alfredo Catalani's relatively unknown La Wally, and "La Quando M'en Vo" from Puccini's La Boheme just as passionately, purely, and sweetly as she does with her renditions of Nino Rota's Romeo and Juliet number "Ai Giochi Addio," and Luis Bacalov's Oscar-winning Il Postino theme "Mi Mancherai." An impressive number of guest vocalists also show up to consolidate her increasingly esteemed reputation, including Blackpool tenor Alfie Boe on an interpretation of Verdi's La Brindisi, Icelandic vocalist Gardar Cortes on a performance of Andrea Bocelli's "The Prayer" (also featured on Cortes' 2008 album When You Say You Love Me), and classical boy band Blake on a charming version of "O Holy Night." But the album's standout comes courtesy of her breathtaking and emotionally stirring take on "Der Holle Rache" from Mozart's The Magic Flute, which has since gained even more anthemic connotations thanks to its use on ITV's Euro 2008 football coverage. Fans who bought her previous release may rightly feel a little short-changed by the regurgitated selection of songs here, but there's enough quality material among the eight new tracks to justify a purchase from even the most tight-fisted of fans. Let's hope she can avoid going down the formulaic pop direction for album number three. ~ Jon O'Brien

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Works Details

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus : Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute), K. 620 :: Queen of the Night (Der Holle Rache)

Performer: Natasha Marsh (Soprano)
Conductor: Deyan Pavlov
Running Time: 3 min. 12 sec.
Period Time: Classical
Form: Opera/Operetta
Written: 1791

Puccini, Giacomo : Gianni Schicchi, opera :: O Mio Babbino Caro

Performer: Natasha Marsh (Soprano)
Conductor: Tim Redmond
Running Time: 2 min. 22 sec.
Period Time: Post Romantic
Written: 1918

Foster, David : The Prayer, song (for the film Quest for Camelot)

Performers: Gardar Cortes (Tenor); Natasha Marsh (Soprano); Fridrik Karlsson (Guitar)
Notes: This work was written in collaboration with Carole Bayer Sager (1947 - ).
Running Time: 4 min. 31 sec.
Period Time: Contemporary
Written: 1998

Catalani, Alfredo : La Wally :: Ebben? Ne andro lontano

Performer: Natasha Marsh (Soprano)
Conductor: François-Xavier Roth
Running Time: 3 min. 45 sec.
Period Time: Romantic
Form: Opera/Operetta
Written: 1892

Nino Rota / Elsa Morante : Ai giochi addio

Performer: Natasha Marsh (Soprano)
Conductor: François-Xavier Roth
Running Time: 3 min. 25 sec.
Period Time: Modern
Form: Vocal

Léo Delibes (1836 - 1891) : Les Filles de Cadiz "Chanson Espagnole"

Performer: Natasha Marsh (Soprano)
Conductor: François-Xavier Roth
Notes: Composition written: 1874.
Running Time: 3 min. 28 sec.
Period Time: Romantic
Written: 1874

Jacques Prévert (1900 - 1977) : Les feuilles mortes, for voice & piano

Performer: Natasha Marsh (Soprano)
Conductor: François-Xavier Roth
Running Time: 3 min. 47 sec.
Period Time: Modern

Handel, George Frideric : MEDLEY :: Ombra Mai Fu

Performer: Natasha Marsh (Soprano)
Conductor: Tim Redmond
Running Time: 2 min. 56 sec.
Period Time: Baroque
Written: 1738

Verdi, Giuseppe : La traviata :: Brindisi

Performers: Alfred Boe (Tenor); Natasha Marsh (Soprano)
Conductor: Craig Leon
Notes: Composition written: 1853.
Running Time: 3 min. 4 sec.
Period Time: Romantic
Form: Opera/Operetta
Written: 1853

Puccini, Giacomo : La bohème :: Quando m'en vo

Performer: Natasha Marsh (Soprano)
Conductor: Tim Redmond
Running Time: 2 min. 30 sec.
Period Time: Post Romantic
Form: Opera/Operetta
Written: 1896

Villa-Lobos, Heitor : Bachiana brasileira no 5 for Soprano and 8 Cellos :: Aria

Performer: Natasha Marsh (Soprano)
Conductor: Tim Redmond
Running Time: 4 min. 8 sec.
Period Time: Modern
Written: 1938-1945

Luis Enríque Bacalov (1933 - ) : Il Postino :: Mi Mancherai

Performer: Natasha Marsh (Soprano)
Conductor: Tim Redmond
Running Time: 4 min. 13 sec.
Period Time: Contemporary
Form: Film Score
Written: 1994

Adam, Adolphe : Cantique de Noël for voice & orchestra ("Minuit, Chrétiens," "O Holy Night")

Performer: Natasha Marsh (Soprano)
Running Time: 3 min. 33 sec.
Period Time: Romantic
Form: Vocal
Written: 1851

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