Picky Minnesotan approves... | Conspirare: Through the Green Fuse [HYBRID SACD]

Excellent Artistry and Technical Production | Conspirare: Through the Green Fuse [HYBRID SACD] | Conspirare

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	• Conspirare: Through the Green Fuse [HYBRID SACD] Conspirare Clarion, 2004 average customer review:based on 6 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Pure choral bliss

While I am probably somewhat biased since I know members of the group, I definitely believe that this is as good a choral album as you will find anywhere. Production and artistry are stunning. If you enjoy contemporary a cappella performance, I would definitely recommend adding this disk to your collection.

Picky Minnesotan approves...

It's heartening for this Minnesotan to discover a choral group continuing on the tradition of impeccable quality that my state's own now-defunct Dale Warland Singers brought to ears for many years.

I had never heard of Conspirare, but will be looking out for more work from them! I enjoyed most every track and think anyone who enjoys sensitive, yet powerful choral singing will want to check this out.

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Excellent Artistry and Technical Production

Highlights are Ticheli's "There Will Be Rest" and Whitacre's "Sleep" - certainly the best recordings of these 2 exquisitely beautiful pieces currently available and they alone made the purchase worth it. Single lowlight is the arrangement of Foster's "Hard Times..." which is lovely but ultimately detracts from the song's stark lyrical power. Although breaths are often (somewhat jarringly) audible, technique is otherwise very fine, the artistry is excellent and the technical production is first rate.

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Wonderful disc from the Austin-based Conspirare

I acquired this cd a couple of weeks ago and have not been able to take it out of my cd player since. This is a quality recording of a wide variety of choral literature, all of which Conspirare performs marvelously. A truly wonderful arrangement by Conspirare's own conductor, Craig Hella Johnson, "Hard Times" is actually one of my favorite tracks on the entire cd, the gorgeous soprano solo and the powerful climax never fail to give me chills. Also noteworthy is the stunning performance of the increasingly popular Ticheli piece, "There Will Be Rest." Almost all of the literature on this disc is very good, and it is all breathtakingly sung by Conspirare.

The only track I didn't like was the unbearably tacky arrangement of "Deep River." This is no fault of the choir as it is sung beautifully, but the singing just can't conquer the tackiness of the arrangement. I had already begun to develop a negative opinion of it as I listened, and then out of nowhere, this ridiculous wailing saxophone entered(a la Kenny G) and I was not braced for the impact. "This is really lame" is all I could think of as the sap oozed out in all its glory. He also has another go at it towards the end as well, just to warn you. This is just way too much to handle! Whenever you want ultimate cheese, adding a saxophone solo of this style is quite a simple solution. Needless to say, I skip this track every single time I come to it. However, this is only my humble opinion, and you should listen to it and pass your own judgment... perhaps this track is your perfect cup of tea!

Aside from this one track, I am absolutely in LOVE with what Conspirare has done here. If you can muster the funds, go ahead and treat yourself to a captivating gem of choral music. Highly recommended!

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"A genuine treat for choral fans, containing some really first rate discoveries." -- Classics Today

The debut album of the Grammy Award-nominated choral ensemble Conspirare, directed by Craig Hella Johnson, includes Eric Whitacre's popular setting of Charles Anthony Silvestri's poem Sleep.

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Tracks
Spirit Seeking Light and Beauty (Gaelic Hymn) | There Will Be Rest (Frank Ticheli) | Alchemy: Living Gold (Donald M. Skirvin) | Alchemy: Cups of Fire (Donald M. Skirvin) | Alchemy: Jewelled Blaze (Donald M. Skirvin) | Alchemy: O Beauty (Donald M. Skirvin) | With Joy We Go Dancing (Einojuhani Rautavaara) | Ruth (Paul Ayres) | Afro American Fragments: Song for Billie Holiday (William Averitt) | Afro American Fragments: Feet O' Jesus (William Averitt) | Afro American Fragments: Fire (William Averitt) | Hard Times Come Again No More (Stephen Foster, arr. Craig Hella Johnson) | Deep River (arr. Anders Paulsson) | This Is My Song - Finlandia (Jean Sibelius) | Autumn Flowers (Gordon Binkerd) | Smávinir Fagrir (Jon Nordal) | Sleep (Eric Whitacre)