| Symphony | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by Sarah Brightman | ||||
| Released | 28 January 2008 | |||
| Recorded | Germany (Nemo Studio), the US and the UK (Angel Studios) | |||
| Genre | Classical crossover/opera, classical, symphonic rock, symphonic metal | |||
| Length | 54:09 | |||
| Label | Manhattan Records | |||
| Producer | Frank Peterson | |||
| Sarah Brightman chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Symphony | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic | [1] |
| This table needs to be expanded using prose. See the guideline for more information. | |
Symphony is an album from the English Soprano singer Sarah Brightman, released in January 2008 (see 2008 in music). This classical crossover album is a contrast to her previous collaboration with producer Frank Peterson, 2003's Harem; using more Gothic influences instead of Eastern.
"Running" was the IAAF's Green Project Charity song, which Brightman performed at their 2007 Championships opening ceremonies in Ōsaka, Japan. An alternate version of "I Will Be with You", featuring Chris Thompson, was the theme song for the tenth Pokémon film: The Rise of Darkrai. The Spanish duet with Fernando Lima, "Pasión", the theme song for the period Mexican telenovela of the same name, was also a single. The London Symphony Orchestra and Brightman's younger sister Amelia Brightman also perform on the CD.
Contents |
The album features a number of cover songs including, "Where the Lost Ones Go" (under the title "I Will Be with You"), originally by Norwegian singer Sissel Kyrkjebø and the song "Symphonie" (in its English form, "Symphony"), from which the album lends its name, originally by Silbermond. "Schwere Träume" is an adaptation of the fourth movement of Gustav Mahler's fifth symphony. "Sanvean" is a song originally by Lisa Gerrard with her group Dead Can Dance. The duet with Andrea Bocelli, "Canto della Terra", is again, like "Con te partirò", a cover/duet of one of Bocelli's songs, from his Sogno album. "Sarai Qui" is an Italian translation of Faith Hill's "There You'll Be". "Attesa" is adapted from the symphonic Intermezzo from Pietro Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana. The single version of "Running" also features a piece from "Jupiter", from Gustav Holst's The Planets.
A PBS special concert was filmed on 16 January 2008 at the Cathedral Stephansdom in Vienna. This was subsequently shown on PBS stations, premiering on 4 February. A version of the concert is available from PBS on DVD and the worldwide release of the DVD and live CD was on 10 March 2009.[2]
In the early 2008 release, the album garnered a remarkable set of chart accolades around the world, including a very good debut in the US Billboard 200 Album chart at 13 (Brightman’s highest charting record in the USA) moving 32,033 copies in first week.[3] It hit number one in the Mexico International charts and the US Billboard Classical Chart, the top five in Japan and Canada and top twenty across Europe.[4] The album failed to match the success of it's predecessors in the United States but represented an opening for the Mexican musical market becoming an instant success and receiving a Gold certification.[5] Sales were satisfactory in Asian countries like Japan and China where the album was awarded with several Gold and Platinum records.[6][7] The commercial reception was acceptable in Canada receiving Gold as well.[8]
Charts
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Certifications
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The album art for Symphony pictures Brightman in Gothic clothing and surroundings, which was based upon concept art from Guild Wars by Daniel Dociu.[12]
On NBC in the United States, Sarah Brightman performed several songs from the album, on the Progressive Fashion on Ice show on 20 January 2008. Other American television appearances included The Early Show (CBS), The View (ABC), Martha and Fox & Friends.
In the United Kingdom Brightman's promotion for the album included appearing on the cookery shows Saturday Kitchen and Ready Steady Cook with Lesley Garrett. Other UK television appearances for the album included, Channel 4's The Paul O'Grady Show, ITV's Loose Women, five's The Wright Stuff and the BBC News. Brightman also appeared on radio on Classic FM and Jonathan Ross' show on BBC Radio 2.
Around this time Brightman appeared at Canada's Juno Awards 2008 and she later appeared at the UK Classical BRIT Awards 2008 in May.