Surpinto wrote: <span title="Sat May 27, 2017 1:35 pm">8 years ago</span>
andmar wrote: <span title="Sat May 27, 2017 1:19 pm">8 years ago</span>
I keep listening to Hope and I can't stop. It's amazing. Each and every song. There is not a single one, which I don't like. A need to write a review grows in me, but I must wait a couple of days, till I have clear mind again
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You are required and obligated to do this or risk the wrath of the entire membership of this forum
So here it goes.
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Finally I managed to write a review of the marvelous album 'Hope'. I have listened to it for a couple of days, and the music arose so many thoughts and emotions. I didn’t intend the post to be that long, but somehow everything seemed to be important to me. Please, forgive me the length of the post as well as language mistakes.
So, first of all, ‘Hope' is not an easy listening album. It is also not a set of songs, which can be listened to once or twice and then be forgotten. There are 14 songs on the CD (I am writing about the international release, as this is the one, I have). The songs are very different. So, we have some catchy songs like ‘Angel’ or ‘Sand Damiano’; we have some more classical tunes like ‘Salva Regina’, ‘Benedictus Deus’; we have some songs of a mysterious, ancient style like ‘Sabat Mater’, ‘Angele Dei’, ‘Venite Adoremus’; we have some let’s say ‘Libera style’ modern songs like ‘I’m Dreaming of Home’, ‘From a Distance’, ‘Home’; we have a popular song ‘Smile’ and even an old English folk ballad “Three Ravens’. Well, this is one of the Libera landmarks: any (almost) style or genre can be made to a Libera song, but having them all mixed on one track list may make the impression of being a chaotic jumble. Well, yes, this was also my little, tiny thought after the first listen.
I listened to the CD multiple times and I was surprised, that each time I discovered something new in the music. Some songs at first seemed to me not interesting or even boring (‘Salve Regina’, ‘Sabat Mater’, ‘Venite Adoremus’) but then they grew in an incredible way. With each subsequent listen I discovered the nuances of the melody line, of the harmonies and of the different parts, which allowed me to build a whole picture of each and every piece and find a beauty of it. Yes, definitely I need more time for each Libera piece. This is also something, which made me sad after my first Libera concert – having heard some new songs for the first time I realized afterwards that I didn’t remember much of them, as there were too many simultaneous aspects to pay attention to.
The other thing is the lyrics. I regret it very much but often I don’t fully understand the words which are being sung (not only in Latin, which I don’t know anyway, but also in English), and the lyrics turns out to be of no less importance. Fortunately, the lyrics for all the songs are available on Libera’s web page, and this is a great help for me to understand what the songs are about.
I decided to write my review a little bit differently. Not from the song perspective, but from the soloists perspective with some additions about the songs themselves. Before that, I must say that I absolutely love each and every song on the ‘Hope’ CD. There is really not a single one, which I would think is worse or dull or not worth listening to. Though, I have my highlights and they are ‘I’m Dreaming Of Home’, ‘From A Distance’, and ‘Three Ravens’.
The only song without actually a soloist is ‘San Damiano’. I am happy to have it on the CD, as this was the song which was the igniter to the Libera project (at least I think so, maybe I am wrong).
Let’s go to the soloists. We can hear 11 soloists on the ‘Hope’ CD: 8 current soloists (7 trebles + Alessandro on the lower range), and 3 who used to sing solos in the last 2 years (Isaac who still singins in Libera + TDL and Ciaran who are not there anymore). Libera’s music is based on treble voices and a boy soprano career does not last very long. Two years, three, maybe four. Then it’s gone. I think, it’s great to hear many of the current Libera core singers performing their solos. The boys simply deserve it to be memorized on a CD. They are so committed to singing in Libera, they devote their time and effort and at the end they deliver an extraordinary listening experience. Though they are all (well, almost all) trebles, each of them has his own characteristics and puts a part of his personality into singing.
Rocco’s final solo on Salva Regina gives the song a special finish. I only wish, his solo was longer, so we could enjoy his a tiny bit matt yet strong and sure voice for more than just one word. I loved Rocco’s solo in Amazing Grace during the Ely concert. And I agree fully with maartendas, that his voice sounds somehow similar to woodwind instruments. The song itself is very calming in my opinion, it has a beautiful melody and the importance of lower voices can be heard in it clearly.
Alex M used to have special duties with Libera as he was the specialist for the high notes and vocalizes. On ‘Hope’ we get to hear him sing solos for ‘Angele Dei’ and ‘From a Distance’ plus a special job in ‘Three Ravens’. ‘Angele Dei’ is somehow mystic where Alex and the choir sway gently like on waves. Beautiful. Alex shines also in ‘From A Distance’, which is a wonderful and moving song. Great job, Alex!
Merlin does a great solo job in ‘Venite Adoremus’ with his clear, pure and strong voice. The song needed some time to grow in me but now I just love it. It is interesting, as we can hear some individual voices in the introduction and ending. I think I could recognize at least Alessandro and Camden.
Camden’s voice can be heard in ‘I’m Dreaming Of Home’. It never fails to give me goosebumps. I have heard some other renditions of that song, which were performed by renowned choirs and soloists (both children choirs and adult choirs), but in my opinion no one of them comes even close to Libera and Camden as a soloist. Camden’s voice is so powerful. At the beginning of the solo Camden starts his conversation with the choir gently and then develops to full power reaching the heights as if it was a take-off for the song finale.
Alex G sings the solo in ‘Wayfaring Stranger’. His rendition of this apparently one of the most favorite Libera songs meets the highest Libera standards. Alex is a worthy successor of the previous soloists: Sam and Alessandro. Though, I heard Alex in ‘Wayfaring Stranger’ during the concert in Ely. To be honest, Alex sounded better there – deeper and more powerful than on the studio recording. Maybe it was the ambience of the cathedral, or maybe a couple of months between the recording and the concert make such a difference in a boy’s voice. I think, Alex now enters his period of the best performance – as we could enjoy it in Ely. I hope only to hear some more solos from him before his voice breaks.
Thomas Delgado-Little is amazing in ‘Benedictus Deus’. What can I add to all the opinions, which have been expressed previously? He is (was) a remarkable Libera soloist and we can be happy, that the extended version ‘Benedictus Deus’ has been eventually revealed and included in the song list for ‘Hope’ after spending quite a long time in the ‘Libera drawer’.
Ciaran seems not to sing in Libera anymore, but his clear and tender voice can be heard in ‘Home’. There are not too many recordings of Ciaran’s solos I think, so I am happy to hear him on ‘Hope’ as he really deserves it being a core Libera chorister for years. ‘Home’ sounded to me a bit similar to ‘Angel’ – especially in the refrain. Well, I checked the composers and realized that both songs were written by Takatsugu Muramatsu.
Gabriel and
Alessandro are the soloists in ‘Smile’. Gabe sings the main treble part and is really good at it. But I think, it’s Alessandro, who gives the song a special shine with his supporting solo (but still letting Gabe to be the ‘star’ of the song). Alessandro has been a significant Libera member for years, but actually there are only very few recordings of him singing solos (or am I wrong?). Now, Alessandro’s voice has changed due to inevitable flow of time. Many excellent boy sopranos cannot sing at all after the voice breaks anymore. Fortunately, this is not the case with Alessandro. He can still produce pleasant sounds, even though in a much lower range. Alessandro sings the supporting solo in ‘Smile’ and together with Gabe they sound absolutely beautiful. Then, Alessandro sings in ‘Three Ravens’ and I believe, I have heard his lower voice in other songs like ‘Venite Adoremus’ or ‘Salva Regina’ too. Hopefully, Alessandro will stay in Libera as long as possible and enrich their harmonies in the lower range.
An incredible pleasant surprise for me was to hear
Gregor sing the solo for ‘Three Ravens’. The song itself is very interesting, but Gregor made it to a real hammer! Maybe I shouldn’t be surprised by Gregor’s performance, because we got to hear him in ‘Wonderful World’ before (though, I personally prefer Isaac’s version), but I was hypnotized by Gregor’s straight and clear voice in ‘Three Ravens’. I could not stop listening to the song over and over again. What a performance! The song is really difficult to sing – with a very specific tune and rhythm, and Gregor sings it so flawlessly, so effortlessly; he tells the story and enchants the listeners. Gregor – really, really great job!
And there is one more soloist left –
Isaac. We can hear him in three songs: ‘Angel’, ‘Sabat Mater’ and ‘Hymn To Mary’. For me personally, Isaac belongs to the most favourite Libera soloists. Due to the nature of boy choirs, Libera has had many soloists over the years. Although the Libera standards always remained very high, there were some very special, extraordinary soloists in Libera’s history. In my opinion Isaac fits in this category very well. Isaac was (well, now he got older too) able to sing any kind of music. And here we have three songs, which are completely different: ‘Angel’ is a catchy song and a ‘crowd pleaser’ (can it be expressed in this way?), ‘Sabat Mater’ is much more of a classical, ancient style (and quite difficult to sing) and ‘Hymn To Mary’ sounds to me like a simple Sunday school song. But Isaac is perfect in all of them. I am so happy to have those Isaac’s songs on the CD, at the end of his treble soloist career. I hope as well, that Isaac will stay in Libera with his current lower voice.
So, it’s time for a summary. I was wondering, how so different songs all fit under the name ‘Hope’. And then there came my most wonderful discovery about the album. All the songs concern the most important aspects for each human being: safety, longing for home, longing for happiness. And then there is a very clear indication toward God, the Creator and the Giver of all we need. So, there is HOPE, because God knows what we need, He prepared the Earth for us and we should abandon our anger, selfishness, greed and look on our lives from a distance, with respect to others, and return to God as we are all His children.
A wonderful album. Very important to me. Thank you Libera!
I am glad that my idle threats are able to yield such results 
