Harem

by Sarah Brightman

Overview

Adopting a Middle Eastern flavor to enhance her blend of classical and new age pop, Sarah Brightman's Harem continues her experimentation with thematic discs that began with 1993's oceanic Dive. These themes, while never dominant or original, are simply meant to enhance her brand of crossover just enough to keep listeners interested in hearing her next project. Harem accomplishes that feat by shrouding new age pop songs in a thin Middle Eastern veil that disguises, but never completely covers, Brightman's true musical identity. It works well when she fully utilizes the theme, as on the opening title track where Brightman's fragile operatic voice is able to capture the traditional phrasing without sounding forced. But when the formula simply dresses up a pop/dance song like "The Journey Home," the results are less interesting and cross into territory already explored by the group Enigma and its worldly hits. Elsewhere, Brightman appears to have been taking classes at the Kate Bush vocal institute, sounding eerily similar to the English thrush on the quiet tracks "What You Never Know" and "Free," her writing collaboration with Sophie B. Hawkins. Retaining her classical leanings, Brightman successfully incorporates "Un Bel Di," from Puccini's Madame Butterfly, into the surging beats of "It's a Beautiful Day," her best attempt at creating a chart-worthy hit. Middle Eastern music stars like Kazem al-Saher and the late Ofra Haza lend an air of authenticity, while the tasteful arrangements by former Killing Joke frontman Jaz Coleman refrain from overpowering Brightman's voice or sinking into an Arabian parody. The disc gets a bit long by the time it reaches the unnecessary standard "Stranger in Paradise," but Brightman's Harem adventure is interesting enough to have listeners packed and ready to travel with her on another musical journey. ~ Aaron Latham

Product Details

Release Date:	09/02/2003
Label:	Emi
UPC:	0724355757425
Rank:	7018

Tracks

1. Harem (Cancao Do Mar)
2. What A Wonderful World
3. It's A Beautiful Day
4. What You Never Know
5. Journey Home
6. Free
7. Mysterious Days
8. War Is Over Now
9. Misere Mei
10. Beautiful
11. Arabian Nights
12. Stranger In Paradise
13. Until The End Of Time
14. Gueri De Toi

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Sarah Brightman   Primary Artist,Vocals,Keyboards,Soprano (Vocal),Vocals (Background)
Ofra Haza   Primary Artist,Vocals
Kazem Al Saher   Primary Artist
London Symphony Orchestra   Guest Artist,Orchestra
Nigel Kennedy   Soloist,Violin
Adrian Partington   Conductor
Prague Symphony Orchestra   Orchestra
Mike Reed   Conductor
Gunther Laudahn   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Frank Peterson   Keyboards,Percussion,Vocals (Background)
Jaz Coleman   Vocals,Orchestra,Orchestra Leader
Bach Choir   Choir/Chorus
Chris Thompson   Vocals,Vocals
Natacha Atlas   Vocals
Michael Soltau   Piano,Keyboards
Matthias Meissner   Keyboards
Aboud Abdel Ali   Violin
Adam Klemens   Conductor
Trevor Barry   Bass,Bass (Vocal)
Peter Weihe   Sitar,Guitar
Gregorian   Choir/Chorus
Martin Frosty Beedle   Drums
Abdel Al Aboud   Violin,Soloist
Dr. Reda Bedaire   Nay
Jonathan Penton   Vocals,Choir/Chorus
Dean Hussain   Vocals,Choir/Chorus
Andrew Palyfoot   Choir/Chorus
Aoub Abdel All   Strings
Ibrahim Fathie   Kavala
Gregorian Choir   Choir/Chorus
Rony Barrack   Percussion
Violet   Vocals,Vocals (Background),Vocals (Background)
Rony Barrak   Percussion
Lukas Hilbert   Sitar (Electric),Vocals (Background)
Jiri Burda   Mandolin
Stephan Moccio   Piano
Anna Samant   Vocals,Choir/Chorus
Nina Bromham   Vocals,Choir/Chorus
Reda Bdir   Nay,Ney Flute
Shweta Shetty   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Kadim Al Sahir   Vocals
Sarah Leatherbarrow   Vocals,Choir/Chorus
Andrew Playfoot   Vocals,Choir/Chorus
Amir Abdel Magid   Kanun,Strings
Michael Reed   Conductor
Natasha Atlas   Vocals (Background)
Kuljid Bhamra   Tabla,Percussion

Technical Credits

Gregorio Allegri   Composer
Bezalel Aloni   Composer,Lyricist
Paul Bateman   Orchestration
Carsten Heusmann   Composer
Patrick Benzner   Composer,Lyricist
Alexander Glasunow   Composer
Bob Ludwig   Mastering,Mastering Engineer
Prague Symphony Orchestra   Performer
Bob Thiele   Composer
Chiara Ferrau   Narrator
Don Black   Composer,Lyricist
Frank Peterson   Mixing,Arranger,Composer,Engineer,Lyricist,Producer,Adaptation,Programming,Lyric Translation
John Luard Timperley   Engineer
Frederico de Brito   Composer,Lyricist
Jaz Coleman   Orchestration
Peter Asher   Management
Sarah Brightman   Composer,Lyricist,Producer,Adaptation,Lyric Translation
Chris Thompson   Vocal Ad-Libs
Nicola Hitchcock   Composer
Pete Murray   Composer
Niall Acott   Engineer
Ofra Haza   Composer
Michael Soltau   Mixing,Engineer,Recording,Programming
Mick Guzauski   Mixing
George Forrest   Composer
Simon Fowler   Photography
Adapt   Composer
Rachel Shaw   Composer
Matthias Meissner   Composer,Programming
Dennis Preiss   Engineer
A.R. Rahman   Composer,Lyricist
London Symphony Orchestra   Performer
Tom Lord-Alge   Mixing
George Douglas   Composer,Composer,Lyricist
George David Weiss   Composer,Lyricist
Amelia Brightman   Composer
Andrew Dudman   Engineer
Sophie B. Hawkins   Composer,Lyricist
Alexander Borodin   Composer
Peter Murphy   Copyist
Mat Bartram   Engineer
Giacomo Puccini   Composer
Brian Johnson   Composer,Lyricist
Klaus Hirschburger   Composer,Lyricist
Kristian Draude   Composer,Lyricist,Programming
Robert Wright   Composer
Rob O'Connor   Art Direction
Christopher von Deylen   Arranger,Composer,Lyricist,Adaptation
Roxanne Seeman   Composer,Lyricist,Lyric Translation
Mat Bartrum   Engineer
Patrick Benzer   Composer
John Timperly   Engineer
Tina Mueller   Production Coordination
Christopher Thompson   Vocal Ad-Libs
Samuel Pospisil   Engineer
Alegri   Composer
Petr Polivka   Organizer,Session Coordinator
Cenek Kotzman   Engineer
Shara Freeman   Composer
Thomas Schwartz   Composer
Lubos Novacek   Engineer
Zak Biddu   Production Coordination
Fred E. Goldring   Legal Counsel
Oliver Stammel   Editing
Violet   Lyricist
Peter Murray   Composer
Chet Forrest   Composer
Ferrer Trinidade   Composer,Lyricist
Cenek Kotzmann   Engineer
Lukas Hilbert   Composer
Saul Freeman   Composer
Dergham Owainati   Production Coordination
Stephan Moccio   Composer,Lyricist
Chris Lean   Organizer
Shweta Shetty   Composer,Lyricist,Vocal Ad-Libs
Christian Draude   Programming
Sameh Hamandi   Engineer
Kareem Al Iraqi   Composer,Lyricist
Sue Mallet   Organizer
Marian Engel   Filmmaker
Thomas Schwarz   Composer