Nominated for Best Classical Crossover Album, this release of Conspirare in Concert was also aired on PBS. "Elegant and provocative. Virtuosic singing." - Houston Chronicle. " .. probably the nation's best chorus." - San Antonio Express News
CD Reviews
Magnificent -- not enough stars for this performance
Romeo's mom | Austin, TX United States | 08/16/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Since I live in Austin, TX, gathering place for "Conspirare" and where it originated, I have attended many, many truly wonderful and uplifting concerts. By the time Craig Hella Johnson (gifted and brilliant organizer, conductor, pianist, singer, magical arranger and arranger of songs) creates his truly inspired concert, it is like none other. All the performers are talented professionals. The first time my husband and I heard a performance of "Christmas at the Carillon", he asked me if we were still in Austin and on earth. Suffice to say, I have all the CD's and will not sell any of them ever. Buy and enjoy."
Do Not Buy Until Amazon Replaces Corrupted Files!
J. Blair | 06/08/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I gave the ALBUM 5 stars, but I would give Amazon only 1 if I could. Several tracks on this album were not encoded properly and have skipping and distortion throughout, which makes them pretty worthless. Amazon knows of the problem and is getting replacement files from the recording company.
The album itself, though, is extraordinary. There are some really fantastic pieces, including some that have never before been recorded. (the Whitacre 'What If' is featured on this album from the premier performance)"
Critical Praise
Sabrosa | Los Angeles, CA | 09/30/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
""The singing is superb, and the overall uplifting nature of the music and the performances leaves us--as it undoubtedly did the attending audience--feeling like we've just been rewarded and revived. Strongly recommended!"
- Classics Today
"artful arrangements and polished, utterly convincing performances... They sound at home in everything... This - like their previous releases - delivers some of the lushest, loveliest, and most exquisitely balances choral singing on record."
- American Record Guide
"it's creative, virtuosic fun."
- The Buffalo News
"the music here strikes me as so hopeful and reassuring, and each new number that came my way settled my soul like no concert has for a long, long while. I found myself sorry that one song was ending at the same time I was enthusiastically and eagerly anticipating the next...the choir sings with an engaging sense of commitment and almost evangelical zeal. I'll convert to this any day, and you'll have trouble resisting too. Urgently recommended!"
5 STARS
- Audiophile Audition
"Anyone who might think choral music can't be psychedelic ought to hear this...Conspirare particularly excels at spirituals and soul music. They also ably explore both country...and contemporary gospel with a surprising majesty and depth...Yet unsurprisingly, it's the edgiest material here - Eliza Gylkison's stoic Requiem...an excerpt from Triptych by Tarik O'Regan, and an often spine-tingling take of Samuel Barber's Agnus Dei that spring the latch, voices and arrangements soaring free"
- Lucid Culture"
Adagio Plus
Robert D. Winn | 07/20/2010
(4 out of 5 stars)
"tremendously talented vocal group from Austin--bought this mainly for the vocal rendition of Barber's "Adagio for Strings" (heard on NPR)--it was beautiful--not as overwhelmingly sad as the orchestral version
As for the CD--I'm used to choral groups doing generally the same thing on a CD--this music was all over the place, and though pleasantly surprising at times, that turned into more of a pop record--I was ready for more classical pieces (broadly defined)."
