Search - Bill Girolamo " "Dana Hanchard ", Diego Luzuriaga :: Once Canciones de Diego Luzuriaga

Absolutely Enchanting!

Michael Mendribil | Greenwich, CT USA | 04/12/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Heard a cut from Once Canciones on WNYC as well and loved it. Thankfully, Amazon had it available. This music is absolutely enchanting!"

A revelation...

Michael Mendribil | 07/31/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The review in _Opera News_ is absolutely right. The composer, Luzuriaga, was unfamiliar to me, but these songs are indeed delicious, and repay careful listening. Most astonishing of all is the performance of Dana Hanchard. Already a respected performer of Baroque music, she's a revelation here: both voice and performances are enthralling. You'd have to go back to Nan Merriman's exquisite (and "breakthrough") performances (on the Testament label) of songs by Mompou, Montsalvatge, and Turina to find anything in similar repertoire approaching the intensity and unusual vocal allure exhibited on this album."

A gem of a recording

Jean E. Anderson | Minneapolis, MN United States | 07/30/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I bought this CD based on a glowing review in Opera News (as did another reviewer), and I am so glad I took a chance on it -- I fell in love with it immediately. The songs are by turns charming, poignant, tender, and haunting. They manage to be simple without being simplistic; tuneful without being trite.I wasn't familiar with Dana Hanchard until I got this CD. Frankly, her voice isn't one I'd be fond of ordinarily -- the vibrato, especially in the passagio, is a little tight and fast, and her tone is a little duskier than I usually care for -- but it works beautifully on these songs. She expresses herself easily and naturally, and it's clear this project was dear to her heart. I definitely recommend this one. It's a keeper."