I am not surprised that the cd is like this. The material is indeed recycled, and me, not believing until I actually have the cd, had to fulfil my curiosity.

I don't mind having Encore, for its new material, but it kind of hurts the wallet when you learn that the songs you paid lots for are already on another 2 cds you already own. The album would have worked out a lot better if there was a new version of La Wally, where Sarah doesn't get drowned out in the end. It's too bad, that was a lovely song to perform on her cd Time to Say Goodbye.

Whistle down the wind is indeed a beautiful song, but it sort of ties the knot between old and new material. I mean, all the songs are older, less known and less in demand. I wish that there were lots of photos and some collaboration with Frank Peterson on Encore. The cd does seem cold, lost and wishing for something really new and enticing.

The cover is pretty nice, though. I love gothic costume, and I think the net veil over Sarah's head suits an album like this, or a Classical cd. This photo should have been reworked and used for a future Brightman cd cover. I am not sorry for buying Encore, because to update my Sarah Brightman collection is fine.
The album is definitely for the diehard Brightman cd collector.

One terribly bad thing...I absolutely dislike Chi Il bel sogno Di Doretta. This song is so old-fashioned, done by Sarah. This was done when Sarah was less experienced in her Bel-Canto style.

So, I spoke my word. You decided now, whether or not you want the cd.
Hope my review has helped you.

Sadly, as with much of Sarah Brightman's recent record releases, this album is not much more than recycled material from her sucessful European album Surrender: The Unexpected Songs. If you like the variation on the Andrew Lloyd Webber songs (Songs from Cats and Sunset Boulevard in Italian etc), or really want a more substantial version of this album, I would highly suggest a copy of the Surrender import, as you will find it much more musically satisfying. Like La Luna (recycled material from her '95 Import Fly) Classics (stuff from many other albums) or The Andrew Lloyd Webber Album (recycled material from another import), this is nothing new. I guess the next step is for As I Came of Age to be resold as "The Early Years" and Dive to be resold as "Aqua". At this rate, maybe Sarah won't have to ever record a new album again!

I have to agree with the above review. As an early fan of Sarah Brightman, I have almost every one of these songs already on previous CD's; the same recordings and everything. While she truly has a beautiful voice, I just don't think it's very fair to her earlier fans when they want something new and fresh to listen to. Everything on this CD is recycled; I could have made it at home on my own computer! There are no new tracks and nothing very enticing about this CD to make me buy it. If Sarah decides to start recording some new songs instead of continuously marketing her old stuff, I might, just might, buy it then. But only until then.

Encore is a whole lot more than a combination of Surrender and The Songs That Got Away and what may some people may consider a collector's piece. As I sit here writing this review, I'm listening to my copy of the disc. The 2001 set is specifically assembled for Sarah B fans, of course, but it's also an introductory piece into those two albums, as well as into the lesser known world of Sarah's ex-hubby, ALW. Prior to the album's ORIGINAL release (in 2001) there was to be four previously unreleased tracks: "Whistle Down the Wind," "The Angel of Music" (that song isn't previously unreleased, but already on Phantom of the Opera OLC), "English Girls" (which I have here on Anything But Lonely CD single), and "Take My Life" (which is from As I Came of Age). The first made it to this collection but the last three were replaced by "One More Walk Around the Garden," "What More Do I Need," and "In the Mandarin's Orchid Garden." So there are even more lesser known songs than there were to be at first, and ones that do indeed showcase the Angel of Music's vocals at some of their best.

All in all, Encore is worthy of being added into Sarah's catalogue and therefore a nice companion to her own 1997/99 ALW Collection.

A second helping of Sarah Brightman's theatrical songs, like The Andrew Lloyd Webber Collection. Sure, why not?

Encore hosts selections from Surrender-Unexpected Songs and The Songs That Got Away. What prevents this from being just another odds and sods collection are inclusions of previously unreleased songs done in sessions from both albums.

"Whistle Down The Wind," performed in Sarah's first concert video with Andrew Lloyd Webber on piano, is finally available here. It's the album opener and an ideal way to introduce the album.

"Think Of Me" from Phantom is included here so one doesn't have to buy the original cast recording. It's a wonderful piece that's better here than on The ALW Collection.

"Guardami" and "Piano" are done in Sarah's opera voice, with the majestic orchestra helping out. "Piano," which is Cats' "Memory" sung in Italian, demonstrates how fluid Italian is, and why it is her preferred language of choice in singing. Yes, hearing "Memory" sung in English AND in her opera voice just doesn't match. Now, Italian and opera voice, that's gold to the ears!

Other standout tracks include "There Is More To Love," "If I Ever Fall In Love Again," "Nothing Like You've Ever Known," and "Chi Il Bel Sogno Di Doretta," but the way she wraps her voice around the songs alone makes them worth listening to.

Listening to Encore may merit a reappraisal of The Songs That Got Away, which I dismissed after being spoiled on Time To Say Goodbye and The ALW Collection. So, would anyone who already has Surrender-Unexpected Songs and The Songs That Got Away may be satisfied with those two albums without getting this? Or put it in reverse, would anyone who bought Encore want to get the other two albums? Best yet, one should ask oneself this question, which is the title of one of the songs: What More Do I Need?