Listening to Sarah Brightman sing makes one realize that the human voice is truly the most lovely musical instrument (I think Chopin said this). I have 3 of Sarah Brightman's other CDs (Eden, La Luna, and Andrew Lloyd Webber) and this is my favorite of all three. I realize that the critique of music is a very subjective matter (there are beings that actually enjoy rap "music") so I should mention that La Luna is my least favorite of all because it's a bit "dark" and minor sounding. Most of the selections on this CD are very melodic and "happy" (sorry, I'm not a professional music person). All of the songs on this CD are derived from classical music, hence the name "Classics." I must mention that I am partial to classical music. This CD has taken the best parts of classical pieces and set them to words. Lovely! There are a few operatic pieces which are delightful. Listening to a Sarah Brightman CD versus today's pop music is like eating a fine creme brulee versus sampling a McDonald's apple pie.

There is no doubt (at least in my mind!) that Sarah Brightman has an exquisite voice, but just as important, she has incredible control over her voice which allows her to perform to perfection everything she sings whether it be opera arias, popular tunes, or jazz -- and let us not forget that she does all of this in five different languages! As many know, Miss Brightman likes to 'theme' her albums and "CLASSICS", I believe, is no exception. Each song flows beautifully into the next, creating a feeling of harmony and tranquility. While I have heard some complain that only four new songs are offered on this CD, it's important to note that many of the songs found on previous albums are presented here with new arrangements. I realize this is only a matter of opinion, but I rather enjoy hearing different arrangements, and in fact, find it refreshing. Additionally, since the previous recordings she has selected for this CD are among my favorites, I cannot complain on that note! The new selections she has given us are "Ave Maria", "Alhambra", "Winter Light", and "Dans La Nuit" which are all very nice. If I were to rate these four from highest to lowest, I would do so in the order that I have listed them -- but I truly enjoy all of them. While she has taken three selections from her "TIME TO SAY GOODBYE" CD, two of the three are new arrangments. There are four selections from "EDEN" and of these, "Nessun Dorma" is a new arrangement and is absolutely wonderful! Finally, there are three selections from her "LA LUNA" CD. In all honesty, I was not sure what to expect with this CD until I received it and listened to it in its entirety. In doing so, it became evident to me that Miss Brightman took great care in choosing songs that would keep with the theme she had in mind. The only recording that didn't take my breath away was the new recording of "Pie Jesu". For some reason, her voice appeared to be somewhat in the distance and didn't seem as clear to me as in previous recordings; but others have said they enjoy this new arrangement. If you are a fan of Sarah Brightman's, I truly feel you will love this CD! If you are new to the world of Sarah Brightman, I think this CD would be a wonderful introduction into her world!

I have been a Sarah Brightman fan since I first heard "Phantom of the Opera" in 1989. I have had the pleasure of witnessing her growth as an artist. "Classics" is no exception to the fine material she has released in the past 10 years.

"Classics" is a bit of the old and new. There are tracks that have been in need of re-recording ("Pie Jesu," "O Mio Babbino") and tracks that just beg for Sarah's voice. Her rendition of "Ave Maria" is simply beautiful, sung in that soprano we know so well. Also, it was nice to finally get her solo version of "Time to Say Goodbye." I had the pleasure of seeing her do this song during the "La Luna" tour, and all I have to say is "Wow!"

Sarah is a classical music engima. If you don't believe me, simply look at the cover of this album! What she has done with classical music, though, is bring it to more people. She abandons the "stuffiness" classical music is known for, and makes it appealing to all. In this, she is a pioneer for such acts as Charolette Church (who cannot sing "Pie Jesu" the way Sarah does) and Andrea Bocelli. I look forward to more music from the Angel.

When I saw a commercial for this CD on TV, I immediately checked out Amazon.com to see if it was available there, and it was! I ordered it, when the CD arrived, I played them, and got chills and goosebumps, especially when I heard "Classics." Not since Yma Sumac has there been a soprano voice the equal of Sarah Brightman's, and "Classics" is the perfect showcase for such a voice. Anyone who loves classical music sung in one of the purest voices to come along in half a century will find Sarah Brightman's "Classics" a must-have. This is far and away the best of Brightman's works that I have in my collection. Come to think of it, it is the very best CD in my collection!

This is a great CD! I can't honestly say that I'm a huge fan of classical music. But a friend of mine let me hear "Time to Say Goodbye" featuring Andrea Bocelli and I instantly fell in love with Sarah's voice. I took a chance by purchasing this album (without knowing much about Sarah, nor this album) -- I was THOROUGHLY IMPRESSED! I repeat...this is a GREAT CD! I have a very objective view on the album -- I'm not familiar with Sarah's older theatrical/classical performances and I don't have a bunch of other classical and opera albums to compare this to. So putting aside the issue of whether Sarah has a genuine opera/classical voice or not, this CD is a great display of a talent. Sarah has a BEAUTIFUL voice, and she displays this in EVERY track on the CD. I also purchased the "Time to Say Goodbye" album which is good, but nowhere as good as "Classics." This is a great compilation of well-known classical music, and Sarah performs an EXCELLENT rendition of each one. Trust me...if you're just a fan of music in general, you'll definitely enjoy this CD. Take this from a guy that decided to try something other than Rap and R&B for a change (and surprisingly loved every minute of it)!