Love Songs and Lullabies

AMG Review of Love Songs and Lullabies

Alex Henderson
All Music Guide

Although it was released by Virgin Classics and aimed at the classical and opera markets, Love Songs and Lullabies is a CD that will also appeal to world music and Latin enthusiasts. Uniting acoustic guitarist Sharon Isbin with vocalists Thomas Allen (baritone) and Benita Valente (soprano), this project acknowledges not only European classical and opera traditions, but also, the popular music of Italy, Portugal and Brazil. Arrangements of the works of Brahms and Schubert are heard along with songs by great Brazilian composers such as Antonio Carlos Jobim ("Canta Mais"), Heitor Villa-Lobos ("Estrela E Lua Nova") and Luiz Bonfa ("Manha De Carnaval"). The latter is simply gorgeous. Introduced in the 1959 Brazilian film Black Orpheus, the haunting "Manha De Carnaval" has been interpreted by countless jazz artists, but here, it gets a very operatic treatment. However, Latin music lovers who have a hard time getting into opera and classical needn't be intimidated by this CD -- Love Songs and Lullabies is as accessible as it is engaging.