Track Listing

1. Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence (Somewhere Far Away)
2. O Holy Night
3. Wonderland
4. The Prayer
5. Adiemus
6. Barcarolle
7. In Dulce Jubilo
8. Night Of Silence
9. Evening Prayer
10. Blow the Wind Southerly
11. Hymn To The Moon
12. Close To You
13. How Can I Keep From Singing?

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #128 in Music
• Released on: 2009-11-30
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 52 minutes

CD Description
Faryl Smith, the schoolgirl who became the fastest selling debut classical artist of all time returns with her second album, Wonderland. Featuring an adaptation of "Somewhere Far Away" (music from Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence), "Wonderland" (music from Winter from the Four Seasons) and a very special duet "O Holy Night".

Customer Reviews

Faryl in Wonderland
Although I am laying myself open to an earbashing for previewing rather than reviewing this album, a practice which I usually find as irritating as the next person, I am basing this review on three full tracks from this album that I have actually heard. They are, "Somewhere Far Away", a new song set to the theme music of the film "Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence". "The Prayer", which has been done many times by others, but Faryl's version includes a choir, and the title song "Wonderland", another new song but set to Vivaldi's "Winter" from the "Four Seasons". I was very impressed by her voice in the latter. Her diction is excellent throughout these tracks and she is note perfect. She is accompanied on this album by Masquerade Choir and the Crouch End Festival Chorus, and if that is not mouth watering enough, Then add The Royal Phiharmonic Orchestra to the whole and you have the makings of an album that could prove to be something special. The five star rating I have given is, I think, justified by the quality of these three tracks plus a small piece of Karl Jenkins' "Adiemus" that I have also heard.

Take that Christmas Eve feeling and bottle it...
Imagine the feeling of settling down by the fire on Christmas Eve, illuminated by fairy lights, watching the snow through the window...the goosebumps you used to get as a child, and maybe still do, if you're lucky. Imagine translating that feeling into music. Well, that's what this album has done.

A welcome change from the usual tacky Christmas albums, Wonderland is as delicate and ethereal as Jack Frost, Faryl's voice clear and pure as ever. Everything about this album, from it's silvery blue cover to its tracklist, draws you into a magical world. The opening track, Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence, is stunning with some contemporary, poignant lyrics. Barcarolle, from Tales of Hoffman, is beautifully sung to the familiat, undulating melody, and Blow the Wind Southerly instills you with warmth and happiness. The stand out track, in an album full of quality, is Wonderland, which is set to Vivaldi's 'Winter' from the Four Seasons. This is a most inspired song, one of those tracks that makes you stop what you're doing and listen enrapt, too beautiful to drown out with the sound of anything else, I even found myself trying to breathe quietly.

I have one tiny criticism, which didn't merit giving less than five stars to this gorgeous album. The last song, How Can I Keep From Singing, was also included on her last album, the eponymously titled Faryl. It's uncessecary and lazy to re-use songs, and her production team let her down by doing so. That said, Faryl is a huge talent and a joy to listen to, and I look forward to her next album.

A voice of substance
Finishing outside the top three for the final of 'Britains got talent' is hardly the biggest claim to fame or indeed much of an incentive to buy an album but this much talked about female vocalist has much to offer and has a maturity that belies her teenage years.
I am not a fan as I haven't heard her beyond BGT so this is a first time listen to an album by Smith.
Not everything works, there are some fairly pedestrian tunes here, including the title track, but where this really works is when it takes a chance and tries something different. This is shown right at the beginning with the re-working of sakamoto's soundtrack piece 'Merry Christmas Mr.Lawrence'. Not a favourite of mine as an orchestral piece this is given some depth and sensitivity by the vocals which shimmer and completely change a rather pedestrian tune into something more.
The adding of Pavarotti to 'O holy night' seems a little gimmicky and although no doubt a crowd pleaser it adds little to a frankly rather done to death song.
So too Karl Jenkins 'Adiemus' is a repetetive three and a half minutes of new age tosh that really doesn't sound all that different here.
However the addition of Offenbach's 'Barcarolle' from 'The tales of Hoffman' is inspired and the strident and wholly musical intro is then muted to allow a vocal performance that really shines alongside a plaintive and beautiful harp. A stand out track.
Heinrich Sense's lyrics to ' In dulce jubilo' may be nearing 700 years old but it's still a very jolly pastoral piece that fits in very nicely here with Smith seeming to warm to the almost folk feel of tune and producing a performance well worth returning to.
After writing 'Night of silence' composer Kantor reckoned it could "make a group of singers sound like the mormon tabernacle choir". Unfortunately this is a little lacklustre here and although quite passable is outshone elsewhere.
'Blow the wind southerly' is always great fun and Smith's rendition is easily the most mature here. At times she sounds very similar to Enya but then reasserts her own identity and even the enjoyable and rock solid instrumentation comes in second behind her performance.
'Close to you' seems like a bit of an afterthought in this company and I have to say that, although I like the Carpenters, this track is not a favourite. My scepticism is proved unfounded though as a really very sweet and musical rendition is given that avoids imitating the original and keeps things simple. It works very nicely.
Lowry's tub thumping favourite 'How can I keep from singing' is not the most original of finales but as before Smith gives it her best and makes it all sound rather lovely.
That's really what sums this album up. Faryl Smith gives every track her best. Not everything works but thats as much to choice of track as anything and even the worst here,(step forward 'Night of silence'), are not dull and at least benefit from some excellent vocal work. She has a voice who's clarity can sometimes surprise the listener. She hits notes which should be beyond her vocal range so early in her career and is as at ease showing restraint and delicacy as she is letting rip and holding on to a note until your eyes water.
I didn't hold out much hope of enjoying this but am more than happy to be proved wrong and can quite happily recommend 'Wonderland'. Needless to say Decca have done an excellent job in both the orchestration given and the standard of recording.The idea of pop-opera does little for me but this is far more professional than the usual and avoids simply aiming for the popular all the time. No doubt you may disagree about what does & doesn't work here but there is certainly enough to enjoy and make this a worthwhile purchase.