Track Listing

1. O Fortuna
2. Benedictus (Ft Kiri Te Kanawa)
3. Myfanwy (Ft Bryn Terfel)
4. Conquest Of Paradise
5. How Great Thou Art
6. The Living Years
7. Ave Verum Corpus
8. Cantilena (Adiemus)
9. I Won't Walk This Road Alone
10. Anthem
11. Annie's Song
12. Land Of My Father's (Welsh National Anthem)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #58 in Music
• Released on: 2009-11-30
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .22 pounds

CD Description
Produced by Karl Jenkins and Nigel Wright, O Fortuna was recorded between July and October of 2009. and is a natural progression from Rhydian’s debut release. As well as being backed by a welsh male voice choir, the album sees him teaming up with classical heavyweight Karl Jenkins, opera superstar Bryn Terfel, harp virtuoso Catrin Finch and the legendary Dame Kiri Te Kanawa. Rhydian pays tribute to his Welsh heritage with a collection of much loved Welsh favourites such as "Land Of Our Fathers" and "Myfanwy", classic hymns like "How Great Thou Art", musical favourite "Anthem" from the musical Chess, pop classics "Annie’s Song" and "The Living Years" and the classical anthem "O Fortuna" . The album also includes a special new track, "I Won’t Let You Walk This Road Alone", written for Rhydian by Grammy award winning songwriter/producer Walter Afansieff.

Customer Reviews

Well done, Rhydian.
Like a phoenix, Rhydian finally shakes off the accusations of oddball-ness and arrogance with a beautiul album that might as well have been called "Pilgrimage." This is a humbling and uplifting work, almost with the sense of an offering.

Yes, the musical production is a tad overcooked, but Rhydian's lyric baritone voice has been kept well to the fore and escapes being swamped. The range of tracks is eclectic and the arrangements nicely varied. (In these respects, I find this more satisfying than the brilliant Susan Boyle's album.)

Rhydian ranges across several genres of music - and several languages! Four of the songs are by Karl Jenkins, who co-produced the album with Nigel Wright. Among them, the Welsh "Myfanwy," duetting with Bryn Terfel, is very expressive, but I love the "Cantilena: Adiemus." For those who remember an advertisement showing a young fellow sea-diving for pearls, this is the beautiful music which accompanied it. The "Ave Verum Corpus" is a Latin standout. There are also obviously "safe" tracks like "O Fortuna," "How Great Thou Art," and the wonderful "Anthem" from _Chess_, but it is in the rarities that Rhydian scores. And there are unexpected pleasures, like his heartfelt rendition of John Denver's classic, "Annie's Song."

Prepare for a major "goosebump" experience then - but more than that, Rhydian's is a world-class voice of breathtaking power and beauty that lifts his material - and his audience - to spiritual levels. Mainly, this is an extraordinarily brave and generous album. It speaks to the soul. Every track is precious, masterfully rendered and intensely moving - whether contemplative or rousing, passionate, aspirational. It's wonderful to see Rhydian fulfilling his promise and challenging his audience. On the strength of this, perhaps as a crossover artist he will explore opera some day - he would also do a great job with Lieder, and I personally think he could make a VERY fine Count in _The Marriage of Figaro_.

Unreservedly recommended to all. Well done indeed, Rhydian. Class all the way.

Outstanding Album
I am not an everyday lover of the classical music. I bought this album only because I've been still listening daily to Rhydian's first CD which has made me the life long follower or admirer of Rhydian's outstanding vocal talent.
His second album is very different from the first one, if there was no name of the artist on the cover I would have pass it without a second look, because as I said before I'd never bought any classical album.But I gave it a try and with no hesitation I can say that his 'O Fortuna' has raised over the first album with such the professional quality, vocal beauty and the spiritual power that listening to it has left me wishing for more albums like this from Rhydian.
I am not musically educated and I just can't understand how he is able to transform his baritone, beautifully warm tone of his voice in to the high tenor in the same song? He is the first class vocal magician for me. Outstanding!
Benedictus has made me cry,the voices of Dame Kiri and Rhydian have created the timeless song of Karl Jenkins into the most soul touching song I've ever heard, Rhydian has in O Fortuna transported himself and has taken me with him into the mystical times and his interpretation of this classical cantata is of the highest artistic power. What a voice! All the famous featured guests at his album, Dame Kiri Ti Kanawa, Bryn Terfel,Royal Harpist Caitrin Finch have together with Rhydian and the producer Karl Jenkins offered us with this album something to enjoy and treasure to the end of our lives.
Every single song on his second album is a master class, the brilliant production of Karl Jenkins has lifted this album in to the spheres of the precious jewels of the classical music.
This album is a MUST for all those who want from the music more than just the superficial pleasure.

A rising star
O Fortuna is without doubt my favourite album of the year... if not of the decade. Rhydian worked with renowned composer Karl Jenkins to produce an album that is a mixture of classical pieces along with Rhydian's interpretations of some more modern songs. It is an eclectic mix which has something for everyone. From the opening phrase on O Fortuna to the final note on Land of My Fathers his voice and the emotion he evokes never fails to impress or move to tears. If you buy just one more album this year make sure it is this one.