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: #97 in Music
• Released on: 2009-11-30
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .23 pounds
• 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

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.

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.

Wonderful Wonderland
Wonderland

Faryl Smith's appearance at the Albert Hall Festival of Remembrance this year - 2009 - won me over. Her dignified presentation and uplifting voice made me want more. I bought her first album but - as she said herself - the titles were chosen for her and I was disappointed as no doubt was she but this album - WONDERLAND - is refreshingly different and suits her voice and personality perfectly. With the right guidance and support I can see her replace Katherine Jenkins as the voice of our Armed Services and good luck to her. A lovely girl with a moving selection of songs.