Aria 2: New Horizon

I have all three in the Aria series, and I feel that Aria 2 is the best. They all are really good, this just happens to hot a special note so to speak with me.Creator Paul Schwartz's second effort after chart-topping ARIA stays true to its original format: fresh arrangements of popular operatic arias in which the voice floats over swelling orchestrations and ambient dance grooves. The track Ave Maria is amazing. This is a monumental orchestration effort that does not just use a synthesizer like on some cd's, but huge full orchestras.TracksArianna - AriaEbben - AriaAddio - AriaHorizon - AriaBarcarolle - AriaCantilena - AriaSviraj (Lullabye) - AriaInterlude - AriaPavane - AriaAve Maria - AriaLeiermann - AriaLullabye (Sviraj) - AriaPerformance CreditsPaul Schwartz Primary Artist,Piano,ConductorJohn Anderson Oboe D'amoreClair Marlo VocalsPeter White GuitarTony Lewis CelloPaul Adamy BassSteve Barton VocalsMike Brittain BassBen Cruft ViolinCaroline Dale CelloPhilippa Davies FluteLiz Edwards ViolinRoger Garland ViolinWilfred Gibson ViolinGarfield Jackson ViolaPaul Kegg CelloKevin Kuhn GuitarChris Laurence BassMartin Loveday CelloRita Manning ViolinMaciej Rakowski ViolinGeorge Robertson ViolaCathy Thompson ViolinGavyn Wright Strings,Violin,String QuartetMarc Antoine GuitarBill Benham ViolaRichard Bissill HornDermot Crehan ViolinMary Scully BassVaughan Armon ViolinPeter Lale Viola,String QuartetPatrick Kiernan ViolinBoguslaw Kostecki ViolinJackie Shave Strings,Violin,String QuartetBruce White ViolaRebecca Luker VocalsCafé del Mar Track PerformerPaul Clarvis PercussionCathy Giles CelloRichard Watkins HornEverton Nelson ViolinAlison Dodds ViolinRebecca Hirsch ViolinNigel Black HornRachel Bolt ViolaTerry Silverlake DrumsPaul Clavis PercussionSimon Fisher ViolinEmlyn Singleton ViolinWarren Zielinski ViolinKate Musher ViolaSimon Fischer ViolinRoberto Bryce VocalsJohn Anderson OboePerry Montague-Mason ViolinThomas Bowes ViolinKatie Wilkinson Khoroshunin ViolaJames McLeod ViolinJonathan Evans-Jones ViolinJonathan Williams Cello,String QuartetPhilip de Groote CelloPhillip Eastop Horn

My husband brought Aria for me when it first released, I believe, in 1998. I fell in love with it, and it received steady rotation in my cd player. I found out about Aria 2 and brought it on the strength of Aria alone, and was not disappointed. The music is rich, lush and refreshingly different from the tired and trite pop music found on the radio. You would expect such a fusion to be hard on the ear, but it's not, this a wonderful cd to relax to.A fan of operatic and classical music since a child, Schwartz fuses the classical and contemporary wonderfully. I've described it to friends as "classical, R & B, with a little hip hop thrown in". That description really does not do it justice, but I can't think of a better one just yet. This is not your grandmother's classical music!!

For months, I own and listen to the first ARIA with amazement. Then, listening to the excerpts here on Amazon tempted me to get ARIA2. What a disappointment! Perhaps the success of the first Aria spoiled the talent in this sad production. It really tries to capture the essence of the original, and sadly fails. Got the impression they tried to make a formula from Aria(1) and ended up with a heavy handed technique. The effect in Aria2 is one of trying too hard, or just blase tiredness. I listened to this album with not even half the pleasure obtained from the startling ground-breaking first album. I had to put this in my easy listening section for use as mere background music. By the way, I ordered this album on Amazon as a used item with a vendor who described it as Like New - it arrived with food particles stuck to the playing side! And the multifold jacket appeared frayed and bent. Then there was an issue with the postage. I have copied here the review I made shortly after receiving and listening to this CD and it appeared here and viewers wrote to me and then the review disappeared. I ended my review with an uncomplimentary comment on the sales transaction.

Great music.

I own all 3 of these. Play them frequently. So much so I ordered another set...

Love his music

I've owned both Aria 1 and 2 for about TEN years now, I love them both. Something about the soaring vocals and rich, complex instrumentals touches me more deeply than anything I've ever listened to. One of my faves Ave Maria. It starts out fast with crazy drum loops that gives it a new age vibe; then "boom!" the symphony opens up and steals the show with the voice of Rebecca Luker. This CD is sexy. I also love Aria 1. Trust me it's hot. ;-)

Everyone that hears it, ask.."WHO IS THIS!"

Beautiful!!!

great music. a nice twist on the classics.

Nach "Aria3, Metamorphosis" meine zweite Aria. Sehr schöne Stücke, auch in englischer, französischer und tschechischer Sprache. Gute Abwechslung zwischen ruhig und powervoll. Sehr schön zum Entspannen.

A real experience, in the same vibes as Aria 1 but with differents angles.Amazing CD if you have a great sound system to extract all the emotions and vibes :-)

ポール・シュワルツのariaシリーズ第２弾です。おそらくファーストアルバムがかなり成功しての２枚目なのでしょうが、１枚目を聴いていない私にはこれが初ポール・シュワルツです。一言で言って癒されます。普段は全くクラシックや伝承音楽等聴かない私が聴いていて耳に心地良く、聖歌隊やパーカッションを取り入れたアレンジメントは、クラシック音楽の陳腐でない現代風解釈として成功していると思います。特に、レベッカ・ルッカー、クレア・マルロ等によるヴォーカルはこのアルバムに格調高さを添えています。なかでもお気に入りなのは"Ave Maria"とクロアチアのララバイ。そのほかにもギターソロがジプシーキングスみたいな"pavane"もいいです。欲を言えば選曲にもう少しバラエティーが欲しかったところですが、作り込んでいるなあ〜と感心させられるところも多々あります。それでいてボーッと聴いていても包み込まれるような心地よさに浸れる珠玉のアルバムでした。