Product Description A selection of William Shakespeare's much-loved sonnets, read by some of the world's finest actors, together with musical settings of passages from his sonnets and plays. The celebrated musicians have been brought together specially for this recording by the composer Michael Kamen. All the texts are included in the full-colour booklet, which features specially commissioned illustrations. .co.uk Let's face it--the line-up of stars on When Love Speaks, a benefit album for the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, is extraordinary. No fewer than 45 household names hack their way through a forest of Shakespeare sonnets--Kenneth Branagh, Juliet Stevenson, John Gielgud, Susannah York, Sian Phillips, Richard I-don't-believe-it Wilson and, well, 39 others. And this is both the strength and the weakness of the enterprise--it will sell like mad, then lie neglected on all too many shelves after a listening or two. Sure, there are plenty of delectable contributions, starting with Joseph Fiennes's startlingly whispered extract from The Tempest (although, naming no names, not all readers rise to the challenge). But it's an embarrassment of riches, needing far more of a balance between readings and the music--eight short, specially composed (and stylistically wide-ranging) Shakespeare settings with the occasional bit of lute-strumming. Sure, the musical performers give their all, from Barbara Bonney's melting soprano in Michael Kamen's setting of "The Willow Song from Othello (one of the better numbers) to the inimitable Ladysmith Black Mambazo and quavery-voiced Bryan Ferry. But there's too much head-counting here and not enough production. Best heard late night, darkened room, single malt to hand. --Andrew Green
M**A
One of the all time great CDs
I've never before bought more than one copy of a CD. I am now on no 8, as I love it so much I have to give it and lend it those who dont yet have it! This is truly astonishing, and proceeds go to the worthy cause of RADA to keep intelligent and beautiful interpretations of Shakespeare alive. Face it, have you sat down and read them all? And how better to study, and return to, and repeat favourites or those you haven't quite understood. It's what CD was invented for! The musical interludes are inspired, the readings, glorious (on the whole, a few surprisingly miss the mark) but the opening whisper and John Geilgud's now unfashionable but undeniably velvet, letting the music of the words intoxicate while the meaning is distilled through effortlessness. A total contrast to almost all others each with a personal slant, each with enough to make you think and re-think. Keb Mo's reggae version is impossible to hear sitting down, though, so beware! Congratulations to Alan Rickman and all. PS. After all these years I have had a really good extended listen on a long car journey, and...tell you what! it's even better than I thought!
G**S
When Love Speaks Audio CD
I have long wanted this particular CD and was so happy to have found it on Amazon. It is an amazing way to listen to some of the greatest words ever written by William Shakespeare and hearing them spoken by many of the very best of the British actors. Eight of the tracts are sung by well known singers and that gives another side to listening to Shakespeare. The words of William Shakespeare are brought to life with these amazing actors, as I find, nothing sounds as brilliant as Shakespeare spoken by the English tongue. To hear Sir John Gielgud speak the Bard's words is a privilege, as how many can say they have even seen him perform Shakespeare on stage. And when Alan Rickman speaks, well...GOOSEBUMPS. A brilliant CD.
A**R
A unique musical narrative.
Superb music tracks from Bryan Ferry and Annie Lennox and narration of the Sonnets by some of the best classical actors and actresses in the theatre.Put this on your Bose, large glass of wine, sherry or port, dim the light and enjoy the experience.
D**S
good learning tool
I bought this to help me get used to Shakespeare sonnets and pick 3 for an assessment at uni and I found being able to listen to them really helpful. They are very well spoken and the actors show a huge variety in performance of sonnets which is helpful for thinking outside the box in performance of these sonnets. The only strange thing is there seem to have been 3 or so random song tracks whose relevance I am yet to understand.
T**L
Good production. Songs not to my liking - spoiled ...
Good production. Songs not to my liking - spoiled some great sonnets for me --but plenty more on disk to please me.
F**D
Stunning
Some of the greatest read the greatest. Can't go wrong. It doesn't. Would my performance be the same? No, that's why this is such a good disk. These are some of the high-wire bits of Shakespeare - the bits you REALLY have to understand to read - and getting that understanding can take years. If you love Shakespeare, if you want to understand Shakespeare, if you love love stuff, buy this and enjoy it. Fergus McClelland - Ex-Royal Shakespeare Company.
A**R
A great set to listen to while driving as it calms ...
I bought this based on the song by Rufus Wainwright, but found the rest of the disc really enjoyable - understandable lyrics and words spoken by so many famous voices. Poignant to hear Alan Rickman again. A great set to listen to while driving as it calms all the usual frustrations!
R**N
Shakespeare's Sonnets out loud
Super recordings, so many different and great voices, had additional fun guessing who was reciting which sonnet!
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