Robert Prizeman

Review: The beautiful full-color liner notes of "Angel Voices" fold out to show us a panoramic portrait of white-clad boy singers, ages 7 to 14, members of renowned 23-voice, South London-based boy's choir, Libera. Libera's repertoire is wide, from classical and cathedral pieces to works for pop and media productions. The backlit photo makes the boys appear to be angels, and that impression is not at all diminished by the sweetly soaring music. "Far Away," "Sanctus" (based on Pachelbel's "Canon"), "Ave Maria," the touching "Going Home" (based on Dvorak's "From the New World"), the lovely hymn "Be Still My Soul," the stunning "Salva Me," "I Vow to Thee, My Country," "Voca Me," the poignant, "Always with You," "We Are the Lost," the marvelous "I Am the Day" and "Recordare" are favorites, but all 15 light-to-heavily-accompanied tunes are very fine. Pure soprano leads and harmonies, a touching, well-chosen song selection - "Voices" is a choral treat that lifts us up from the earthbound mundane to the bright, clear, rarified air of angels.

Songlist: Far Away, Sanctus, Ave Maria, Going Home, Be Still My Soul, Salva Me, I Vow To Thee My Country, Voca Me, Always With You, We Are The Lost, I Am The Day, Recordare, Abide With Me, Silent Night, Going Home

Review: Libera's latest chart-topping album 'Free' has an alluring atmosphere of its own, with Libera sublimely blending traditional hymns, plainsong and modern compositions that instill an incredible tranquility and freedom that awakens the soul. Soaring high notes, entrancing voices, blissful harmonies, ethereal sounds and striking chords are the essence of Libera Robert Prizeman composed the songs unearthing and developing the natural vocal characteristics of each of the boys, both as part of the ensemble and as soloists. Along with its predecessors, 'Free' has a global appeal that transcends all others.

Songlist: I am the day, Stay with me, Voca me, A song of enchantment, Ave verum, Do not stand at my gate, When a knight, A new heaven, I vow to thee my country, Lament, Twilight, Be still my soul, Adoramus

Review: This recording, combines sacred texts, familiar tunes and a choir and fuses it with new age and techno styles. The Sanctus is arranged from Pachelbel's Canon and Te Lucis uses the Canon by Tallis. The texts were adapted from the Latin Mass, Requiem, Stabat Mater, Compline and the Psalms. The pure and perfectly blended sound of Libera adds depth to this music. Composer Robert Prizeman, who is also Libera's director, has created a whirlpool of sound, which attempts to create a freedom of the mind.

Songlist: Salva Me, Sanctus, Agnus Dei, Libera, Mysterium, Jubilate, Beata lux, Dies Irae, Te Lucis, Sancta, Angelis, Lux Aeterna

Review: A beautiful swan extends its wing against a pastel blue background on the cover of "Luminosa," and it sets the mood for the first cut, "Vespera," which begins with a Gregorian-type chant, picks up soaring synthesizer and sweet soprano harmonies, and returns to one of the loveliest solos we've heard. This is sacred choral music crossing over into New Age, the Leslie Garrett Show is big in England, and so is Libera who has had several highly successful songs in the British charts. There is a picture of the group in the center of the liner notes, 13 young boys, probably 6 to 8 years old, dressed casually, hanging out with each other. There are 12 songs here, occaisionally accompanied, but the focus is on the amazing, perfect voices of the boys. On "Ave Maria" (based on Ave Maria by Caccini), "Lacrymosa" (based on Carnival of the Animals by Saint Saens), "Sacris Solemnis" (based on Symphony No. 7: Allegretto by Beethoven) and "Semele" (from Semele by Handel), we hear these classical pieces in a new light. The title tune, based on "Clair de Lune" by Debussy, is a haunting, dreamy masterpiece, "Stabat" beautifully continues the mood, as does "Veni Sancte" and the final cut, "Sanctus II," based on Pachelbel's "Canon." Highly recommended and simply lovely throughout.

Songlist: Vespera, Lacrymosa, Sacris Solemnis, Attendite, Gaudete, Silencium, Semele, Luminosa, Stabat, Veni Sancte, Sanctus II, Ave Maria

Review: The twenty-four boys aged seven to sixteen who make up the vocal band Libera, and who meet several hours each week at a church in South London to rehearse and perform, have been described as "normal" and "ordinary". However, as their new EMI CD amply demonstrates, the music the produce is truly extraordinary. With shimmering, mystical chords and ecstatic harmonies, they are unlike any other group you have ever heard. Of the twelve tracks on Visions, Libera's second album for EMI Classics, a few will sound familiar, including Locus Iste, which is based on the well-known Pachelbel Canon, the hymn Abide with me, and Ave Maria. The remaining tracks are entirely original, with titles like New Day, Sing for ever and Something sings. The singers of Libera attend local primary schools and come from a variety of backgrounds. Although they are boys and they sing, they do not think of themselves as choirboys, but rather as an alternative kind of boy band. While the unique sound of Libera may be impossible to pigeonhole, its universal appeal has endeared the group to fans all over the world, particularly in the US, the UK, Korea and Japan, where their previous CDs have topped the mainstream and classical charts.

Songlist: Locus Iste (Sanctus), Always With You, Ave Maria, Libera, Sempiterna, Prayer, Recordare, Wings Of A Dove, Something Sings, New Day, We Are The Lost, Sing Forever, Abide With Me