This is my review of Surrender. I just received this CD, and it is fabulous. I hope that you enjoy my review. In the booklet (which is very big due to alot of Sarah pics) there aren't any lyrics, but they give the song, year, and a little something Andrew says about how they chose the song. Example : Tell Me On A Sunday : (from Tell Me On A Sunday) 1979. I will give the little note and everything.

1. Surrender

Wow. A fantastic song. This song is absoleutly beautiful. Done in the musical out of a little time, this song has been extended for this album.

Note from Andrew : This is a recurring theme in SUNSET BOULEVARD, here expanded as a complete song in its own right.

2. Unexpected Song

This is another fantastic song. It is so FABULOUS! That is my word :) It is a wonderful example of Sarah's range.

Note from Andrew : This was originally written for Variation 5 of VARIATIONS (1978) but when this was combined with TELL ME ON A SUNDAY as SONG AND DANCE, lyrics by Don Black were set to it for its television premiere by Sarah Brightman in 1984. ALthough a highlight of Sarah's programme, it has never been recorded with a full orchestra.

3. Chanson D'Enfance.

Fabulous. Absoleutly marveoulous! Just simply wonderful. Very soothing. Anybody could like this song, no matter if they like rap music!

Note from Andrew : This is the Pyreneean theme from ASPECTS OF LOVE, expanded with a new section composed this yar with the proposed film of the musical in mind. Sarah Brightman had a major critical success both in London and on Broadway as Rose in this production.

4. Tell Me On A Sunday

Wow! ANOTHER FABULOUS SONG!!!!!!!!!!! I can't believe it! Someone once said about this album 'Andrew, you have really outdone yourself!'

Note from Andrew : The title song of the one-woman show, this is recorded here with a full orchestra by Sarah for the first time.

5. Nothing Like You've Ever Known

Great. Marvelous. Wonderful. Terrific. Fabulous. Amazing. Whatever the words are that you can find, tell me, and I'll add them!

Note from Andrew : Another song from TELL ME ON A SUNDAY, here included with an orchestration by the late Larry Wilcox. It is the first time the orchestration has been played or recorded.

6. Macavity: the Mystery Cat.

I don't know what to say! Outstanding. It shows Sarah completely different.

Note from Andrew : Written for Cats, Sarah and I wanted to include this song to show a completely different side of her voice.

7. Gus: the Theatre Cat

Wonderful! This song is dueted by Sarah and Sir John Gielgud)

Note from Andrew : This is another song that has been in Sarah's concert programme for a long time. We had the exciting oppurtunity of working with Sir John Gielgud.

8. Piano (MEMORY-ITALIAN VERSION)

A beautiful song, put in a higher key for Sarah, and translated into Italian.

Note from Andrew : Best known as "Memory" in CATS and premiered for a lower and very different voice than Sarah's, in that show, it was originally composed for an idea I had to write a short opera about the rivalry of the composers Leoncavallo and Pucinni on the subject of La Boheme. Leoncavallo's version opened to good reviews. Puccini's did not and was an instant hit. There is not space to go into here what the role of this melody would have been if I had ever finished the piece, but suffice it to say that those who observe "Memory" is Pucciniesque are dead right. It was meant to be. The Italian translation gave us a chance to record the song in the way it might have been scored if the original idea had been completed.

9. Everything's Allright.

Okay. Not as good as the others, but still enjoyable. The only thing I don't like is the person who plays Judas in this recording. In my opinion, he isn't for singing :(

Note from Andrew : Another song that has been part of Sarah's concert programme over the last few years.

10. The Last Man in my life

Fabulous. All the other words I used above are also meant for this song!

Note from Andrew : Another song from TELL ME ON A SUNDAY and another highlight of Sarah's concert programme. It too has not previously been recorded with it's full orchestration.

11. Pie Jesu

Great. It is another fabulous song dueted with Paul Miles Kingston.

Note from Andrew : This is the original recording from REQUIEM. I find it interesting to hear how much Sarah's voice has changed in the last ten years.

12. Amigos Para Siempre

Okay. Jose Carreras is not good for a duet. It seems he is overpowering Sarah, and she is trying hard to get over his voice. But he notices and gets over hers :(

Note from Andrew : This song was commissioned from me as the theme tune to the Olympic Games held in Barcelona in 1992 and performed live by Sarah Brightman and Jose Carreras at the closing ceremony, which was watched by a TV audience of 1.2 billion.

13. No Llores Por Mi Argentina

Marvelous! Don't Cry for Me Argentina in Spanish.

Note from Andrew : This song, too, has been part of Sarah's concert repertoire for a long time, but never before in Spanish. This is the first version to be recorded with the original orchestrations since the concept album in 1976.

14. Guardami

Absoleutly wonderful to show Sarah's high voice! This is a must listen to.

Note from Andrew : This is the Italian translation of "WITH ONE LOOK" from "SUNSET BOULEVARD" This song was originally written for the role of Norma Desmond, the ageing and reclusive star of the silent screen, and therefore was composed for a far different voice than Sarah's. But an early sketch of the melody reminded me that I had an idea to use it in a version of The Little Mermaid and of its potential for soprano. This project was never pursued. Somehow the words, didn't fit well at all in a high key in English, a problem I have with "MEMORY" One sing-through with an Italian translation solved the problem.

15. There is More to Love

Absoleutly wonderful. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY IN THESE REVIEWS, THEY ARE SO GOOD!

Note from Andrew : This was a late addition to the score of ASPECTS after its West End opening. It has been apart of Sarah's repertoire and again has not been previously recorded by her.

16. Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again

A new version than from the original Phantom, and other CDs.

Note from Andrew : This is another highlight of Sarah's programme and was premiered by her when she played Christine in the PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. Here it is newly recorded.

17. The Music of the Night

This is absoleutly wonderful! The best version I have ever heard besides Michael Crawford.

Note from Andrew : The melody of this song was originally written for Sarah Brightman and was intended for an early draft of ASPECTS OF LOVE. However, it found its way into PHANTOM, sung by the Phantom. Sarah Brightman has sung the song in concert for several years and this is the first time she has reclaimed it on record.

1. Surrender - Sunset Boulevard, 1993 2. Unexpected Song - Song & Dance, 1982 3. Chanson D'Enfance - Aspects of Love, 1989 4. Tell Me on a Sunday - Song & Dance, 1982 5. Nothing Like You've Ever Known - Song & Dance, 1982 6. Macavity: The Mystery Cat - Cats, 1981 7. Gus the Theatre Cat - Cats, 1981 8. Piano - Cats, 1981 9. Everything's Allright - Jesus Christ Superstar, 1973 10. The Last Man in My Life - Song & Dance, 1982 11. Pie Jesu - Requiem, 1985 12. Amigos Para Siempre - Barcelona Olympics, 1992 13. No Llores Por Mi Argentina - Evita, 1979 14. Guardami - Sunset Boulevard, 1993 15. There is More to Love - Aspects of Love, 1989 16. Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again - The Phantom of the Opera, 1987 17. The Music of the Night - The Phantom of the Opera, 1987