Barnes & Noble
Sarah Brightman's Diva: The Singles Collection picks up where Classics -- the singer's 2001 greatest hits collection -- left off, bringing together her best pop, Broadway, and classical work on one career-spanning album. Starting off with the title song from the show that launched her career -- Phantom of the Opera -- the collection draws on Brightman hits like "Nella Fantasia" and "Time to Say Goodbye," as well as other pop and classically-influenced songs, to showcase the voice of one of today's biggest crossover sensations. Also available on DVD
All Music Guide
Sarah Brightman and Frank Peterson must need more time to cook up their new project, otherwise this singles collection wouldn't be necessary to tide her fans over. Brightman's last thematic project -- in a series that began with 1993's Dive -- was Harem in 2003. It spawned singles, a world tour documented on DVD, and plenty of product to tide the faithful over. This set can be considered the companion disc to 2001's Classics. It contains show tunes such as "Phantom of the Opera" and "Music of the Night" (already compiled on Surrender from 1998), and music from her thematic solo recordings: there are four whopping cuts from Timeless, or as we in the U.S. know it, Time to Say Goodbye; a pair from Eden, and two off Luna, including her overblown reading of "Whiter Shade of Pale," and one from Fly. There are also a couple of classical numbers, including her unmistakably gorgeous "Pie Jesu." Undoubtedly, fans will have to snap this up, but chances are they already have everything here. This is not necessarily the best introduction to this singer, but it will suffice. Thom Jurek