Prayers

1	Deux mélodies hébraïques,
2	Vesperae solennes de conf
3	Ave Maria
4	Amazing Grace
5	Breit' uber mein Haupt di
6	Le siège de Corinthe (The
7	Requiem, for 2 solo voice
8	Der vierjährige Posten, S
9	Messe solennelle de Saint
10	Maria Stuarda, opera: Pre
11	Requiem for My Friend, fo
12	1600 Pennsylvania Avenue,
13	Casanova, musical comedy
14	Say a Prayer for Me Tonig
15	Sometimes I Feel Like a M
Prayers
1.	Deux mélodies hébraïques, for voice & piano (or orchestra): Kaddisch 4:12
	Composed by Maurice Ravel
	Conducted by James Conlon
	Performed by Sumi Jo and Cologne Philharmonic
2.	Vesperae solennes de confessore for soloists, chorus, & orchestra, K. 339: Laudate Dominum 4:04
	Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
	Conducted by James Conlon
	Performed by Sumi Jo and Cologne Philharmonic
3.	Ave Maria - arranged by Mercurio, Steven 4:00
	Composed by Giulio Caccini
	Conducted by James Conlon
	Performed by Sumi Jo and Cologne Philharmonic
4.	Amazing Grace 2:39
	Composed by John Newton
	Conducted by James Conlon
	Performed by Sumi Jo and Cologne Philharmonic
5.	Breit' uber mein Haupt dien schwarzes Haar, song for voice & piano, Op. 19/2 1:59
	Composed by Richard Strauss
	Performed by James Conlon and Sumi Jo
6.	Le siège de Corinthe (The Siege of Corinth), opera: L'ora fatal s'appressa...Giusto ciel 6:24
	Composed by Gioachino Rossini
	Conducted by James Conlon
	Performed by Sumi Jo and Cologne Philharmonic
7.	Requiem, for 2 solo voices chorus, organ, & orchestra, Op. 48: Pie Jesu 3:21
	Composed by Gabriel Fauré
	Conducted by James Conlon
	Performed by Sumi Jo and Cologne Philharmonic
8.	Der vierjährige Posten, Singspiel, D. 190: Gott! Höre meine Stimme! 5:18
	Composed by Franz Schubert
	Conducted by James Conlon
	Performed by Sumi Jo and Cologne Philharmonic
9.	Messe solennelle de Sainte Cécile for soloists, chorus, orchestra & organ in G major: Sanctus 5:27
	Composed by Charles Gounod
	Conducted by James Conlon
	Performed by Sumi Jo and Cologne Philharmonic
10.	Maria Stuarda, opera: Preghiera di Maria 3:44
	Composed by Gaetano Donizetti
	Conducted by James Conlon
	Performed by Sumi Jo and Cologne Philharmonic
11.	Requiem for My Friend, for solo voices, string quartet, double bass, organ & percussion: Lacrimosa 3:27
	Composed by Zbigniew Preisner
	Conducted by James Conlon
	Performed by Sumi Jo and Cologne Philharmonic
12.	1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, musical: Take care of this house 3:01
	Composed by Leonard Bernstein
	Conducted by James Conlon
	Performed by Susan Graham, Sumi Jo and Cologne Philharmonic
13.	Casanova, musical comedy (Strauss works arr. by Benatzky): Nun's Chorus...Laura's Song 3:27
	Composed by Johann Strauss II
	Conducted by James Conlon
	Performed by Sumi Jo and Cologne Philharmonic
14.	Say a Prayer for Me Tonight (from "Gigi"), song 2:46
	Composed by Frederick Loewe
	Conducted by James Conlon
	Performed by Sumi Jo and Cologne Philharmonic
15.	Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child 3:21
	Composed by Traditional Spiritual
	Performed by James Conlon and Sumi Jo

Barnes & Noble

From the Italian Baroque to the Broadway musical, from the African-American spiritual to the sacred works of Mozart, soprano Sumi Jo's recital of Prayers offers a deeply moving survey of the countless ways music has been used to express religious faith over the centuries. Jo, the Korean-born coloratura whose impeccable technique and winning personality have made her one of today's most popular classical singers, is truly a vocal chameleon. Whether she's singing the mesmerizing Hebrew "Kaddisch" of Maurice Ravel, the angelic "Breit' über mein Haupt" of Richard Strauss, or an unaccompanied and truly soulful rendition of "Amazing Grace," Jo never fails to captivate the listener with her expressive range and unerring sense of style. Most impressive from a purely vocal standpoint are two prayer scenes from the bel canto opera repertory in which Jo excels: Donizetti's Maria Stuarda and Rossini's L'assedio di Corinto. But as Jo proved on her crossover album Only Love, she has a flair for musical theater, too. On Prayers, she makes a successful return to Broadway territory with Lerner and Loewe's "Say a Prayer for Me Tonight" from Gigi and Bernstein's "Take Care of This House" from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue -- the latter a lovely duet with star mezzo-soprano Susan Graham. Works by Schubert, Gounod, Johann Strauss (recalling Jo's triumphant Voices of Spring album), and Fauré are also featured here, and the soprano's silvery voice more than does them justice with the support of conductor (and pianist) James Conlon and the Gürzenich-Orchester Kölner Philharmoniker. No matter what spiritual outlook you subscribe to, you're bound to find Jo's recital both beautiful and inspirational. Scott Paulin

Gramophone

Here there is much to enjoy, as a beautiful voice goes hand in hand with mostly well-judged accompaniments from the Gürzenich-Köln Orchestra under James Conlon and a first-rate recording... It is, on balance, an attractive collection. Richard Fairman