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Such luxurious rhapsody! The Art of Christmas is classy classical with a capital "C." My oh my, Carmen Balthrop is a dynamite soprano through and through--her incredible vocal instrument is smoky silk, running rich with sultry, but smooth, warmth. The artist's piano accompaniment by the extremely talented Carlos Cesar Rodriguez creates the perfect framework for her incredible voice.

The Art of Christmas, Volume 1 immediately begs the question, "Volume 1? Does the artist intend to release additional holiday offerings?" To this question, my answer can only be, "Oh yes, PLEASE!" And in fact, I asked Balthrop this question, and she assured me that she indeed envisions more Art of Christmas down the road. Amen.

The album graphics deserve mention. The front cover features a magnificent photo of Balthrop in full diva mode--all gold and glamour, with huge hair and cosmopolitan make-up. In contrast, Balthrop's picture on the flip side is equally lovely, just very different in style; now the look is sophisticated casual, and she wears an impish grin and a knowing smile.

Her album's content reflects that duality. All 16 tracks are intensely beautiful and sophisticated, and perhaps five are classical treasures that were previously unknown to me. The remaining are more accessible and familiar--ancient carols and two spirituals. All are presented with depth, sophistication, joy, and consummate professionalism.

The Art of Christmas enjoys delightful bookends: the excellent opening number "Sweet Little Jesus Boy" is a warm and evocative spiritual, and Balthrop's phrasing and intonation are just fantastic; at the album's close, "Mary's Boy Child" (written by Jester Hairston, but made famous by Harry Belafonte in 1956) has the requisite calypso flair, and the artist charges each word with sassy joy. Other favorite tracks must include the delicate and melancholy "Coventry Carol" and "In the Bleak Midwinter," the thrilling "Ave Maria," and the mysterious and dramatic "Noel des Jouets," which features a remarkably resonant lower register for Balthrop. Perhaps best of all is the lustrous and pristine "Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming."

Breathtaking!

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2004)

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From the liner notes:

Tracks #1-3, 11-13 & 15-16 arranged by Carlos Cesar Rodriguez

About Carmen Balthrop (soprano):

This American soprano has an astonishing range of repertoire from Baroque opera to contemporary song literature. She has appeared with most of the major opera companies in North America including The Metropolitan, Canadian, San Francisco, Dallas, Miami, Seattle, Houston and Florentine. European opera houses included Venice (Teatro La Fenice) and Spoleto, Italy, as well as Berlin (Teatro des Westens). Her orchestral appearances include oratorio and concert performances with the New York Philharmonic, National, Boston, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Houston and Detroit symphonies. In great demand as a recitalist, she has performed at the White House, the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, as well as in Italy, the Netherlands, Russia, China, Mexico and the Bahamas. National Public Radio chose to air, on Christmas day (2000), the live recording of her Christmas art song recital, performed at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.

About Carlos Cesar Rodriguez (piano):

A musician of exceptional brilliance and versatility, Mr. Rodriguez has gained recognition as a virtuoso pianist who not only generates unusual excitement in the Spanish and Latin-American Keyboard repertoire but also displays an extraordinary flair for Mozart and the great Romantics. He made his New York debut at the Weill Recital Hall, Carnegie Hall and has performed in Austria, Spain, Bolivia and Costa Rica. Mr. Rodriguez regularly collaborates with Placido Domingo and the Washington Opera.

Carmen Balthrop

The Art of Christmas,
Volume 1

Artist link

Track List