Audra McDonald - How Glory Goes

Over-the-top at times, but incredible skill and timbre

This is my first album from Audra McDonald, so I will not make the error of determining her ability based only on this album.

McDonald has a classic Broadway voice, and one that can be pictured in nearly any Disney production or classic stage work. Whether it is my adapted ear that hears the "belter" style as abrasive, or it is an actual problem wit McDonald's voice, there are points in this album when I feel my own larynx growing tight just listening to her! But that is traditional Broadway sound, and these classic pieces are performed quite well and within the suitable genre.

I would only challenge her to work to understand the difference in perceived timbre (sound quality) from stage to studio recording. What sounds beautiful on a large stage, in a theater filled with people, can sound harsh on a high-quality recording. January 8, 2008

Glorious Audra

There need to be more stars than five for this one! Incredible voice,phrasing and music arrangements.Absolutely beautiful! July 13, 2007

Fine voice but not one that resonates with me - a detail often overlooked...

Here's the thing about music and those who listen to it. There are some wonderful singers out there and I think Audra McDonald is one of them. But listen to her sample tracks (or, for that matter, anyone's sample tracks, if you can) BEFORE buying this.

Her voice is a bit too high for me, not warm and melodic. Others may disagree and so I hesitate to be negative because I do think what appeals to some will leave others cold. I listened to this CD in a store as well as on Amazon, just to make sure I wasn't hearing the sound wrong. I can't say she does a thing wrong and yet her style simply doesn't reach me the way others do, even those with lesser voices. But then I guess thats what makes any work, from music to books, so personal. Very few have a universal appeal. June 28, 2007

A joyful, sexy sound, with look and spirit to match

I've owned this CD for so long and had to stop listening to it when a very jealous girlfriend of mine was around that I forgot to share with others how good it is. Audra McDonald is already a legendary figure on Broadway with four Tony awards, exemplifying the complete package of drama and artistry she is on stage. Yet that voice, which could just as easily have taken her to the Met as it did to the theatres downtown, is in rare expressive form on this CD tribute to Harold Arlen and others.

I don't want to spoil the experience of the songs by going into detail. Just know from the moment you hear "Anywhere I Hang My Hat is Home" with her beautiful voice, wonderful technique and deeply poignant subtext that celebrates her ability to interpret to the point of personalize the songs she sings, you will be more than satisfied with this CD.

Not Judy Garland or Barbra Streisand yet? Don't worry, she's got time. And she's on her way. June 21, 2006

Terrific Album, Beautiful Voice

I am most definitely an Audra McDonald fan. I saw her live recently at Linclon Center in the American Songbook Series and was blown away.

This CD is a must buy for anyone who loves musical theater or great singing. Ms. McDonald is able to take a song you've heard a million times and make you feel like you've never heard it before. She is able to capture the emotional content of a song without making it sappy or overly sentimental. From Showboat's "Bill," which she sings with child-like wonder, to "The Man That Got Away," which drips with lament and regret, every song in this collection strikes the right chord.

An amazing voice and a gift for acting make her one of the best entertainers around. If you get a chance to see her live, don't ask questions, just do it. In the meanwhile listen to this wonderful CD. May 19, 2005

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