Diva:The Singles Collection

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