Review and More

Our Review

Tenor Carl Tanner has a fascinating back story. A former truck driver and bounty hunter (notice the record label!), this talent was "discovered" when he burst into song in a Greenwich Village restaurant. On Hear the Angel Voices, Tanner lets loose his tenor instrument on 16 holiday favorites, ranging from the serious classical to the relatively light-hearted contemporary, with more emphasis on the former.

Tanner's a grand singer, and the delivery here is less stuffy than for your average operatic type. His tones are rich and controlled, and you can sense just how much he loves the season. As is true for most classical artists tackling popular holiday fare, the level of vibrato sometimes hits the "red zone" for me, but that's just the nature of the genre. Tanner definitely comes across as a likable, regular fellow who just happens to have an outstanding voice.

If you think you'd like Pavrotti in a comfortable flannel shirt, Hear the Angel Voices may be perfect for you. The album has many highlights. For me, the most moving track is The Lord's Prayer; Tanner delivers this number with tremendous faith--you can hear his heart in every bar. The Northwest Boychoir on Little Drummer Boy adds a lovely, youthful dimension to the number, and Tanner's soulful Silent Night definitely hits the mark. The orchestral support works well, but did tend to crowd Tanner's vocals a bit on The First Noel.

Hear the Angel Voices ends brilliantly with Tanner's warm and accessible treatment of The Christmas Song; the instrumental support here is lighter and jazzier. By the time the track finishes, you will have a smile on your face. I certainly did!

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2009)

More

From the liner notes:

Vocals: Carl Tanner
Executive Producers: Stephen Hsieh and Maureen Hanley
Produced by John McCracken for John McCracken Productions, NYC
Engineered by Richard King
Orchestra Conducted by Steven Mercurio
Arranged by Steven Mercurio (2,6,7,11,12) & Christian Kolonovits (1,9,10,15)
Project Coordinator: Monica Melendez
Orchestra: Northwest Sinfonia
Contractor: David Sabee
Choir: The Northwest Sinfonia Choir
Boys Choir: The Northwest Boychoir

"Hear the Angel Voices" is a Christmas recording that I began planning from the time I first learned to sing in church as a teenager. "O Holy Night" and "The Lord's Prayer" are two pieces of music that I have sung consistently around the world. And every time I sang them, people have reconfirmed my desire to record them for posterity. Christmas has always been my favorite time of year. Even though I spend most of my time singing as a Tenor in the world of opera, I have always found that the music which truly moves my soul and spirit the most is Christmas and Gospel music. I hope these songs will move your soul and spirit as well. And listen close...you just may "Hear the Angel Voices."


From the Website:

After earning a degree in performance [from the Shenandoah Conservatory of Music], I went back home to Arlington without a clue of what to do next.

I started truck driving (semi) after college and was later offered a job as a licensed modern day Bounty Hunter. Yep, I was crazy enough to take it. It was exciting for a while and even though I was very good at it, it was not my calling. I started noticing signs that I was chosen to sing. I didn't know what I wanted to do but I knew it was singing! After many family, friends and strangers convinced me to follow my talent, I did.

I moved to New York City in December 1990. I arrived with a small bag of clothes and $75.00. I moved in with friends and started looking for work. I was walking in Greenwich Village one evening and heard opera singing coming from a little restaurant called Bianchi and Margarita's. I walked in, sat down at the bar and told the bartender I would have a coke. He replied, "coke's not good for your voice". I asked him how he knew I was a singer? He said he could tell by the way I spoke. If you have heard me speak, then you know I have a very unusual speaking voice. I then got up and sang. This was the beginning of my career. In the restaurant that night was Richard Gaddes, the head of Santa Fe Opera. He offered me a role in one of the operas that they were doing the following summer.

My career has so far taken me around the world.

Carl Tanner

Hear the Angel Voices

Artist link

Track List