(17 August 2003) Summer is a classically trained vocalist whose rich, sumptuous voice can soar effortlessly over music written by some of the world's all time greatest composers; Beethoven, Vivaldi, Strauss, Rodrigo, Sting, and Ennio Morricone are just some of the names from the past and present whose music Summer has chosen to present on her self-titled debut album (Sony Music Entertainment Ltd (UK) SK89879) released in April 2003.

Although Summer's debut album is more classically styled than others in the crossover genre, it will appeal to enthusiasts of Sarah Brightman review), Emma Shapplin (review), Izzy (review), Filippa Giordano (review), Sasha Lazard (review) and Laura Turner (feature).

Summer is comprised of twelve tracks the artist personally selected and in several cases arranged by the singer herself. Produced by Nick Patrick (Gipsy Kings, Russell Watson), guest musicians include bassist Pino Palladino (Celine Dion, Peter Gabriel, Eric Clapton), keyboardist Richard Cottle (Mick Jagger, Manic Street Preachers, Vanessa-Mae), guitarist Dominic Miller (Sting), percussionist Miles Bould (John Martyn, James Asher) and renowned orchestral arranger and conductor Nick Ingman who, on this album, conducts the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

"Putting the album together was exciting and the realisation of a dream," says Summer. "It features a huge range of styles and songs. I really wanted to get across not just the fact that I'm an opera singer but that I love singing everything from purely classical pieces to jazz, world and pop." In an effort to bring something different to the table, Summer sought out pieces from around the world and blended them to create an exquisite mix of classical music, world influences, new arrangements and timeless lyrics.

What separates Summer's debut from anything that has gone before is the seamless fusion that has been achieved between the classical and ethnic musical idioms, a fusion that takes nothing from either genre, but rather adds to both and creates a style that is both emotively powerful and intellectually satisfying. The clearest analogy is the combination of jazz and roots that has made Norah Jones debut album review one of the top selling albums on 2002.

The Summer album includes the exciting opening number "Nella Fantasia" by Ennio Morricone with lyrics by Chiara Ferrau; the Spanish song, "Palabra De Honor," which was a huge hit for the Gipsy Kings; "Aranjuez ma Pensee," an arrangement of the Guitar Concerto written in the 1930s by Spanish composer Joaquín Rodrigo with lyrics by Victoria Kahmi; an exquisite French lullaby "Berceuse" by the the 19th century composer Benjamin Godard; the beautiful "Song To The Moon" by the 19th century composer Antonin Dvorák with lyrics by Jaroslav Kvapil; and an extraordinary cover of Sting's song "Fragile."

Read further reviews, listen to soundbites and order the album from amazon.comhere. Clearly worth a trans-Atlantic journey, Summer's debut album is a must listen!