Wonderland (Faryl Smith album)
| Wonderland | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by Faryl Smith | ||||
| Released | 30 November 2009 | |||
| Recorded | Sarm Studios, Notting Hill, London | |||
| Genre | Classical crossover | |||
| Length | 51:57 | |||
| Label | Decca | |||
| Producer | Jon Cohen | |||
| Faryl Smith chronology | ||||
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 "Somewhere Far Away (Merry Xmas Mr. Lawrence)" promotional video on YouTube
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Daily Express |   |
| The Sun | Positive |
| The Independent | |
Wonderland is the second studio album by teenage mezzo-soprano Faryl Smith, released by Decca Records on 30 November 2009. Smith became famous after her participation in Britain's Got Talent in 2008, and subsequently, aged 13, signed with Universal Classics and Jazz, releasing her debut album, Faryl. Released only a few months afterwards, Wonderland contains a mix of classical and non-classical songs, which were chosen by both Smith and her record label. A concept album, it is based on Alice in Wonderland, and features a digitally produced "duet" with Luciano Pavarotti, who died in 2007, as well as a song set to "Winter", from Vivaldi's Four Seasons. As with Faryl, Wonderland was produced by Jon Cohen.
Smith promoted the album with appearances on television and radio. For the most part, critics responded positively to the album, with praise for Smith's vocals, the song choice and the musical arrangement, but criticism for "the lack of emotional weight". Further, critics observed that Smith's voice had improved since her appearance on Britain's Got Talent. Despite this, Wonderland appeared in the UK Albums Chart for only one week, peaking at 54, proving less successful than Faryl. Smith later rerecorded "The Prayer", her cover of which was originally released on Wonderland, with 22 other classical artists, with proceeds going to charity.
Smith, aged 13 at the time, signed a record-breaking multi-album deal with Universal Classics and Jazz in December 2008, six months after finishing outside the top three in the Britain's Got Talent series two final. Her debut album, Faryl, was released in March 2009. Smith later described the album as "an introduction to me and an introduction for me to recording", and said that she "wanted to follow up [Faryl] as quickly as possible with another record, something richer and varied". In July, it was announced that work had begun on her second album, with hopes to release it later in the year. Smith said in an interview that "We're starting to look at what songs will be on the second album ... I'm not really choosing the songs myself, I'm leaving that up to the people at the record label. I'm really happy that they want me to do another album so soon – I didn't think I would be working on one so quickly after the first one was released ... I'm just excited to get under way with it."
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