About FROM AL-ANDALUS TO THE AMERICAS
“Moore Vassallo imprime en este álbum toda su admiración y pasión por un repertorio tan variado como exótico.” (“Moore Vassallo instills in this album all her admiration and passion for a repertoire as varied as it is exotic.”)
-Melómano (Spain)
“…the high level of expressiveness of these songs comes through especially strongly in Vassallo’s near-operatic presentations.” - Infodad.com
“This is a fascinating and rewarding concert. Ms. Vassallo sings everything superbly, projecting texts and music with grace and polish.” - American Record Guide
“California-born soprano Christine Moore Vassallo evokes as much as 800 years of poetry and history in one unique vocal journey...The entire presentation is superbly done. One could hardly ask for more variety, but Vassallo’s sweet sound and seductive passion add to the overall pleasure in listening to her interpret the exotic melodies of these far-off places.” - LA Opus
“For somebody who wants to expand his musical repertoire and also learn about the complex interconnections between the music of Mediterranean cultures and various diasporas, this album is a must…Christine Moore Vassallo and her accompanists have revivified these songs, and the performances are all superb. … a delight to experience.” - Classical Music Daily
“A recording which is best played, late in the evening – on a warm night – with a glass of Rioja to hand and candlelight flickering in the corner of your room. The motivating force for and on the recording is the acclaimed American soprano, Christine Moore Vassallo, whose mother, of Arab-Levantine ancestry, inspired the singer to delve into the richly-textured, heady, overlapping mix of Muslim, Spanish, folk, religious, pastoral music and lamentations – fanned, like seeds in the air, to the New World, but rooted in the hills and gardens of Al-Andalus Each musician contributes to this fascinating hour-long time-travel through the history of the Iberian peninsula.” -The Brazen Head
“This album of Spanish, Arabic and Ladino songs by American soprano Christine Moore Vassallo….is a long and musically varied journey in terms of time, ranging from the 15th century to the 20th century…her soft, warm voice suits these songs very well.” - Pizzicato Magazine
“Vassallo’s sultry, unaffected delivery is an asset, reminding us that we’re listening to medieval popular music and not art song. This is one of those albums which combines education and entertainment in a handy package. Vassallo nails every song, and hats off to pianist Jorge Robaina Pons and guitarist Pablo Gimenez Hecht for taking on the lion’s share of the accompaniments. Vassallo’s sleeve notes are a model of scholarly accessibility, and full texts and translations are provided.”
- TheArtsDesk.com
OTHER REVIEWS
"...a velvety, luscious tone...she’s ripe for the majors."- SoundWordSight magazine
"...a warm and dark voice...a radiant and soft soprano sings out...as Mimi"
- Leipziger Volkszeitung
“…a colourful, evocative performance from the chamber ensemble and American soprano Christine Moore…of Schoenberg’s Pierrot Lunaire." - The Herald (Glasgow)
"The rich soprano sound of Christine Moore caught the ear in the evening's opening numbers from Monteverdi's "Incoronazione di Poppea..."
- The New Mexican
"Soprano Christine Moore stood out for lyrical singing of an aria in the "Susannah" title role; for energetic presence and clarity of diction in a scene from Douglas Moore's "The Ballad of Baby Doe" and for striking acting in the "Student Prince" excerpt." - Albuquerque Journal
"Christine Moore took over the part of Pamina on short notice...and did a more-than-competent job under trying circumstances."
- The Record (Bergen County)
