This is not a "classical" concert in the usual sense--a majority of the pieces are centered in the folk and pop world; but Johnson's balancing of, say, Barber's Agnus Dei with the immediately following spiritual Deep River (Ringwald's arrangement) and the subsequent, sumptuous Morricone piece Gabriel's Oboe (featuring parts for cello, oboe, and wordless chorus) is ingenious, as is his ability to convincingly make partner songs out of "When I fall in love" and "Nearer my God to Thee"! Other highlights include the rousing rendition of Moses Hogan's Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel?, one of the concert's few unaccompanied pieces, and the lovely opening work, Lauridsen's Sure on this shining night.

Johnson's arrangement of Parton's "Light of a clear blue morning" benefits from affecting solo singing by Conspirare soprano Kathlene Ritch. Less successful is Johnson's Collage, which improbably joins under one roof songs such as "Wayfarin' stranger", Clint Ballard Jr.'s "You're no good", Roy Orbison and Joe Melson's "Crying", Orlando Gibbons' Drop, drop slow tears, and a bit of chant. It's noisy and a bit confusing, and likely made a better effect live, where listeners could more easily connect with the work's disparate, simultaneously occurring musical elements. The sound also is just a bit rough around the edges, not as clear and detailed as ideal, but it certainly does give the flavor of a live event, and that's to its credit. The singing is superb, and the overall uplifting nature of the music and the performances leaves us--as it undoubtedly did the attending audience--feeling like we've just been rewarded and revived. Strongly recommended!

--David Vernier, ClassicsToday.com