Personnel: Sarah Brightman (vocals, keyboards, programming, background vocals); Peter Weihe (guitars); Carsten Heusmann (keyboards, programming, background vocals); Matthias Meissner, Kristian Draude, Michael Soltau (keyboards, programming); Alex Grube (bass guitar); Curt Cress (drums); Roland Peil (percussion); Klaus Hirschburger, Carolin Fortenbacher, Amelia Brightman, Frank Peterson, Gunther Laudahn (background vocals); James Fitzpatrick, Crouch End Choir, Annie Skates, Metropolitan Voices, London Symphony Orchestra, Paul Bateman, Mike Reed, Steve Sidwell.

Additional personnel: Fernando Lima, Alessandro Safina, Andrea Bocelli, Paul Stanley.

Having solidified her DIVA status with the collection of the same name, Sarah Brightman returned in 2008 to reinforce that reputation with SYMPHONY. A dramatic offering that leans in a more rock-oriented direction, the album finds the British classical/pop crossover pairing up with both usual suspects--Andrea Bocelli on "Canto Della Terra"--and unlikely partners--Paul Stanley of Kiss on "I Will Be with You (Where the Lost Ones Go)"--for a fittingly orchestral set. Although the soprano singer is in fine form throughout SYMPHONY, its crowning achievement is arguably the closing number, "Running," which achieves a cinematic sweep perfectly suited to Brightman's resonant voice.