Imagine this: You're Donny Osmond. You're recording a CD featuring your renditions of songs from popular Broadway shows, This Is The Moment. Wouldn't you choose to include something from your days in Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat?

Maybe I shouldn't be surprised that Osmond doesn't reprise any of the songs he sang for over 18 months nonstop. After all, this disc gives him a chance to stretch his creative legs and put his own spin on 13 selections from such musicals as Rent, Jekyll & Hyde and Sweeney Todd. Even if you're not a fan of Osmond's, you have to admit he's got the perfect voice for these selections. But for all the praise I can offer This Is The Moment (and there is much), I do find myself wishing that most of these songs hadn't had a pop spin put on them.

Oh, it's not that Osmond isn't up to the challenge; he lovingly takes on these songs as if he had been cast in the roles which surrounded these numbers. Hearing him take on "This Is The Moment" (from Jekyll & Hyde), "Immortality" (from Saturday Night Fever) and "Our Kind Of Love" (from The Beautiful Game) convinces me that Osmond could easily step into any role and turn it into something special. Even when he takes a classic like "Luck Be A Lady" (from Guys & Dolls), he's able to transcend all other versions and make this particular song sound like this was the first time it was ever being committed to tape.

And it's not that the pop stylings (as well as the production of Phil Ramone) aren't suitable at times. The two selections from Seussical, "It's Possible" and "Solla Sollew," both work well with this approach. (I still have the soundtrack to Seussical to review - no, Beth, I haven't forgotten - and it will be interesting to compare the two versions.) Likewise, both Osmond and Ramone know when to respect a song's roots and leave the pop feel at the door, a prime example being "At The Edge Of The World" (from Riverdance On Broadway).

There are but two mistakes made on This Is The Moment. The first is the selection of "Give My Regards To Broadway" (from Little Johnny Jones) for inclusion on this disc. It's a nice try, but even Osmond can't bring this tired old song back to life. It might have been better for everyone involved to have selected something else than to try and milk this one for all it was worth. The second comes on "You've Got A Friend In Me" (from the movie Toy Story). I'm sorry, but if I never hear Rosie O'Donnell sing again, it will be too soon.

As Osmond moves into middle age, he continues to prove that the older he gets, the richer his voice becomes, making his work that much more impressive. This Is The Moment, even with the two ill-advised selections (which I don't blame on Osmond), is ample proof that Osmond is well deserving of the accolades he receives, and will be a nice addition to the collections of fans of Broadway music, as well as adult-contemporary pop.

Rating: B+

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