From the Heart of Finland

Anonymous (Composer), Yryo Henrik Kilpinen (Composer), Toivo Kuula (Composer), Erkki Melartin (Composer), Oskar Merikanto (Composer), Finnish Traditional (Composer), Ilivio Ranta (Performer), Ilmo Ranta (Performer), Karita Mattila (Performer)

Product Details

• Performer: Ilivio Ranta, Ilmo Ranta, Karita Mattila
• Composer: Anonymous, Yryo Henrik Kilpinen, Toivo Kuula, Erkki Melartin, Oskar Merikanto, et al.
• Audio CD (January 21, 1997)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Ondine
• ASIN: B00000379E
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #325,513 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Heartwarming Finnish Melancholy, April 7, 2000

By A Customer

Karita Mattila's warm voice is the delight of this disc. In other repertoire I have sometimes found her voice cold and lacking in individuality, but on this recital disc, the color of her lovely voice comes through the best.

For newcomers in Finnish (national) romantic songs, this is the perfect way to start. Mattila's voice is at its best in Merikanto (listen to especially "Mä elän" and "Omenankukat"). The Melartin and Kuula songs are beautifully sung, too. A real gem is the Folk song cycle arranged by Ralf Gothoni at the end of the disc.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent soprano voice, excellent music, October 27, 2000

By	M. J. Smith (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Somehow the track information for this cd is incomplete: tracks 1, 14-19 are by Toivo Kuula (1883-1918); tracks 2-11 by Oskar Merikanto (1868-1924); tracks 12-13 by Erkki Melartin (1875-1937); tracks 20-21 by Yrjo Kilpinen (1892-1959); tracks 22-26 are folk songs arranged by Ralf Gothoni.

Mattila has a splendid voice even on the high notes - I often am not fond of sopranos but hers is a voice "to die for". The piano accompaniment is unobtrusive. I bought the album for the Kuula and Melartin works and was not disappointed. However, the folk songs are such fun it is hard not to prefer them. This is an excellent introduction to Finnish song.