Into Paradise

Tomaso Albinoni (Composer), Frode Alnaes (Composer), Bjorn / Anderson, Stig Andersson Benny / Ulvaeus (Composer), Swedish Anonymous (Composer), Johann Sebastian Bach (Composer), Michael William Balfe (Composer), Gabriel Faure (Composer), Pietro Mascagni (Composer), Sissel (Performer), Øyvind Gimse (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Sissel, Øyvind Gimse
• Composer: Tomaso Albinoni, Frode Alnaes, Bjorn / Anderson, Stig Andersson Benny / Ulvaeus, Swedish Anonymous, Johann Sebastian Bach, et al.
• Audio CD (February 14, 2006)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Decca
• ASIN: B000E0OETY
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,800 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #2 in Music > Classical > Historical Periods > Baroque (c.1600-1750) > Composers > Purcell, Henry
  • #2 in Music > Classical > Historical Periods > Modern, 20th, & 21st Century > Composers > Villa-Lobos, Heitor
  • #4 in Music > World Music > Europe > Scandinavia > Norway

Editorial Reviews

With a unique voice that defies all labels, Sissel can turn her hand to any style of music, from operatic arias and centuries-old classical melodies to traditional folk and pop. USA Today raved Sissel has "one of the most exquisite voices..." and with her new album Into Paradise, she continues to showcases her angelic voice. "My heart is in beautiful music," she says. "Music that touches me." Into Paradise is the follow-up to the 2004 release of My Heart and her 2002 self-titled debut. A PBS Concert Special of the same name was taped in Dalhalla, Sweden, to air on select PBS stations across the nation in March 2006 with tour dates to follow.

Sissel's ethereal voice, coupled with sweeping orchestral melodies, is once again on display with this new recording. Into Paradise was recorded in Norway with the internationally renowned Trondheim Soloists and reflects her passion for music in all its many varied forms. Mozart and Bach rub shoulders with Puccini, while Abba jostles for attention alongside Norse folk tales that have been handed down from generations. Among the performances are "Wachet Auf" by Bach, the otherworldly "Marble Halls" and the haunting "Sancta Maria." Sissel remarked, "I called this program and album Into Paradise because of the blissful feeling I get when I sing these songs. I hope that you will have the same feeling when you join me as we go Into Paradise."

The captivating Scandinavian superstar Sissel has performed at the 1994 Winter Olympics, the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony with Josh Groban, and on Good Morning America with Placido Domingo. Her voice also graces one of the biggest-selling film soundtracks of all time--Titanic. Her first PBS TV special All Good Things was a hit in 2003, spawning her own headlining U.S. tour that garnered critical acclaim. The Chicago Sun-Times dubbed Sissel the "hottest new voice of classical-pop." Of her last album, My Heart, the Philadelphia Daily News stated that she may be the "next Josh Groban" and the Associated Press thought she sang with "pure, effortless style." Recently Sissel toured the world as the lead vocalist in the Howard Shore's Lord of the Rings Symphony concerts and co-headlined several concert dates with friend and past collaborator Placido Domingo. Look for Sissel to launch another U.S. tour in Spring 2006.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sissel continues her successful foray into the International Market, April 17, 2006

By 

dooby - See all my reviews

This review is from: Into Paradise (Audio CD)

This is a lovely collection of semi-classical and light pop which does a good job of showcasing Sissel's lovely voice. I especially enjoyed "In Paradisum" and "Vitae Lux". The album ends with a lovely version of Andersson & Ulvaeus' "Like An Angel Passing Through My Room", a lullaby originally sung by Anni-frid Lyngstad on ABBA's farewell album "The Visitors" (not Agnetha Faltskog as I originally thought - Thanks to Jeff R. Dunn for the correction). If anything, this version is even more beautiful than Frida's already lovely original, taken slower, much more expressively and evoking an even deeper sense of loss.

I managed to get the UK edition of this CD which contains 4 additional songs: "What Child Is This", "The Sleeping Princess", "Sally Gardens", and "Ave Verum Corpus" but omits "Bereden Vag For Herran" and "Adagio". I do wish her recording company would standardize the editions. From the beginning, her albums have always been tailored for particular markets with the result that no single edition is definitive. While "Into Paradise" is the so-called international release, there exist different versions of it which add or omit certain tracks. And "Into Paradise" is just the companion album to her main 2005 release "Nordisk Vinternatt", a collection of Scandinavian folksongs centering around winter and advent. "Nordisk Vinternatt" released in Denmark, Norway and Sweden between Nov/Dec 2005, has the exact same cover design as "Into Paradise" although the contents are totally unrelated. Unfortunately like her other Nordic albums, it is only available in Scandinavia. I do wish the studio would realise that there is a market for her Nordic albums internationally. As it is, finding them is difficult and prices are exorbitant. Fine as her English language albums are, personally I much prefer hearing her in her native tongue. Songs and albums in English are a dime a dozen. But how often do you get to hear songs sung in Norwegian, Danish, Swedish or Icelandic and with such delicate beauty and dulcet tones. Those are her albums I treasure most.

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sissel Finds Her Niche with the World Audience, February 27, 2006

By 

M. Moss "GoodBoring" (Albany, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Into Paradise (Audio CD)

Sissel has been all over the musical map, but with this album, really finds the spot where she belongs with the audience outside of Scandinavia.

Even with the unique gift that is her voice, the pop versions of Nordic traditional songs that she sang earlier in her career would only take her so far. Her pairing with PBS a few years ago opened her up to a large new audience, but she was singing Grade B or C pop songs. Her new repertoire has favored some classical and neo-classical chestnuts (not unlike Josh Groban) and these works have really worked better with her vocal instrument.

I've LOVED Sissel ever since I first heard her sing with the Chieftains and have waited for her to sing material that suits her exceptional voice. I am happy to report that this latest album puts her right about where she belongs.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best discs to hit the market in years, April 19, 2006

By 

Music Maven (St. Louis, MO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Into Paradise (Audio CD)

Yes, I am a Sissel fan, and have all of her US releases, and a few imports as well. I am writing this review for those who are not yet Sissel fans. "Into Paradise" is exactly that, one of the best discs in years with a classical flavor. Everything about this release is first rate, from song selection right down to disc mastering. Sissel seems to find herself on this disc. Her first US release was pop songs, the second release a mix of pop and classical. Don't get me wrong they were both pretty good albums, but not a five star performance like this one. I really love the arrangements on many of the selections, and the string solos are wonderful. I am not a classical music fan, most of my music collection is pop and classic rock. I agree with Sissel, anybody who loves beautiful music will enjoy this album.