Customer Reviews

Songs by Sibelius, Strauss, Berg

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I must admit I'm puzzled by the reviewer below who calls this recital "tepid". Perhaps my musical thermometer is set to a different standard...?

At any rate, I first heard this CD at a friend's house. I was absolutely captivated, and was dearly tempted to borrow the CD. But I knew I'd want my own copy - I hate returning CDs or books with which I've fallen in love, so I wisely just wrote down the CD title and added it to my wishlist so that I could get my own copy.

A week ago I was fortunate enough to spot the CD at one of the music stores I visit. I didn't hesitate for a second, but grabbed this CD (along with another instant "must buy", Suzie LeBlanc's latest recording).

And I'm not disappointed. I've loved Soile Isokoski's beautiful voice since I have first heard her singing Strauss. I haven't always thought her beyond reproach - I found her Finnish sacred song recital uninspired, for some odd reason, and I have to admit I wasn't entirely convinced by her as Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte (perhaps I want a little more fire in the performance for that role? I'm not sure...) - but it's always such a beautiful voice, and her German is lovely. The cool loveliness of her voice reminds me of a silver-glinting river winding its murmuring way under the milky light of a gibbous moon - it has that quality of silvery shimmer and almost tremulous elegance.

This recording may well be one of her best. I could do without the Gershwin, but it is an encore, not part of the actual recital programme... and the rest of the programme is meticulously chosen with great intelligence. The Sibelius songs are something to rave about - I cannot fathom why anyone would not adore these. I particularly loved the first track "Våren flyktar hastigt", which is by turns shimmering and delicate, then fuller and more passionate. The Berg (Sieben frühe Lieder) are miraculously sung - perfect miniatures of some of my favourite Berg (as I lean definitely more towards the melodic than towards 12-tone eschewing of it). The Strauss Lieder, of course, are ravishing - perhaps Cäcilie, the final song of the set, is the absolute high point, but it's all utterly gorgeous.

I also enjoyed the delightful "Ma elän" (Merikanto - a composer by whom I'd not heard anything previously).

The piano accompaniment by Marita Viitasalo was perfectly fine. I would probably class her as a "very good" accompanist than a "brilliant" accompanist, but really there's little of which to complain. And Soile Isokoski soars with poise, charm, elegance and real beauty... The recording was, in short, as good as I remembered.

Recommended without hesitation.

One has to admire the courageous integrity of a soprano who could fill a ecital hall with Schubert chooisng instead to program six songs by Sibelius followed by Berg's Seven Early songs. Soile Isokoski has a lovely lyric soprano that has darkened and grown fuller with maturity. She is Finnish and therefore attuned to Sibelius's rather moody vocal style (his musical inspirations are essentially German, not Scandinavian, however). At the end of the recital we do get to hear some familiar lieder by Strauss, several of them masterpieces. but by then it has become clear that Isokoski is too placid to hold on'es attention, and her accompanist is equally bland, of not more so. That's too bad, given the adventurous and welcome repertoire.