Sumi Jo: Carnaval! French Coloratura Arias

Sumi Jo (Artist), Richard Bonynge (Conductor), English Chamber Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: English Chamber Orchestra
• Conductor: Richard Bonynge
• Audio CD (November 15, 1994)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: London/Decca
• ASIN: B00000422V
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #217,563 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #24 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Voices > Sopranos

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Now that conductor Richard Bonynge doesn't have his now-retired wife Joan Sutherland to accompany him on his arcane journeys into forgotten French opera, he has hooked up with the spectacular coloratura Sumi Jo for a series of recordings exploring mid-19th-century operetta. This one is a nice aria compilation, especially welcome since you wouldn't want to hear the entire scores of these works by Adam, Grétry, Messager and Delibes. One hears influences by Rossini, flashes of Mozart, and lots of vocal fireworks-- especially the final selection, Carnaval de Venise by Massé. --David Patrick Stearns

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sumi Jo at her Best!, August 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Sumi Jo: Carnaval! French Coloratura Arias (Audio CD)

This album is definitely one of the best coloratura recitals on records. Sumi Jo is simply enchanting. She has a voice of great beauty and perfect technique. Her command of trills, roulades and legato line is simply astonishing. Sumi Jo' performance on this recording (a collection of not very known arias from French opera comique) reminds me a lot of Amelita Galli-Curci in her combination of charm and vocal virtuosism. The recording is a delight from start to finish. Among the hightlights are Sevillanas, Charmant oiseaux ( the cadenzas with flute are amazing), the beautiful liricism and stunning high D flat of the aria from Madame Chrysantéme, and of course the Carnival of Venice, a true feast of vocal fireworks. This recording is a must for all the fans of great singing.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, September 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Sumi Jo: Carnaval! French Coloratura Arias (Audio CD)

No words could describe the beauty of Jo's voice and her input of emotions in this album. Sentimental, nostalgic and GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Felt dizzy intoxicated by "Carnaval de Venise".

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This album will knock your heart off!, November 19, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Sumi Jo: Carnaval! French Coloratura Arias (Audio CD)

Just an intriguing episode to add here. When this album was released, quite a few people thought that it is absolutely impossible for a human to sing like Jo did. They conjectured that there must be a sort of mechanical manipulations added. To prove that there was no mechanical aid to this recording, Sumi Jo sang the whole arias in "Carnaval" in front of millions of French TV viewers and audiences. And the result was: She was technically exactly the same as in the recording. Her live singing was even more touching and impressive! Her "Les Pantins de Violette: La Chanson du canari" was so beautiful that it caused tears from my eyes. And everyone in the audience gave her a long standing ovation!