Sumi Jo - The Christmas Album

Christmas Traditional (Artist), Johann Sebastian Bach (Artist), Antonio Vivaldi (Artist), Johannes Cruger (Artist), Adolphe Adam (Artist), Christoph Bernhard (Artist), Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Artist), Franz Xaver Gruber (Artist), Michael Praetorius (Artist), Alessandro Scarlatti (Artist), Samuel Scheidt (Artist), Sumi Jo (Artist), Hiro Kurosaki (Artist), Gottfried Bach (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 18, 2001)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Elektra / Wea
• ASIN: B00005MIZZ
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #235,515 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful.....but not what I was hoping for, September 18, 2001

By 

Christopher A. Lanter "music lover" (Mesa, AZ United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Sumi Jo - The Christmas Album (Audio CD)

Sumi Jo shines as usual on this album.... when she actually sings, that is. Nearly half of the CD is devoted to orchestral and choral pieces. Don't get me wrong - these tracks are wonderful, but I payed for Sumi Jo's brilliant soprano voice.
The only songs that many will recognize that appear on this album are Adam's "O Holy Night" and Gruber's "Stille Nacht/Silent Night" -- recorded not once, but TWICE (one is Sumi solo, and the other is a duet - but still, why??????). I'm not asking for "Frosty the Snowman" here, but I would have liked to have seen more familiar works alongside the more obscure pieces of this CD - "Adeste Fideles", "Gesu Bambino", "The Holly and the Ivy" and "The First Noel" would have all been welcome.
I do laud the inclusion of some of the beautiful, lesser known pieces of this album - the a capella rendition of the traditional Appalachian hymn "I Wonder As I Wander" was a great move, as was the inclusion of "Es ist ein Ros entsprugen" ("Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming"). I just wish Sumi Jo was singing with the choir on that one.... :(
In short, this really is a great CD, but if you are looking for all or nearly all of the tracks featuring Sumi Jo, singing mostly familiar Christmas songs along with a few not-so-often-encountered ones (as I was) you might be disappointed. On the other hand, if you are looking for an album of beautiful music, balanced between vocal, instrumental, and choral, and composed of music you've probably never been exposed to before, then this is your album. I guess the standard for Christmas albums by opera superstars (at least for me) is still Kathleen Battle's spectacular one from the 80's - check that one out.
Chris

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Voice and Lots of Variety, November 27, 2001

By 

George G. Morgan "Rabid Genealogist" (Florida) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Sumi Jo - The Christmas Album (Audio CD)

Sumi Jo has produced a stunning holiday album, filled with gorgeous singing of many styles. It isn't just an album of her singing, though; there are wonderful orchestral and choral selections too, all of which sparkle with perfection. This is a great addition to my Christmas music collection, and another winner from Sumi Jo.

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful collection!, January 2, 2011

By 

Rebecca Hedman "bookworm" (Northwestern US) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Sumi Jo - The Christmas Album (Audio CD)

It is true that this recording has some additional works that do not feature Sumi Jo's voice, but this did not bother me in the least. All of the pieces on this album are performed with great musicality and depth of expression. A real treat for those who enjoy Sumi Jo's brilliant bel canto voice and vocal masterworks that are not often performed.