Sumi Jo - Only Love

Stephen Sondheim (Artist), Leonard Bernstein (Artist), Maury Yeston (Artist), Choi Kyung Sik (Artist), Jule Styne (Artist), Alban Gerhardt (Artist), Michael William Balfe (Artist), Claude-Michel Schoenberg (Artist), Ettore Stratta (Artist), Sumi Jo (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 11, 2000)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Erato
• ASIN: B00004GP1Z
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #191,717 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. In His Eyes

2. Someone Like You

3. Beautiful World

4. Unusual Way

5. Losing My Mind

6. Once Upon a Dream

7. Only Love

8. Send In The Clowns

9. Just In Time

10. Dream With Me

11. I Dreamt I Dwelt In Marble Halls

12. I Still Believe

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a VERY pleasant surprise, June 30, 2000

By 

bert1761 (Washington, DC United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Sumi Jo - Only Love (Audio CD)

While I am an avid opera fan as well as "show tunes," with limited exception (Dawn Upshaw, Frederica von Stade and, to an extent, Thomas Hampson) I am NOT a fan of -- and, in fact, affirmatively DISLIKE -- opera singers' attempts to "cross over" into the popular repertoire. But Sumi Jo's foray into this arena is for the most part magnificent.

Sumi Jo's singing is completely devoid of the over-enunciated diction, swooping, scooping and other affectations that often afflict opera singers who perform this music. In fact, she often sounds less like an opera singer on this disc than does Sarah Brightman on hers, and she uses her "opera singer voice" generally only where it serves the interpretation of the song - as in her, IMHO, very interesting and moving interpretation of "Losing My Mind." The pure sound of Ms. Jo's voice is glorious -- there are various points on the disc at which the sound she produces is so beautiful that it gives me chills.

But this is not just a disc of pretty sounds. Although much of the material itself tends to be on the bland side (and includes a disproportionate number of songs by schlockmeister Frank Wildhorn), she gives intelligent and appropriately dramatic interpretations. To my mind, she does a wonderful job with one of my all-time faves -- "Unusual Way" -- which can be ruined by a misguided interpretation (such as that by Mrs. Schlockmeister, Linda Eder). And when she sings songs that are intended as duets ("In His Eyes" and "I Still Believe"), she uses the different parts of her voice so effectively as to sound as if two different people are singing. Admittedly, though, her Korean accent does intrude sometime, but it quickly (for me at least) ceases to be distracting. And to top it off, the disc is beautifully produced and conducted by Ettore Stratta, and the songs have been arranged by Mike Renzi in his typically intelligent manner.

Check it out!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful , lovely voice, July 31, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Sumi Jo - Only Love (Audio CD)

I never know who is Sumi Jo until I heard her voice while I was passing by a CD shop. I never like opera singer but her voice was just irresistible! I bought the CD without hesitation. Relaxing, dreamy, beatiful and emtional is what I would discribe her voice. Go and get it!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful!, April 26, 2002

By 

"puccinigirl" (Shawnee, Oklahoma United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sumi Jo - Only Love (Audio CD)

This is a fabulous album! I was very hesitant to purchase this but I'm really glad I did. I'm thoroughly enjoying it! Sumi Jo has done a terrific job at so-called "cross-over." Her interpretations are very convincing. One has to listen very closely to hear any kind of an accent. The selections are all wonderful pieces. And I'm so glad to hear this music with someone singing who actually has a beautiful voice instead of the typical "screaching" that is so prominant in popular or contemporary music. Not that she sounds like an opera singer. Quite the contrary. Most of the time one would never guess that opera is her career field by this album. Jo alters her voice to fit the music without losing a beautiful sound. Her vibrato is a bit of an acquired taste, as one reviewer commented, but it's better than none at all! "Only Love" and "Dream with Me" are particularly wonderful. But there really isn't a single selection that I don't like. I'd love to see more good singers take on this kind of repertoire. Brava Sumi Jo!