Customer Reviews

Sumi Jo sings Mozart

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Sumi Jo, a famous Queen of the Night in Die Zauberflöte, brings her beautiful voice and perfect technique to a challenging program of opera and concert arias by Mozart. These arias were all composed for some of the best sopranos of the time, like Aloysa Weber, her sister Josepha (the first Queen of the Night) Caterina Cavalieri (the first Konstanze in the Abduction from the Seraglio) and other fine singers. Some of these arias are not much performed today, due to their great technical difficulty. Sumi Jo is up to the challenges of these pieces. There are not many sopranos today who can sing this music with the freshness and security of Ms. Jo. From the first number "Marten aller Arten", the Korean soprano displays wonderful scales, perfect trills, brilliant high notes and great musicality. Arias like "Non, che no sei capace" (with its brilliants stacattos up to D's and E's), "Vorrei spiegarvi, oh Dio!" (with a lot of legato singing and some very difficult jumps) and "Ah se in ciel, benigne stelle" (full of scales in a very high tessitura) are sung by the soprano with total ease. The most lyrical pieces also models of pianissimo singing and expression, like the meditative "L'ameró, saró constante" from Il Re Pastore,the charming "Deh vieni non tardar" of Le Nozze di Figaro and the playfulness of "Voi avete un cor fedele". Jo uses appogiaturas and ornamentation with great taste. Kenneth Montgomery conducts the English Chamber Orchestra using some odd tempos, but they do not distract from Sumi Jo's superlative singing. In all, a delighful musical experience.

I don't know if I can be counted on to write an objective review of one of Sumi Jo's albums, given that I'm such an ardent fan, but here goes...
This album marries Sumi Jo's stunningly brilliant, sweet, pure voice to some of the most demanding of Mozart's opera and concert arias. The result is a joy to listen to, from the first track to the last (a new favorite of mine). Within, Ms. Jo proves that, despite her virtuoso coloratura status, she is capable of great emotional depth and expression (e.g., the achingly poignant "Ach, ich fühl's" from Die Zauberflöte), and not just another shallow songbird. This CD also contains some of the most amazing vocal acrobatics I've ever heard - the leap up the staff in "Vorrei spiegarvi, O Dio!", from the B below to the D above, has to be heard to be believed.
In sum - countless hours of listening pleasure, destined to become a classic. The great conductor Herbert van Karajan, who discovered Ms. Jo, once said that a voice like hers only appears every century or so. Buy this album and hear for yourself.

Sumi Jo easily takles the challenges of Mozart's tantilizingly difficult music on this CD. The mind-bending runs are clear, precise, and performed like a true coloratura. There is NO evidence of vocal strain. A few of the infamous concert arias, which are known for their super-human difficulties, are included in this CD. "Ah se in ciel, bengne stelle" is my favorite. A few arias from various operas are also included in this CD. They are all thoughtfully performed with true expression of character. I wish Sumi would take more time to perform Mozart operas on stage, she seems restricted to the bel canto (Bellini, Verdi, Donizetti) repertoire, which are nice, but do not allow Sumi to perform at her full potential. While Mozart CDs are released by almost all female artists now-a-days, I believe this CD by Sumi Jo is worthy of comparison to the likes of Renee Fleming and Kathleen Battle. This CD is a must have for fans of Sumi Jo and Mozart alike. Enjoy.

Mozart's music is easy to listen, but not easy to perform. Sumi's sing make Mozart's technical and lyrical part very immaculate. Her cut-glass voice give much pleasure to us!! I think that she is real queen of coloratura. If you like Mozart's aria, this CD's yours.

Not much more to say than has already been said. Her version of "Vorrei spiegarvi, o Dio" is simply the best you will ever here. Battle and Bartoli are also excellent but Sumi's haunting vocals are unbelievable.

I've no doubt that Sumi Jo is the most talented, technically polished coloratura soprano of our time. Her trills, runs, sustained pieces, and ornaments of various nature, are most likely what Mozart heard in his head when composing the arias... Absolute perfection.

Everything she sings is the epitome of what a soprano sets as her ultimate goal. If one looked up "Perfect Coloratura" they would automatically be transferred to Sumi Jo...she is faultless.

The only thing which could ever be criticized is her timbre...as that is a matter of personal taste. Otherwise, she is the Einstien of Opera, the the Monet of Sopranos...she is impeccable, she is talent itself. To sum it up... I had to use my Thesaurus to find enough superfulous, descriptive words to describe her superior singing...Brava Sumi Jo~

Sumi Jo's Mozart recital is superb, especially after hearing other contemporary divas try the same thing. You will not hear any of R Fleming's cloying mannerisms here covering up crummy technique nor will you have to endure the Miss Piggy trills of Bartoli scooping for notes well beyond her vocal range. Buy this and go to heaven.

"Mozart and Jo" is a fantastic combination to start with. Jo handles Mozart with ease and perfection. Although I'm wondering why the Queen of the Night colotura is missing, this CD contains some of the best works of Sumi AND Mozart. Two thumbs up!

I have to say that from the moment I bought this CD, I was won over by her incredible voice...
I have always been her true fan and always will be.
I love this CD,and I recommend that you buy this and experience the breathtaking voice of Sumi Jo.

People seem surprised when I acknowledge that Mozart is not a favorate. Sumi Jo brings magic with her special voice to Maozart. I am not only impressed with Sumi Jo (again); I also find myself assessing my "ear" for Mozart. Bravo to this artist. I do believe from what I've read; Mozart would be equaly pleased.