For the Stars

Anne Sofie von Otter (Artist), Elvis Costello (Artist)

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 10, 2001)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Deutsche Grammophon
• ASIN: B00005A46I
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (61 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #97,883 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
At a time when popular music has been micro-marketed to the far side of ad nauseam, Declan MacManus, a.k.a. Elvis Costello, has traded on his reputation as the brightest songwriter to emerge from the new wave era to foster any number of delightful, cross-genre/generation musical surprises, including soundtracks and collaborations with the Brodsky Quartet, Paul McCartney, jazz artist Roy Nathanson, and songwriting legend Burt Bacharach. The latest fruit of that generous, insatiably curious artistic spirit is this elegant partnership with Swedish mezzo-soprano Anne-Sofie von Otter. Though an admitted pop novice, Otter couldn't have picked a better confederate than Costello, an artist whose taste in songs has seldom been tainted by trend.

Together, they weave material from disparate sources--including a slate of compelling Costello material, a pair of Brian Wilson's evocative "Pet Sounds" confessionals, a Tom Waits song from Francis Ford Coppola's One from the Heart (oddly, though effectively, coupled in medley with McCartney's "Junk"), an Abba song, and the Beatles' "For No One"--into a musical tapestry of stately power and grace. Costello sparingly uses his voice as seasoning throughout, though his masterful touch is everywhere. Otter's novice pop singing reveals an easy knack for jazz phrasing that should tempt further explorations and a warmth that belies the rigidity that's so often a byproduct of classical training. Most gratifying of all, this album ultimately achieves what's become one of the loftiest plateaus in Pop music: common ground. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I almost returned it, August 21, 2001

By A Customer

After listening to this recording for the first time I went back to the record store to return it, but was unable to since the seal had already been broken. Stuck with the CD I gave it another try and have been listening to it continuously since.

This is one of those times I purchased something soley on the basis of the cover, which was so intriquing I had to give it a try. I had known about ASvO since her recording of Mozart's Idomeneo (one of the finest operatic recordings every made); and my only significant exposure to Elvis was his gorgeous recording of Kurt Weill's Lost in the Stars with the Kronos Quartet, which I imagine he arranged.

Although my principal interest is opera, I have always been purturbed by how the beauty of a singer's voice is more often than not obfuscated by the material. Every once in a while the natural quality of the voice is discerned: these are priceless moments. I've often thought that I would be content with listening to a beautiful operatic voice reciting the Gettysburg address. In this recording you get the Gettysburg address and much more.

ASvO's effort here is a lesson for any singer of any genre. Sometimes, all it takes to make beautiful music is to simply sing, without all the baggage that comes of trying to cater to tradition. I recommend it unreservedly.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simple honest and hauntingly beautiful, April 10, 2001

By	[e-mail] "Linn Adikt" (England) - See all my reviews

I watched the ITV South Bank documentary on the making of this collaboration and was capitivated by the utter charm and grace of von Otter and her hauntingly beautiful voice on the tracks that were shown being recorded.

I have wide musical tastes, including opera. Elvis is an old time favourite but somehow von Otter had escaped under the radar. So after watching the programe I did a search for the album and purchased it straight away (amazon.co.uk.)

Since then I have played it constantly and it never fails to lift and capitivate me. The pathos of love and life seems to be the theme. My favorites are the 2 Brian Wilson songs, but there is not one dud track.

The quality of the recording is stunning (done in the world famous Atlantis studios) every intonation, inflection and breath is discernable not to mention Sophie's charming pronunciation difficulties.

All involved in this recording are sympathetic to musical project and to achieving the best they can. The recording sounds simple and honest but one which much hard work and expertise has gone into.

Go buy and treasure.

Thank you Sophie, thank you Elvis.

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Music of Atlantis..., April 17, 2001

By	Richard W. Williams (Glastonbury, Ct. USA) - See all my reviews

Studio, that is... And WHAT music!!! I can understand one's disappointment upon hearing this and expecting another Elvis Costello collection. This isn't! This is a Declan MacManus disk all the way...

"Julliet Letters" was one of the most brilliant collections of music to escape the 90's, and that was just about as far from being an Elvis Costello album as you can get. What made that so special was the concept, the musicians and the songs. Same here.

Whoever picked these songs really knows good music. These are some of the best "pop" songs ever written. von Otter's stunning voice melts perfectly into the spare sprinkling of melodic and/or harmonic accents Costello occasionally adds.

It's been suggested that von Otter's voice lacks the "soul" required to perform anything other than opera. Words seldom come more ambiguous or open to interpretation than the word "soul". This disk reeks soul; the soul of a beautiful voice singing gorgeous songs with perfect acompaniment; the souls of some of the best songwriters that ever lived; the soul of one of the greatest recording studio's on earth. The soul of Elvis/Declan Costello/MacManus...

There are probably no past or future "hits" here, but there isn't a song included that isn't, in some way, truly fantastic.

The "medely" of Waits's "Broken Bicycles with McCartney's "Junk" is as surprising as it is pretty. Ron Sexsmith's "April after all" has it's best treatment ever here. Lennon/McCartney's "For no one" sounds eerie and fresh, in spite of it being covered often, and by some fairly important musicians in just the past few years. All the songs ofer skewered but lovely interpretations. All demand repeated listening.

It took some nerve for a lesser known (here) Swedish operatic diva to team up with a post punk post pop post rock post classical genius and come up with a beautiful collection of mighty pop. Mighty like a rose...