Jean Sibelius
Luonnotar
Orchestral Songs
Luonnotar
Orchestral Songs
Orchestral
Vocal
Vocal
Critics' choices
Hybrid SACD (recorded in DSD; SACD Surround 5.0 / SACD Stereo / CD Stereo - playable on all SACD and CD players); booklet with liner notes in English, French, German and Finnish and the song lyrics in the original language and in English
Format:
CD / SACD
Released:
April 2006 (Finland)
May 2006 (internationally)
Catalogue No.:
ODE 1080-5
EAN/UPC Code:
0761195108055
CD / SACD
Released:
April 2006 (Finland)
May 2006 (internationally)
Catalogue No.:
ODE 1080-5
EAN/UPC Code:
0761195108055
61:37
1
Kaiutar, Op. 72/4
3:07
2
Luonnotar, Op. 70
8:49
3
Men min fågel märks dock icke, Op. 36/2
2:47
4
Säv, säv, susa, Op. 36/4
2:32
5
Demanten på marssön (The diamond on the March snow), Op. 36/6
2:36
6
Våren flyktar hastigt (Spring is flying), Op. 13/4
1:35
7
Under strandens granar, Op. 13/1
5:10
8
Den första kyssen (The First Kiss), Op. 37/1
1:58
9
Soluppgång, Op. 37/3
2:17
10
Var det en dröm (Did I Just Dream?), Op. 37/4
2:22
11
Höstkväll, Op. 38/1
4:54
12
På verandan vid havet, Op. 38/2
3:39
13
Arioso, Op. 3
4:38
14
Illalle (To Evening), Op. 17/6
1:21
15
Lastu lainehilla, Op. 17/7
0:58
16
Souda, souda, sinisorsa
1:17
17
S’en har jag ej frågat mera, Op. 17/1
2:43
18
En slända, Op. 17/5
4:02
19
Hertig Magnus, Op. 57/6
3:18
A thrilling performance of Luonnotar in which Isokoski's sonorous soprano is matched by atmospheric playing from the Finnish orchestra. The rest of the disc makes you wonder why Sibelius's orchestral songs occupy one of the most unjustly neglected corners of his output.
Erik Levi, expert jury, BBC Music Magazine Awards 2007, Disc of the Year & Vocal Award Winner
The new reference in this repertoire of orchestral songs by Jean Sibelius is Soile Isokoski!
Rémy Franck, Pizzicato, December 26, 2006, Supersonic Award
Isokoski interprets these inspired miniatures with a blend of tenderness and passion, a richness of timbre and subtle dynamic inflections, with soaring lines magically floated and tailored. Sibelius's orchestral accompaniments, so deft in defining different moods, are a bonus in Leif Segerstam's assured handling. Newcomers to Sibelius's songs could find no more persuasive introduction; aficionados will be entranced.
Geoffrey Norris, The Daily Telegraph, December 16, 2006, Classical CD of the Year
Isokoski's burnished soprano reaches ecstatic heights here, in a performance that you could measure against any in the catalogue, while Segerstam and the Helsinki Philharmonic become a wave machine, generating the ocean's pulse and the play of light on water. (...) this is really an exceptional, often magical recital. Try it; I think you'll bewitched.
Andrew McGregor, BBC, September 2006
Featuring this dream duo (Soile Isokoski and Leif Segerstam) and the fabulous Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, here is a stunning disc, which undoubtedly ranks among the best and most interesting recordings of this year. (...) To own this CD is a must!!!
Tobias Pfleger, klassik.com, July 11, 2006, Recommended*****
Soile Isokoski's voice has matured into a powerful instrument without losing its distinctively plangent expressiveness and intense way with words - both in Finnish and Sibelius's favoured poetic language Swedish. Segerstam (...) here provides spacious yet vividly dramatic support, with superb orchestral playing. And the recording, excellent in CD stereo, is utterly stunning in multichannel SACD: airy, large-scale, immediate and detailed with diamond clarity. (...) this whole disc's a Sibelian essential.
Michael Scott Rohan, BBC Music Magazine, July 2006, Performance *****, Sound *****
Soile Isokoski has never made a more beautiful recording than this. She offers what must be accounted, hands down, as the finest performance of the tone poem Luonnotar currently available. (…) A marvelous release in every respect.
David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com, May 2006, Disc of the Month, Artistic Quality 10 / Sound Quality 10
A magic Luonnotar, layed on an orchestral tissue and performed by Soile Isokoski in one of her most beautiful recordings (if not her most beautiful one). (…) the chemistry between Isokoski and Segerstam is perfect. (…) This anthology has no competition in the catalogue.
Christophe Huss, ClassicsTodayFrance.com, May 2006, Disc of the Month, Artistic Quality 10 / Sound Quality 10
Soile Isokoski (…) has arguably the most beautiful voice of her type, excelling in Mozart and Strauss. Here, she sets down her equally glowing credentials as a Sibelian.
Hugh Canning, The Sunday Times, May 7, 2006, Classical CD of the Week
Soprano Soile Isokoski overwhelms not only because of the mere beauty of the songs, but she also delivers moments of consummate artistry.
Ekkehard Pluta, klassik-heute.com, April 24, 2006, 10 • 10 • 10
Erik Levi, expert jury, BBC Music Magazine Awards 2007, Disc of the Year & Vocal Award Winner
The new reference in this repertoire of orchestral songs by Jean Sibelius is Soile Isokoski!
Rémy Franck, Pizzicato, December 26, 2006, Supersonic Award
Isokoski interprets these inspired miniatures with a blend of tenderness and passion, a richness of timbre and subtle dynamic inflections, with soaring lines magically floated and tailored. Sibelius's orchestral accompaniments, so deft in defining different moods, are a bonus in Leif Segerstam's assured handling. Newcomers to Sibelius's songs could find no more persuasive introduction; aficionados will be entranced.
Geoffrey Norris, The Daily Telegraph, December 16, 2006, Classical CD of the Year
Isokoski's burnished soprano reaches ecstatic heights here, in a performance that you could measure against any in the catalogue, while Segerstam and the Helsinki Philharmonic become a wave machine, generating the ocean's pulse and the play of light on water. (...) this is really an exceptional, often magical recital. Try it; I think you'll bewitched.
Andrew McGregor, BBC, September 2006
Featuring this dream duo (Soile Isokoski and Leif Segerstam) and the fabulous Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, here is a stunning disc, which undoubtedly ranks among the best and most interesting recordings of this year. (...) To own this CD is a must!!!
Tobias Pfleger, klassik.com, July 11, 2006, Recommended*****
Soile Isokoski's voice has matured into a powerful instrument without losing its distinctively plangent expressiveness and intense way with words - both in Finnish and Sibelius's favoured poetic language Swedish. Segerstam (...) here provides spacious yet vividly dramatic support, with superb orchestral playing. And the recording, excellent in CD stereo, is utterly stunning in multichannel SACD: airy, large-scale, immediate and detailed with diamond clarity. (...) this whole disc's a Sibelian essential.
Michael Scott Rohan, BBC Music Magazine, July 2006, Performance *****, Sound *****
Soile Isokoski has never made a more beautiful recording than this. She offers what must be accounted, hands down, as the finest performance of the tone poem Luonnotar currently available. (…) A marvelous release in every respect.
David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com, May 2006, Disc of the Month, Artistic Quality 10 / Sound Quality 10
A magic Luonnotar, layed on an orchestral tissue and performed by Soile Isokoski in one of her most beautiful recordings (if not her most beautiful one). (…) the chemistry between Isokoski and Segerstam is perfect. (…) This anthology has no competition in the catalogue.
Christophe Huss, ClassicsTodayFrance.com, May 2006, Disc of the Month, Artistic Quality 10 / Sound Quality 10
Soile Isokoski (…) has arguably the most beautiful voice of her type, excelling in Mozart and Strauss. Here, she sets down her equally glowing credentials as a Sibelian.
Hugh Canning, The Sunday Times, May 7, 2006, Classical CD of the Week
Soprano Soile Isokoski overwhelms not only because of the mere beauty of the songs, but she also delivers moments of consummate artistry.
Ekkehard Pluta, klassik-heute.com, April 24, 2006, 10 • 10 • 10
