Search - Karita Mattila :: Irresistible Karita Mattila

A Crossover Album, Plus Four Famous Arias

J Scott Morrison | Middlebury VT, USA | 06/05/2010

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This Ondine CD is a peculiar mix of four arias, Broadway tunes and jazz classics. As Amazon has not as of the date of this review specified the contents -- you can see a picture of the back of the booklet but even when enlarged it is difficult to read -- I shall do so here:



Wagner: Dich teure Halle, from Tannhäuser

Dvorák: Song to the Moon, from Rusalka

Verdi: Ritorna vincitor, from Aïda

Puccini: Vissi d'arte, from Tosca



Sibelius: Flickan Kom Ifrån Sin Älsklings Möte

Mårtenson: Myrskyluodon Maija



Arlen: Over the Rainbow, from The Wizard of Oz

Lloyd Webber: Don't Cry for Me, Argentina, from Evita

Porter: Wunderbar, from Kiss Me Kate

Bernstein: Somewhere, from West Side Story

Loewe: I Could Have Danced All Night, from My Fair Lady



Kern: Smoke Gets in Your Eyes, from Roberta

Garner: Misty

Monk: 'Round Midnight



The provenance of these cuts is various. The arias, and the Sibelius song, are from a live radio broadcast concert in Finland, accompanied by the Finnish Radio SO conducted by Jukka-Pekka Saraste. The other Finnish song is accompanied by the Jyväskyla Sinfonia. The Broadway tunes are accompanied by the Tapiola Sinfonietta. 'Smoke Gets in Your Eyes' and the jazz standards are accompanied by a group called 'Fever' (a Finnish ensemble, not the American indie rock band).



Mattila's laser-like voice and impeccable intonation are evident throughout and she sings the arias with great distinction. 'Dich teure Halle' is riveting. She uses a simpler vocal production for the B'way tunes, sounding rather like Barbara Cook or Julie Andrews. 'Somewhere' is particularly moving. Her English diction is excellent, appropriately American or British as required. In the last three songs, she sings in sultry fashion and is not particularly convincing, sounding a bit like a diva who is slumming. In fact, 'Round Midnight is dreadful.



All but the last two tracks were previously released on Ondine CDs. The CD is mid-price. The booklet has no details except for the listing of selections.



Scott Morrison"