Album

Nineteenth century French opera, outside of the perennials Carmen, Romeo et Juliette, and Faust, has largely wound up having to take a back seat to Italian and German opera of the same era. Then along comes Sumi Jo, a glamorous, golden toned, and exciting soprano whose realm of expertise happens to be in nineteenth century French opera. Rather than force her to sing Wagner or Verdi certainly it is best to showcase Jo in the music that she is best at, even if names such as Ambroise Thomas, André Messager, Michael Balfe, and Adolphe Adam do not exactly seem to motivate music lovers to take flight to the nearest record store or concert hall. Make no mistake about it, Jo is simply incredible in this music—light, airy, and able to scale some of the highest, most treacherous passagework in opera without the slightest sign of strain or discomfort. Every pitch is true—at the end of "Le Jour sous le soleil bèni" Jo's voice moves up into the stratosphere and just sits there until the end of the piece, without wavering in the slightest. Jo is wonderfully expressive in the slower arias; the "Couplets de Mysoli" from Félicien David's La Perle du Brésil is usually done as a cheesy soprano showpiece, but here Jo puts it over as the piquant gem that it is. The accompaniment, provided by Richard Bonynge and the English Chamber Orchestra, is lively and spontaneous, and the occasional instrumental solos heard in these pieces are played beautifully. This disc, released in October 1994, was reissued under the title of French Coloratura Arias in September 2004.

© Uncle Dave Lewis , All Music Guide

CD 1
Jacques Offenbach Composer Un mari à la porte (operetta) Work English Chamber Orchestra Orchestra, Richard Bonynge Conductor, Sumi Jo Soprano
1	Valse Tyrolienne	3:44			$0.99
Jules Massenet Composer Don César de Bazan (comic opera; 2 versions) Work English Chamber Orchestra Orchestra, Richard Bonynge Conductor, Sumi Jo Soprano
2	Sevillana 1	3:00			$0.99
Félicien-César David Composer La Perle Du Brésil, opera Work English Chamber Orchestra Orchestra, William Bennett Flute, Richard Bonynge Conductor, Sumi Jo Soprano
3	Coupletsdu Mysoli	7:56			$1.49
André-Ernest-Modeste Grétry Composer L'Amant jaloux (Les Fausses Apparences), opera Work English Chamber Orchestra Orchestra, Richard Bonynge Conductor, Sumi Jo Soprano
4	Je Romps la Chaine qui M'engage	5:25			$0.99
Michael William Balfe Composer Le puits d'amour, opera Work English Chamber Orchestra Orchestra, Richard Bonynge Conductor, Sumi Jo Soprano
5	Reves d' Amour, Reves de Gloire	5:18			$0.99
André Messager Composer Madame Chrysanthème, opera Work English Chamber Orchestra Orchestra, Richard Bonynge Conductor, Sumi Jo Soprano
6	Le Jour Sous Le Soleil Beni	4:52			$0.99
Ambroise Thomas Composer Le songe d'une nuit d'été (opera) Work English Chamber Orchestra Orchestra, Richard Bonynge Conductor, Sumi Jo Soprano
7	Malgré l'éclat qui m'environne	7:07			$1.49
Adolphe Adam Composer Les Pantins de Violette (operetta) Work English Chamber Orchestra Orchestra, Richard Bonynge Conductor, Sumi Jo Soprano
8	La Chanson du Canari	4:16			$0.99
Ferdinand Hérold Composer Le Pré Aux Clercs, opera Work English Chamber Orchestra Orchestra, Richard Bonynge Conductor, Anthony Marwood Violin, Sumi Jo Soprano
9	Jours De Mon Enfance	7:57			$1.49
Léo Delibes Composer Le roi l'a dit (opera) Work English Chamber Orchestra Orchestra, Richard Bonynge Conductor, Sumi Jo Soprano
10	Portons Toujours Des Robes Sombres	2:39			$0.99
Adolphe Adam Composer Si J'étais Roi (opera) Work English Chamber Orchestra Orchestra, Richard Bonynge Conductor, Sumi Jo Soprano
11	Grand Air: De Vos Nobles Aïeux	6:59			$0.99
François-Adrien Boieldieu Composer Le Fête du Village Voisin, opera Work English Chamber Orchestra Orchestra, Richard Bonynge Conductor, Sumi Jo Soprano
12	Boléro	2:30			$0.99
Victor Massé Composer La Reine Topaze, opera Work English Chamber Orchestra Orchestra, Richard Bonynge Conductor, Sumi Jo Soprano
13	Carnaval de Venise	6:35			$0.99