Album

Ondine's Essential Highlights of Karita Mattila brings together two previous releases, Karita Mattila Live in Helsinki from 2001 and Sibelius: Songs from 1996. Karita Mattila Live in Helsinki begins with riotous opening applause that continues through the orchestral introduction to "Dich teure Halle" from Tannhäuser, greeting Mattila like a rock star, and she performs with the passionate abandon and almost tangible audience rapport characteristic of rock stars. The intensity of her performance is palpable and she is fully invested in this material, holding nothing back. Besides the Wagner, Mattila brings characters from Dvorák, Verdi, and Puccini operas to life with a searing focus. Her powerful, radiant voice in the service of such an intelligent and heartfelt commitment to the music communicates viscerally with her audience. The remainder of the concert is devoted to lighter material, which she delivers with no less understanding and effectiveness. The comic gifts she brings to three arias from Die Fledermaus and her seductive performances of "Falling in Love Again," "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend," and "Summertime" show that she could have made a career as a chanteuse if she'd chosen not to pursue opera. There are a few ancillary noises and some applause, but generally the sound is terrifically clean and present.

Mattila's large, focused, warmly expressive soprano is especially well-suited to the music of the Romantic and post-Romantic eras, so it seems natural that she would have an affinity for the songs of her countryman Jean Sibelius. The songs are especially attractive, harmonically lush and melodically gratifying, beautifully constructed, and written to show off the virtuosic possibilities of the voice. Many of them, such as "Fåfäng önskan" and "Svarta rosor," lie very high, but Mattila soars and floats through their punishing tessitura with apparent effortlessness. Her robust soprano is absolutely secure throughout the full extent of her range (as is especially evident in "Arioso"), and it sounds like an advertisement for superb vocal health and grounded technique. That health comes across in the exuberance of her interpretations and her ability to sing with an abandon that never threatens to veer out of control; she never sounds less than fully at ease. Pianist Ilmo Ranta supplies a supportive accompaniment. Ondine's sound is clear, clean, and vibrant. This album should delight Mattila's fans, as well as Sibelius enthusiasts, and anyone who appreciates luminous vocal performances.

© Stephen Eddins, Rovi

CD 1 of 2
Richard Wagner Composer Tannhäuser (opera), WWV 70 Work Recorded 2000 Karita Mattila Soprano, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra Orchestra, Jukka-Pekka Saraste Conductor
1	Dich teure Halle (I Greet You, Dear Hall)	3:16			$0.99
Antonín (Leopold) Dvořák Composer Rusalka, B.203, Op.114 (lyric fairy tale, opera) Work Recorded 2000 Karita Mattila Soprano, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra Orchestra, Jukka-Pekka Saraste Conductor
2	Mesícku na nebi hlobokém	5:25			$0.99
Giuseppe Verdi Composer Aida (opera)...Act 1 Work Recorded 2000 Karita Mattila Soprano, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra Orchestra, Jukka-Pekka Saraste Conductor
3	9.Aida: Ritorna vincitor!	6:29			$0.99
Giuseppe Verdi Composer La forza del destino (opera)...Act 4 Work Recorded 2000 Karita Mattila Soprano, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra Orchestra, Jukka-Pekka Saraste Conductor
4	5.Pace, pace, mio Dio!	5:18			$0.99
Giacomo Puccini Composer Tosca (opera)...Act 2 Work Recorded 2000 Karita Mattila Soprano, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra Orchestra, Jukka-Pekka Saraste Conductor
5	12.Vissi d'arte, vissi d'amore	2:56			$0.99
Johann Strauss II Composer Die Fledermaus (The Bat; operetta), RV503 Work Recorded 2000 9:52 Karita Mattila Soprano, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra Orchestra, Jukka-Pekka Saraste Conductor
6	Ich lade gern mir Gäste ein (I Like to Invite Guests)	2:45			$0.99
7	Mein Herr Marquis (My Dear Marquis)	3:15			$0.99
8	Klänge der Heimat (Sounds of My Homeland)	3:52			$0.99
Jean Sibelius Composer 5 Songs, Op.37...5.Flickan kom ifran sin alsklings mote ('The Girl Returned from Meeting Her Lover') Work Recorded 2000 Karita Mattila Soprano, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra Orchestra, Jukka-Pekka Saraste Conductor
9	5.Flickan kom ifran sin alsklings mote ('The Girl Returned from Meeting Her Lover'; version 1)	3:04			$0.99
Leevi Madetoja Composer Luulit, ma katselin sua (You thought I was watching you), for voice & piano, Op.68, No.3 Work Recorded 2000 Karita Mattila Soprano, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra Orchestra, Jukka-Pekka Saraste Conductor
10	Luulit, ma katselin sua (You thought I was watching you), for voice & piano, Op.68, No.3	2:49			$0.99
Oskar Merikanto Composer Miksi laulan (Why Do I Sing), song for voice & piano, Op.20, No.2 Work Recorded 2000 Karita Mattila Soprano, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra Orchestra, Jukka-Pekka Saraste Conductor
11	Miksi laulan (Why Do I Sing), song for voice & piano, Op.20, No.2	1:15			$0.99
Ralph Siegel Maria Composer Ich hab' noch einen Koffer in Berlin (I still have a Suitcase in Berlin) Work Recorded 2000 Karita Mattila Soprano, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra Orchestra, Jukka-Pekka Saraste Conductor
12	Ich hab' noch einen Koffer in Berlin (I still have a Suitcase in Berlin)	3:48			$0.99
Friedrich Hollaender Composer Falling in love again (Ich bin von Kopf bis Fuss) Work Recorded 2000 Karita Mattila Soprano, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra Orchestra, Jukka-Pekka Saraste Conductor
13	Falling in love again (Ich bin von Kopf bis Fuss)	2:34			$0.99
Jule Styne (AKA Julius Kerwin Stein) Composer Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend, song (for the musical Gentlemen Prefer Blondes) Work Recorded 2000 Karita Mattila Soprano, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra Orchestra, Jukka-Pekka Saraste Conductor
14	Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend, song (for the musical Gentlemen Prefer Blondes)	3:45			$0.99
George Gershwin Composer Porgy and Bess (opera)...Act 1 Work Recorded 2000 Karita Mattila Soprano, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra Orchestra, Peter Lerche Guitar, Jukka-Pekka Saraste Conductor
15	2.Scene 1: Summertime	2:34			$0.99
CD 2 of 2
Jean Sibelius Composer 7 Songs, Op.17 Work Recorded 1995 Karita Mattila Soprano, Ilmo Ranta Piano
1	6.Illalle (To Evening)	1:27			$0.99
Jean Sibelius Composer 5 Songs, Op.37 Work Recorded 1995 Karita Mattila Soprano, Ilmo Ranta Piano
2	4.Var det en drom? ('Was It a Dream?')	2:09			$0.99
Jean Sibelius Composer 6 Songs, Op.36 Work Recorded 1995 Karita Mattila Soprano, Ilmo Ranta Piano
3	6.Demanten pa marssnon ('The Diamond on the March Snow')	3:22			$0.99
Jean Sibelius Composer 7 Songs, Op.17 Work Recorded 1995 2:56 Karita Mattila Soprano, Ilmo Ranta Piano
4	3.Fagellek (Play of the Birds)	1:44			$0.99
5	7.Lastu lainehilla (Driftwood)	1:12			$0.99
Jean Sibelius Composer Row, Row Duck (Souda, souda, sinisorsa; song) Work Recorded 1995 Karita Mattila Soprano, Ilmo Ranta Piano
6	Row, Row Duck (Souda, souda, sinisorsa; song)	1:20			$0.99
Jean Sibelius Composer 7 Songs of Runeberg, Op.13 Work Recorded 1995 Karita Mattila Soprano, Ilmo Ranta Piano
7	4.Spring is flying	1:36			$0.99
Jean Sibelius Composer 5 Songs, Op.37 Work Recorded 1995 Karita Mattila Soprano, Ilmo Ranta Piano
8	1.Den forsta kyssen ('The First Kiss')	2:03			$0.99
Jean Sibelius Composer 6 Songs, Op.36 Work Recorded 1995 Karita Mattila Soprano, Ilmo Ranta Piano
9	2.Men min fagel marks dock icke ('But My Bird is Long in Homing')	2:32			$0.99
Jean Sibelius Composer 5 Songs, Op.37...5.Flickan kom ifran sin alsklings mote ('The Girl Returned from Meeting Her Lover') Work Recorded 1995 Karita Mattila Soprano, Ilmo Ranta Piano
10	5.Flickan kom ifran sin alsklings mote ('The Girl Returned from Meeting Her Lover'; version 2)	3:04			$0.99
Jean Sibelius Composer Arioso, for voice and orchestra, Op.3 Work Recorded 1995 Karita Mattila Soprano, Ilmo Ranta Piano
11	Arioso, for voice and orchestra, Op.3	4:44			$0.99
Jean Sibelius Composer 8 Songs, Op.61 Work Recorded 1995 Karita Mattila Soprano, Ilmo Ranta Piano
12	7.Idle Wishes	3:20			$0.99
Jean Sibelius Composer 6 Songs, Op.88 Work Recorded 1995 8:44 Karita Mattila Soprano, Ilmo Ranta Piano
13	1.The Anemone	0:57			$0.99
14	2.The Two Roses	1:23			$0.99
15	3.The Star-Flower (The Wood Anemone)	1:20			$0.99
16	4.The Primrose	1:09			$0.99
17	5.The Thornbush	2:19			$0.99
18	6.The Flower's Destiny	1:36			$0.99
Jean Sibelius Composer 6 Songs, Op.90 Work Recorded 1995 Karita Mattila Soprano, Ilmo Ranta Piano
19	1.Norden ('The North')	2:51			$0.99
Jean Sibelius Composer 6 Songs, Op.72 Work Recorded 1995 Karita Mattila Soprano, Ilmo Ranta Piano
20	4.The Echo Nymph	3:30			$0.99
Jean Sibelius Composer 7 Songs, Op.17 Work Recorded 1995 Karita Mattila Soprano, Ilmo Ranta Piano
21	5.En slanda (A Dragonfly)	5:13			$0.99
Jean Sibelius Composer 6 Songs, Op.36 Work Recorded 1995 Karita Mattila Soprano, Ilmo Ranta Piano
22	1.Svarta rosor ('Black Roses')	2:03			$0.99
Jean Sibelius Composer 8 Songs, Op.57 Work Recorded 1995 Karita Mattila Soprano, Ilmo Ranta Piano
23	4.May	2:40			$0.99
Jean Sibelius Composer 2 Songs, Op.35 Work Recorded 1995 Karita Mattila Soprano, Ilmo Ranta Piano
24	1.Jubal	5:08			$0.99