Track Listing

1. Die Entführung aus dem Serail (The Abduction from the Seraglio), opera, K. 384: Martern aller Arten
2. Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute), opera, K. 620: Ach, ich fühl's
3. Vorrei spiegarvi, o Dio, aria for soprano & orchestra, K. 418
4. No no, che non sei capace, aria for soprano & orchestra, K. 419
5. Ah se in ciel, benigne stelle, aria for soprano & orchestra, K. 538
6. Il rè pastore, opera, K. 208: L'amerò, sarò costante
7. Voi avete un cor fedele, aria for soprano & orchestra, K. 217
8. Chi sà, chi sà, qual sia, aria for soprano & orchestra, K. 582
9. Le nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), opera, K. 492: Deh vieni, non tardar
10. Der Schauspieldirektor, opera, K. 486: Bester Jüngling
11. Nehmt meinen Dank, ihr holden Gönner, aria for soprano & orchestra. K. 383
12. Schon lacht der holde Frühling, aria for soprano & orchestra, K. 580

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #111724 in Music
• Released on: 1996-10-01
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .26 pounds

Customer Reviews

Stunningly Beautiful Singing
Sumi Jo, a famous Queen of the Night in Die Zauberflöte, brings her beautiful voice and perfect technique to a challenging program of opera and concert arias by Mozart. These arias were all composed for some of the best sopranos of the time, like Aloysa Weber, her sister Josepha (the first Queen of the Night) Caterina Cavalieri (the first Konstanze in the Abduction from the Seraglio) and other fine singers. Some of these arias are not much performed today, due to their great technical difficulty. Sumi Jo is up to the challenges of these pieces. There are not many sopranos today who can sing this music with the freshness and security of Ms. Jo. From the first number "Marten aller Arten", the Korean soprano displays wonderful scales, perfect trills, brilliant high notes and great musicality. Arias like "Non, che no sei capace" (with its brilliants stacattos up to D's and E's), "Vorrei spiegarvi, oh Dio!" (with a lot of legato singing and some very difficult jumps) and "Ah se in ciel, benigne stelle" (full of scales in a very high tessitura) are sung by the soprano with total ease. The most lyrical pieces also models of pianissimo singing and expression, like the meditative "L'ameró, saró constante" from Il Re Pastore,the charming "Deh vieni non tardar" of Le Nozze di Figaro and the playfulness of "Voi avete un cor fedele". Jo uses appogiaturas and ornamentation with great taste. Kenneth Montgomery conducts the English Chamber Orchestra using some odd tempos, but they do not distract from Sumi Jo's superlative singing. In all, a delighful musical experience.

Radiant Voice
I don't know if I can be counted on to write an objective review of one of Sumi Jo's albums, given that I'm such an ardent fan, but here goes...
This album marries Sumi Jo's stunningly brilliant, sweet, pure voice to some of the most demanding of Mozart's opera and concert arias. The result is a joy to listen to, from the first track to the last (a new favorite of mine). Within, Ms. Jo proves that, despite her virtuoso coloratura status, she is capable of great emotional depth and expression (e.g., the achingly poignant "Ach, ich fühl's" from Die Zauberflöte), and not just another shallow songbird. This CD also contains some of the most amazing vocal acrobatics I've ever heard - the leap up the staff in "Vorrei spiegarvi, O Dio!", from the B below to the D above, has to be heard to be believed.
In sum - countless hours of listening pleasure, destined to become a classic. The great conductor Herbert van Karajan, who discovered Ms. Jo, once said that a voice like hers only appears every century or so. Buy this album and hear for yourself.

One of the best Mozart vocal recital CDs
Sumi Jo easily takles the challenges of Mozart's tantilizingly difficult music on this CD. The mind-bending runs are clear, precise, and performed like a true coloratura. There is NO evidence of vocal strain. A few of the infamous concert arias, which are known for their super-human difficulties, are included in this CD. "Ah se in ciel, bengne stelle" is my favorite. A few arias from various operas are also included in this CD. They are all thoughtfully performed with true expression of character. I wish Sumi would take more time to perform Mozart operas on stage, she seems restricted to the bel canto (Bellini, Verdi, Donizetti) repertoire, which are nice, but do not allow Sumi to perform at her full potential. While Mozart CDs are released by almost all female artists now-a-days, I believe this CD by Sumi Jo is worthy of comparison to the likes of Renee Fleming and Kathleen Battle. This CD is a must have for fans of Sumi Jo and Mozart alike. Enjoy.