Track Listing

1. Le Domino Noir, opera: La belle Inès fait florès
2. L'Amant jaloux (Les Fausses Apparences), opera: Je romps la chaîne qui m'engage
3. Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute), opera, K. 620: O zittre nicht
4. Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute), opera, K. 620: Der Hölle Rache
5. Un mari à la porte, operetta in 1 act: Valse tyrolienne
6. Le Domino Noir, opera: Mes chères soeurs
7. Le Toreador, opera: Ah! vous dirai-je, maman
8. Le Domino Noir, opera: Qui je suis?
9. Don César de Bazan, comic opera in 4 acts (2 versions): Sevillana
10. La Perle Du Brésil, opera: Couplets du Mysoli
11. Le Fête du Village Voisin, opera: Boléro
12. Le Toreador, opera: Avec son petit air... Car la femme
13. Le Domino Noir, opera: Flamme vengeresse
14. La Reine Topaze, opera: Carnaval de Venise

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #436663 in Music
• Released on: 1998-08-11
• Number of discs: 1

Customer Reviews

My most favorite of the Sumi Jo albums...
But now, others can have access to this peppy, catchy-tuned album with Sumi Jo singing arias from obscure French operas and operettas (with the two Queen of the Night arias from Die Zauberflöte thrown in for good measure!).

Every one of these songs are so enjoyable, there's really isn't a bad one in the bunch. They all seem to be perfectly tailored to what this woman can do (Yes, it is true... she is no machination but a real, live woman.) Sumi Jo is in great form, singing with her crystal-clear coloratura through almost every piece ("Mes chères soeurs" is more legato and smooth-flowing than the others probably to allow you to hear that she is not only a master of the coloratura but the length and flow of line as well). Not much else is to be noted since this CD is just so amazing (if you love her other CD's like: Bel Canto, Virtuoso Arias, and Sumi Jo Sings Mozart, you should ADORE this album). I really like the trio "Ah, vous dirai-je maman" from the opera Le Toreador by Adolphe Adam that she recorded with Richard Bonynge a while ago. It's basically been made a vocalise from the original theme by Mozart. I have to make a special note though about one other piece, the "Carnaval de Venise" by Victor Masse. I'm sure Bonynge pulled out this obscure piece JUST for Sumi Jo. The last one-and-a-half minutes are PURE coloratura (I know, this sounds a little excessive as my girlfriend would point out, but I find it thrilling as I hang on every moment of it). It shows just how much control she has of her technique (The only bobble she makes on the entire CD is heard at one point in this piece where she seems to be running out of breath. But who can blame her for one teeny mistake when she's just sung fiery, blazing coloratura for 20 seconds or so with one breath in a long string of appoggiaturas???). It's simply amazing and is a perfect showpiece to end the CD with, though they're all great arias.

If you purchase this album and enjoy it at least half as much as I do, it'll be well worth the buy. So... we have 14 pieces multiplied by 5 stars easily each, plus 20 stars for Sumi Jo's gorgeous voice, and 10 for Bonynge's selection of material and we arrive at a grand total of 100 stars. Enjoy!

Spectacular Singing
Sumi Jo is probably the greatest coloratura soprano today. This CD is a great showcase for Miss Jo's talent. She has an incredible technique, never sounding shrill or strained. Her musicality is always evident in these selections, from her albums CARNAVAL, LE DOMINO NOIR, DIE ZAUBERFLOTE and LE TOREADOR. It is difficult to mention the highlights of this CD. The Queen of the Night's arias, even when Sumi Jo's voice is lighter than what is expected for the role, shine with expression and cristal clear execution. Other highlights are "Ah! vous dirai-je maman" from LE TOREADOR, "Sevillana", "Couplets de Mysoli". And there is no better way to end this CD than with the "Carnaval de Venise" from Masse's LA REINE TOPAZE. These variations are executed by Miss Jo in a spectacular way. Her singing reminds me of Amelita Galli-Curci: the same combination of charm and technical brilliance. This CD is a prefect introduction for people who do not know Sumi Jo. And it will be no doubt a treat for the fans of the Korean soprano.

Simply the best!!!
Anybody who listens to this CD would not doubt that she is by far the best soprano (not one of the best) in the world. I have heard Maria Callas, Kiri Te Kanawa, Renee Fleming, Joan Sutherland, Cecilia bartoli, ...etc, but nobody is as perfect as Sumi Jo. She is not only super- excellent in techniques and musicality (This is shown the best in "the original Ariadne auf Naxos", and in "Sumi Jo sings Mozart" - the songs in this CD had been composed by Mozart in his later years and because of techical difficulties, no singer in modern times has ever successfully been able to sing them. However, Jo sings them with great ease and at the same time shows great expressions of subtle emotions! One medical examination of her throat through up-to-date machine showed that the opening and closing of her throat is complete! Without any gap!), her expressing of emotions are so warm and humane that some of her songs make me jerk off tears every time I hear it (ex. in this CD, Carnival de Venise) and give goose bumps and thrills. I went to her concert a year ago and believe me, her live performance is even more impressive, which proved that all her songs in her CDs are not thanks to some kind of mechanical manipulations, which some singers sometimes use in recording! I hope more people will hear her music so that she can be in the main streams of the opera world. She has produced as many as 26 albums till now, and she is still in her 30s! I've got most of her CDs and ALL OF THEM are excellent. For those who want to enjoy her live performance, I wanna recommend "Sumi Jo Live Carnegie Hall" performed with Richard Bonynge Orchestra of St. Luke's. I've never experienced such a performance in my whole life!