Karita Mattila

Started by bhodges, April 18, 2007, 07:28:06 AM

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bhodges

After seeing her live in Fidelio, Salome, Jenufa and Kat'a Kabanova -- all quite glorious -- and a recital or two, she has become one of my favorite singers.  I have most of her recordings, but my favorite is Arias & Scenes, which is one of my favorite recital discs, period.  It includes Tchaikovsky, Verdi, Wagner, Janacek, Puccini, R. Strauss and Lehar, and there's not a weak track on the entire recording. 



Tonight I'm hearing her at Carnegie Hall, singing Barber (Hermit Songs), Wolf, Granados and Turina, and perhaps most interestingly, songs by Finnish composers including Kuula, Melartin, Merikanto and Madetoja.  (Complete program is here.)

Other fans, favorite performances? 

--Bruce

Don

She is a wonderful singer.  My favorite recordings are the Strauss Four Last Songs with other songs on DG (Abbado) and the Sibelius Kullervo on BIS (Jarvi).

Siedler

Oh yes, I'm definitely a fan. I was fortunate to witness her first Tosca last fall in Finnish National Opera. Perhaps not very Italianate performance but I througly enjoyed it - she has a great stage presence and beautiful, yet expressive, voice.
Here's an interview clip of her Tosca (it's in Finnish but you can see her singing Tosca): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ypc-xUccqaY

Siedler

#3
She also gave two recitals at FNO (unfortunately I couldn't attend) and Ondine has released an SACD recording of it.

http://www.ondine.net/index.php?lid=en&cid=2.2&oid=3090

bhodges

Oh this is great news, thanks!  (I notice it's arriving here in June.)  I heard her do the Saariaho here last year and was very impressed, and the rest of this program looks excellent.  Thanks again for this heads-up. 

--Bruce

Sarastro

She was singing Jenufa at LA-Opera this season...I can't say I'm crazy about her, but she is a very, very good and professional. The real spinto soprano.