Notes and Editorial Reviews
As a single-disc collection of recordings by Finnish mezzo-soprano Monica Groop, this 2007 release entitled Artist Portrait could hardly be bettered. As showcased here, Groop's voice is a warm and plush instrument with a rich, creamy tone and a smooth yet agile technique, and there doesn't seem to be anything she can't do with it. From the devotional intensity of the three Bach arias that open the disc through the ravishing arias from Bizet's Carmen and Saint-Saëns' Samson et Dalila that form its centerpiece to the scorching excerpt from Sibelius' Kullervo Symphony that closes it, Groop is totally on top of the repertoire. Accompanied by Juha Kangas and the Ostrobothinian Chamber Orchestra in the Baroque works by Muhai Tang and the
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Finnish Radio Symphony in the French works and by Jukka-Pekka Saraste and the Finnish Radio Symphony in the Sibelius symphony, Groop never lacks for firm but sympathetic support. Drawn from four discs she recorded for Finlandia, the selection may for some lean too much toward the Baroque/early classical end of the catalog considering the breadth of Groop's repertoire, but no one could complain about the quality of the singing, or about the consistently clean yet evocative sound.
- James Leonard, All Music Guide Read less
Works on This Recording
1.
Kullervo, Op. 7: Kullervo and his Sister - En ole sukua suurta by Jean Sibelius
Performer:
Monica Groop (Mezzo Soprano),
Jorma Hynninen (Baritone)
Conductor:
Jukka-Pekka Saraste
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1892; Finland
Length: 9 Minutes 34 Secs.
Language: Finnish
2.
Vergnügte Ruh, beliebte Seelenlust, BWV 170: no 1, Vergnügte Ruh' by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performer:
Monica Groop (Mezzo Soprano),
Hĺkan Wikman (Organ)
Conductor:
Juha Kangas
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra
Period: Baroque
Written: 1726; Leipzig, Germany
Length: 6 Minutes 21 Secs.
Language: German
3.
Geist und Seele wird verwirret, BWV 35: no 7, Ich wünsche nur, bei Gott zu leben by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performer:
Hĺkan Wikman (Organ),
Monica Groop (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Juha Kangas
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra
Period: Baroque
Written: 1726; Leipzig, Germany
Length: 2 Minutes 55 Secs.
Language: German
4.
Alcina, HWV 34: Sta nell' Ircana pietrosa tana by George Frideric Handel
Performer:
Monica Groop (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Juha Kangas
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra
Period: Baroque
Written: 1735; London, England
Length: 5 Minutes 57 Secs.
Language: Italian
5.
Serse, HWV 40: Ombra mai fu "Largo" by George Frideric Handel
Performer:
Monica Groop (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Juha Kangas
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra
Period: Baroque
Written: 1738; London, England
Length: 3 Minutes 35 Secs.
Language: Italian
6.
Giulio Cesare, HWV 17: Va tacito e nascosto by George Frideric Handel
Performer:
Monica Groop (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Juha Kangas
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra
Period: Baroque
Written: 1724; London, England
Length: 6 Minutes 19 Secs.
Language: Italian
7.
Orfeo ed Euridice: Che farň senza Euridice? by Christoph W. Gluck
Performer:
Monica Groop (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Juha Kangas
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra
Period: Classical
Written: 1762/1774; Vienna, Austria
Length: 4 Minutes 20 Secs.
Language: Italian
8.
La molinara: Nel cor piů non mi sento by Giovanni Paisiello
Performer:
Monica Groop (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Juha Kangas
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra
Period: Classical
Written: 1789/1790; Italy
Length: 1 Minutes 36 Secs.
Language: Italian
Notes: Arranger: Tilmann Köster.
9.
Carmen: L'amour est un oiseau rebelle "Habańera" by Georges Bizet
Performer:
Sanna Niemikunnas (English Horn),
Monica Groop (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Muhai Tang
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1873-1874; France
Length: 5 Minutes 0 Secs.
Language: French
Notes: Composition written: France (1873 - 1874).
10.
Samson et Dalila, Op. 47: Mon coeur s'ouvre ŕ ta voix by Camille Saint-Saëns
Performer:
Monica Groop (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Muhai Tang
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1877; France
Length: 5 Minutes 51 Secs.
Language: French
11.
Mignon: Connais-tu le pays? by Ambroise Thomas
Performer:
Monica Groop (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Muhai Tang
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1866; France
Length: 5 Minutes 10 Secs.
Language: French
12.
Benvenuto Cellini: Tra-la-la...mais qu'ai-je donc? by Hector Berlioz
Performer:
Monica Groop (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Muhai Tang
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1834-1837; France
Length: 5 Minutes 16 Secs.
Language: French
13.
La damnation de Faust, Op. 24: D'amour, l'ardente flamme by Hector Berlioz
Performer:
Monica Groop (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Muhai Tang
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1845-1846; France
Length: 7 Minutes 57 Secs.
Language: French
14.
Gott soll allein mein Herze haben, BWV 169: no 4, Stirb in mir by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performer:
Monica Groop (Mezzo Soprano),
Hĺkan Wikman (Organ)
Conductor:
Juha Kangas
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra
Period: Baroque
Written: 1726; Leipzig, Germany
Length: 5 Minutes 8 Secs.
Language: German
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