Notes and Editorial Reviews
"Audiences who enjoyed Helsinki Opera’s excellent recent Ring cycle were impressed by a superlative young Wotan in Juha Uusitalo, who’s now establishing an international career. Uusitalo’s bass-baritone is exceptional, a powerful, secure instrument blending a bright, heroic top with darkly resonant lower notes, ample stamina, clear diction... [I]t’s in the Wanderer and Wotan tracks that he approaches his best – sweeping, forceful, elegiac and heroically passionate." -- Michael Scott Rohan, BBC Music Magazine, May 2008
"An album with the stamp of greatness (...) that mark (Juha Uusitalo) out as one of the most promising Wagner bass-baritones of the new generation." -- Barry Millington, The Wagner Journal,
Read more
July 2008
Bass-baritone Juha Uusitalo's first aria album features the outstanding Finnish newcomer with the best-known arias for male voice from Wagner's operas, including the popular 'Song to the Evening Star' ("O du, mein holder Abendstern") from Tannhäuser. Juha Uusitalo is accompanied by the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of its Emeritus Chief Conductor Leif Segerstam.
Described by the Financial Times in July 2007 as, "a titan of a Macbeth, with a huge yet cultivated sound and truck-loads of charisma set to conquer the opera world," Juha Uusitalo first started a career as a professional flautist, before turning to singing and rocketing to international status in a remarkably short period. Wagner’s Flying Dutchman has become a signature role in his repertory, since Juha Uusitalo gave his début in this role in Savonlinna, Milan, Vienna and Munich. In autumn 2007, he sang Wotan at the Vienna Staatsoper in several acclaimed performances. Under the direction of Franz Welser-Moest, he will star in the complete Ring cycle through 2009. In October 2008, Juha Uusitalo will give his début at the New York Metropolitan Opera as Jochanaan in Richard Strauss's Salome, as partner of Karita Mattila (Salome) and under the direction of Mikko Franck.
Read less
Works on This Recording
1.
Der fliegende Holländer: Overture by Richard Wagner
Conductor:
Leif Segerstam
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1841/1852; Germany
Length: 11 Minutes 40 Secs.
2.
Der fliegende Holländer: Die Frist ist um [Monologue] by Richard Wagner
Performer:
Juha Uusitalo (Bass Baritone)
Conductor:
Leif Segerstam
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1841/1852; Germany
Length: 12 Minutes 51 Secs.
3.
Parsifal: Nein! Lasst ihn unenthüllt by Richard Wagner
Performer:
Juha Uusitalo (Bass Baritone)
Conductor:
Leif Segerstam
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
Written: 1882
Length: 9 Minutes 35 Secs.
4.
Parsifal: Ja, Wehe! Wehe! Weh' über mich! by Richard Wagner
Performer:
Juha Uusitalo (Bass Baritone)
Conductor:
Leif Segerstam
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
Written: 1882
Length: 8 Minutes 3 Secs.
5.
Tannhäuser: O, du mein holder Abendstern by Richard Wagner
Performer:
Juha Uusitalo (Bass Baritone)
Conductor:
Leif Segerstam
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1845/1861; Germany
Length: 6 Minutes 22 Secs.
6.
Siegfried: Dir Unweisen ruf’ ich ins Ohr by Richard Wagner
Performer:
Juha Uusitalo (Bass Baritone)
Conductor:
Leif Segerstam
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1871; Germany
Length: 5 Minutes 46 Secs.
7.
Die Walküre: Leb' wohl..."Farewell and Magic Fire music" by Richard Wagner
Performer:
Juha Uusitalo (Bass Baritone)
Conductor:
Leif Segerstam
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1856; Germany
Length: 18 Minutes 0 Secs.
Sound Samples
Der fliegende Hollander (The Flying Dutchman): Overture
Der fliegende Hollander (The Flying Dutchman): Act I: Die Frist ist um
Parsifal: Act I: Nein! Lass ihn unhenthuellt! - Wehvolles Erbe, dem ich verfallen
Parsifal: Act III: Ja, wehe, wehe! Weh' ueber mich!
Tannhauser: Act III: Wie Todesahnung Dammerung deckt die Lande - O du, mein holder Abendstern
Siegfried: Act III: Dir Unweisen ruf' ich ins Ohr
Die Walkure: Act III: Leb' wohl, du kuhnes, herrliches Kind!
Customer Reviews
Be the first to review this title
Review This Title
