parterre box

60 comments

• Sanford says:

  And speaking of Damnation of Faust (I know we weren’t but we are now), here is one of my favorite recordings of D’amour lardente flamme. Guess who’s singing. My other fave is Von Stade.

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zXuf6eXSx0

  on November 1, 2008 at 4:20 PM
• Sanford says:

  I know it’s Moffo past her prime, but it’s still so affecting.

  on November 1, 2008 at 4:21 PM
• CerquettiFarrell says:

  Sanford it is very touching despite, of course, many imperfections. And the very fast tempo, probably in order to accomodate Moffo’s breathing trouble. But it works.
  I rather love Suzanne Danco’s version on the old Munch recording. I love the work anyway.

  Concerning Fleming vs Isokoski, no problem.
  Here are two versions of the same song, my favourite from 4 letzte Lieder: September.

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIlPm-myghQ

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGTGbVgqNiE

  Fleming: little maddening inflections, no line, no true legato.
  Isokoski: perfection. In fact even better than the CD with Janowski and IMHO one of the most moving ever.
  Interesting to note that despite the fact that Isokoski isnt “glamorous” in any way, the moment the music begins and she opens her mouth, there is magic, in the face, especially the eyes. Such is the power of Art.
  Who needs “a Diva” when you have an Artist onstage?

  on November 1, 2008 at 4:52 PM
• CerquettiFarrell says:

  Just seen Popp with Solti in this. 1977.
  Equally moving but very different from Isokoski / Oramo

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhdN1x4ke74&feature=related

  on November 1, 2008 at 5:58 PM
• Una Vochay says:

  NYCOQ I was most interested in seeing your opinion that Isokoski’s name should not be mentioned in the same breath as Rene Fleming’s- or was it that Rene Fleming’s name should not be mentioned in the same breath as Isokoski’s? I don’t know but I take your point. These days I get so confused in matters about Rene Fleming because there is always so much to read about her- whereas in the case of Isokoski one rarely hears anything!

  Does this mean it is unfair to Rene Fleming as much of the comment is negative and that Isokoski gets a better deal?…one can suspect not if one applies the theory that any publicity is good publicity…even though Isokoski seems to escape the negative, voluminous barrage that the gorgeous Rene Fleming attracts. Indeed Isokoski has escaped it so well, I suspect that most of the queens on Parterre have never heard of Isokoski- or on hearing her name would think that she is some kind of Polish immigrant working backstage in the hat department! Of course one would never make that mistake with the name Fleming because we are all so familiar with it and it has that “ring” of being familiarly “Anglo” as apposed to the Eastern bloc sounding name of Isokoski which is decidedly and perhaps appropriately “clunky and cold war” sounding.
  One can only think la Isokoski would do flips of joy on her front lawn “sans panties” in front of all the neighbours to be mentioned in the same breath as the glorious diva we have all come to know and love, called Rene Fleming!
  Nonetheless, your theory about not mentioning Fleming and Isokoski in the same breath is most interesting and worthy of the deepest consideration.
  Thank you for raising the issue- now I will go and google Isokoski – of course I won’t have to google Fleming because I’m sure if I did, I would find myself directly referred back to Parterre, due to the number of entries about her (Fleming of course- not Isokoski). ;0)

  on November 1, 2008 at 6:11 PM
• Matt Circle says:

  Thank you Una Vochay because I haven’t heard of Isokoski before and like you, I had to google her name. Her rendition of september is indeed very good.

  Is Vittorio Grigolo gay or just Italian? His eyebrows are so horribly waxed!

  on November 1, 2008 at 7:19 PM
• High C's @ 4:20 says:

  thanks for helping me decide what to listen to… some sweet Soile Strauss songs.

  on November 1, 2008 at 7:49 PM
• Dubist Derlenz says:

  Thanks for the article. I tried to like Fleming in her Mozart. I even bought her Mozart arias cd when it first came out. Disappointing. Mozart’s music really does not like to be pulled, stretched and twirled around like salt water taffy, which is what Fleming tried to do to it. To call her the best of any kind of repertoire, especially Mozart, is really a stretch in light of her incessant mannerisms. I wish Fleming would just stick to jazz and continue with her ersatz Sarah Vaughn caterwaulings.

  on November 1, 2008 at 8:57 PM
• Thackeray Gnomey says:

  Isokoski’s profile is lower than Flemings for a number of reasons – primarily that she almost certainly doesn’t spend many thousands of dollars a year on PR.

  She’s also not the most glamorous of women and it would be hard to imagine her doing crossover. And maybe the world feels there is only room for one Finnish diva at a time. She’s a singer of more integrity and refinment than Mattila — and on a recording at least, could make a fine Salome.

  on November 1, 2008 at 9:02 PM
• thomas says:

  One reason Soile doesn’t do it for me is that I find her rather dull and schoolmarmish. I had almost forgotten I had seen her as Marguerite in the Met Faust a few seasons ago – she made so little impression on me. Of course, maybe I was just distracted by Pape and Hvorostovky.

  The thought of her as Salome, even on a recording, is a real stretch.

  on November 1, 2008 at 10:01 PM