Karita Mattila sings Strauss' Morgen

[Thomas10065]

Diese schöne Musik möchte ich für mein Begräbnis wählen

[MrPrimotenore]

A beautiful performance, but I'm amazed considering the seeming tension in her jaw and the way the corners of her mouth spread horizontally.  Both are considered "no-nos" in good singing and usually prevent such beautiful singing.

[Schwanengesang415]

she never dissapoints me.

[lamusicahera]

BRAVA!



[jeamphe]

Cette interprétation est magnifique, et sa voix crémeuse est parfaite pour cette musique.

[tcradical]

Her voice has such a warming quality. Courageous and intelligent woman.

[SieglindeMoos]

she is a spinto soprano or what the German's call a Jugendlich Dramatischer Sopran.

[flouraki]

@hayleysuperstar A light lyric I think

[celloguy]

@flouraki Definitely not. She has sung the hochdramatisch soprano role of Salome at the Met.

[Manxypop]

Her voice is perfectly suited to this beautiful song. It sounds quite effortless for her. She deffinitely has an American accent, though. Vibrato is just fine in violin, a la Strauss. Wonderful performance.

[ketillflatnefur]

that's funny, she has a Finnish accent when she speaks English - to me her German sounds like a Finn is pronouncing it very gently - nothing American, or Canadian for that matter about it. Listen again.........

[Chilair1]

she's very pale.

[uniqueattack]

Warm and lovely but I can never let go of J. Norman's perf. Norman's last phrase of this piece is unmatched.

[janvanb32]

@uniqueattack

I agree that the final phrase in Norman's rendition is sublime. Most of all I think it's the orchestra that weaves a most haunting magic. Although I have to admit, the ones that touch me most are Seefried and Wunderlich.

[TalkToMe66]

As fluently German speaking, I could hardly understand a word of this ... as such a pitty... Some years will make a singer... and she truly became a one -

[thomaz89]

Such a pitty it's so hard for you to understand German - I understand every word clearly. ;-)

I don't really know what you expect, her diction is (almost) perfect and I don't know many Germans who could do better!

[TalkToMe66]

Ich spreche selbst bestes Deutsch und singe als Bariton auch. Jedoch möge es sein, dass ich selbst ein Finne bin und Deutsch anders verlange? Dennoch bleibt Karita Mattila für mich als eine der Besten... PS. Was doch "Daumen hoch" wert ist und nicht soooooo ein Minus?

Sorry thomaz89, that I gave you that feeling not appreciating enough Mattila, but I think she could do better in this matter - the high notes of pronunciation ...

[katems822]

I think it's mostly the final schwas that are problematic. She closes them too much, while some of the vowels that are supposed to be closed are too open. I could understand it though and the recording quality doesn't help.

[wirthmart]

Her voice is wonderful but this solo-violin is terrible. If I didn't knew thi piece I wouldn't be able to hear what notes are written with so much vibrato.

[WisiG]

It's Strauss... and the interpretation makes the overloaded vibrato (i don't like it too). but you have to admit, that, if the piece were conducted by Strauss himself, or Furtwängler, ..., there would be even much more vibrato...

[energyglobal]

Wonderful !

[distantm]

next to renee fleming's creamy, dreamy performance..this is so so beautiful.

[Homoclassicus]

Very beautiful. This is one of the most meaningful and peaceful lieder I know. It always brings good feelings when I hear it. Mattila's younger voice is amazingly velvety and creamy, a very smooth and relaxing timbre.

[Youkali67]

Karita sings so beautiful...I love her voice!!!