Sissel

the mormon tabernacle choir and orchestra perform weel and sing xmas songs you won-t hears elsewhere but the addition of sissel as solist in some classic and typic nordic xmas carols make the product an absolue MUST try hearing "mitt hjærte alltid vanker" or the danish song celebrating the pureness of the snow and you will understand what i mean : what a VOICE she has !!![she makes fables even of gregorian songs ]

I love the Mormon Tabernacle CHOIR, and think this is one of their best CD's yet. I love the arrangments by Mack Wilberg, he is the KING of sacred music arrangments...love Sissel's voice, love that Shane Warby got a spot too...great CD captivating...especially love track #2 Wexford Carol...fantastic. LOVE IT!

These are wonderfully recorded songs from a content standpoint as well as sonically; the CD was up for a Grammy in the latter category. There are a familiar Christmas songs in beautiful arrangments including a definitive "Silent Night," and great Norweigan songs sung by Sissel that provide a scandinavian glimpse of the holidays.

I had tickets to the Sunday morning concert of Sissel's appearance with the MTC, but a snowstorm and the fact that I had never heard of Sissel before this, made me stay home. Big mistake! Huge! I saw the performance on TV and was stunned by the opening processional of Bring a Torch..., (obviously from Mack Wilberg's fertile mind, with a penchant for great choral arrangements and pageantry--I spent five years singing under him at Brigham Young University), and I knew how big a mistake I had made.

When the CD and DVD came out, I bought them both. The DVD gives you the whole concert.

I have fallen in love with Sissel's ethereal, but full voice. Her interpretation of "In the Bleak Mid-Winter" is stunning. It is one of those pieces you can go your whole life and not hear. And to top it off is her Vitae Lux, and then "Like an Angel Passing Through My Room." A piece I have never heard before, but is now one of my favorite songs of all time. It brings me to tears.

The CD and DVD are now essential Christmas listening. But just wait for next year, a CD and DVD with the King's Singers! Talk about a musical match made in Heaven.

i love all chrismas music , but this ranks right up there for being incomparable just like kitaro's " peace on earth " christmas cd. this is a beautiful and stunning album... perfect in every way, its no wonder why its been nominated for a grammy. tracks 5 and 11 are worth the price alone, it takes to a differant place in time and you can listen to it any time of the year the carols and renditions are superlative and one of a kind. magnificent just like the dvd is colosal and memorable in every possable fashion. A plus, a thousand times over.

Yes, I'm one of those people who thinks this is the best album of all time. While ten years has shown its weak parts (electronic choirs and little to none echoing, which usually adds to a score), it's still a masterpiece. Best selling orchestrated album ever, 2nd highest selling soundtrack in history, not to mention one of the biggest hit singles of all time... Look at the evidence if you're completely new to this. You're guaranteed to find something to like in this!
Particularly if you're a James Horner fan. While I personally am fond of the An American Tail soundtracks, this album has a knack for pulling you in on track 1 and not letting go until track 15. Horner is lucky, because most of his soundtracks get a little bit boring in the middle and tend to repeat themselves. This album almost seems like it has a plot to it, and because the music is so much a part of the movie, perhaps it does. I know exactly where I am in the movie when I listen to this album, and vice-versa.
Particular favourites are "Rose", "Hymn to the Sea" and, of course, "My Heart Will Go On" (although do yourself a favour and find the uneccessary but better version, which sports more instruments and is used for the video clip - it has amazing background singers, drums and a huge ending that sends chills down my spine!).

It will be a long time, if ever, that we come across another soundtrack as memorable as this. Remember 'Over the Rainbow'? Of course you do, even if you don't like the song. Remember 'Titanic OST'? Of course you will. Everybody will.

Plus, as a not-really-religious person, there is something hauntingly spiritual about this music. It would creep me out if it weren't so beautiful.

I love the movie so thought the soundtrack would be as enjoyable but it wasn't.

Relaxing new age music
w/ some celtic flavor,
exhilarating orchestral music
w/ some kick b--t percussion
and The version of The song.
An excellent soundtrack.
A must have for we movie music fans
and collectors.

James Horner

Rating: 8.1


The year 1997 saw the release of what was to become one of the biggest blockbuster hits of all time, the highly anticipated Titanic film. Anticipated though the movie was, surely no one could have guessed the huge impact the tragedy story would have on such a large amount of the public. Somehow, this film touched the hearts of its audience in a way few movies have, and in the decade since its release it has become a definite classic. Among the numerous Academy Awards Titanic won, such as 'Best Cinematography', 'Best Costume Design', 'Best Director', 'Best Sound Effects Editing', 'Best Visual Effects', 'Best Film Editing', 'Best Picture', 'Best Sound', 'Best Actress In Leading Role', 'Best Actress In Supporting Role', and 'Best Makeup', the music also won two Academy Awards for 'Best Original Dramatic Score' and 'Best Original Song'. Suffice to say that this movie is anything but under-appreciated, and the music is, like the movie, one of the public's all-time favorites.

Many considered Horner's Braveheart score of two years earlier to have been his big oscar winning effort, but, though nominated, that honor was not given to Horner at that time. However, after two years Horner would receive the recognition many believed he deserved for Breaveheart in his Titanic score. As already mentioned, it has become one of the must hugely popular film scores of all time, and devoted and fanatical fans abound. This could quite possibly be the only review you will ever read of this album written by someone who has not watched the movie. As such, I believe I possess a much more objective view of the music than most. I believe that much of the fanaticism about this score comes from a love of the movie. This is frequently the case in film scores, but perhaps more so here. The movie seems to have such a strong effect on those who watch it that they cannot help but love the soundtrack, if only because it reminds them of the movie. If this would be your only reason for buying the soundtrack, than this review is useless to you because, as I have already commented, I cannot judge by the movie, but by the music alone.

Before beginning a discussion of the orchestrational techniques used in this music, it would be very appropriate to quote some of the liner notes from director James Cameron: "James Horner has walked the tightrope by using the synthesizer, vocals and full orchestra to create a timeless sound which tells us that these people were not so very different from us. Their hopes, their fears, their passions are like ours. In the film I have tried to accentuate the universalities of human behavior, rather than focus on the quaint differences between this other times and our own. James has done the same thing, bridging the gap of time and making these people seem so alive, so vibrant, so real that the dreaded event, when it comes, is terrifying in its authenticity."

This is an interesting argument, and deserves attention. Synthesizers are rarely used well in today's scoring, and so you will usually find me against them in reviews. The synth usage displayed by Horner on this album, however, is of a quite a different nature than the common techniques. Two types of synth writing prevail in todays film scoring world. Either we have synths trying to copy orchestral instruments and voices, showing clearly the tight budget that the movie was produced on, or we have a modern, popular music sound that just sounds like noise. But this album has done it differently, with most of the synths used to replicate the human voice. One would think that this techniques would fit firmly into the first category, except that Horner in no way tries to disguise the fact that synths were used instead of real voices. Never is any sort of legato attempted, and each chord transition sounds distinctly synth-ey. The way in which the effects and EQ are applied to the voices gives them a very expansive and airy sound, something that would not be possible with real voices, and even if it could be attained through effects, the result would be no better than a synth. There are some examples of pop music sounding synths in the score, but the larger part of the times that the synth appears it does so on the form of these voices.

Another very important factor that contributes to the texture of the music is the vocals of Sissel. Her singing on this album is very Enya-esque, and combines with the vocal synth textures very pleasingly. Also, her voice is sufficiently close in tone to Celine Dion, who sings the song "My Heart Will Go On" towards the end of the cd, that, vocally, continuity is preserved even through the obviously radio-aimed pop song.

The first six tracks on the album are dominated by subdued, thoughtful scoring, with little bits of excitement and jubilation felt when the ship leaves port. Through these pieces, Horner introduces his somewhat unique texture already discussed, orchestra, synth vocals and the vocals of Sissel combining in a very modern but still melodic and beautiful way. Four tracks, "Hard To Starboard", "Unable To Stay, Unwilling To Leave", "The Sinking" and "Death Of Titanic" feature hash, percussive writing that strays completely from the soft vocals of earlier. Horner's sinking music is jarring, to say the least. The anvil is used extensively, and many times the orchestra is used in such a percussive way that, though excitement does not let go, listen-ability is somewhat jeopardized. From here the music becomes moody again, and much of the texture from the beginning makes a return, and continues to the end of the score.

The song "My Heart Will Go On", sung by Celine Dion, has become the object of close to the same amount of fanatiscm as the score, and there is no doubt that it has a certain amount of charm. Unfortunately, the instrumentation is very pop-ish, and quite bad, actually. It is, then, a great tribute to the song that it can rise above this huge problem, and still be a touching bit of music. In its favor, also, is the fact that the melody is used extensively throughout the score as a theme, thus, written as it is by the composer, it is a much better melody than what a pop artist would normally write, and it fits the rest of the album quite well, despite the glaring differences in orchestration,

In the end, the amount to which you enjoy Titanic will depend largely on how favorably you view the synthesized vocals and overtly romantic melodies. Though perhaps inflated somewhat by many people's love for the movie, Titanic is nonetheless an enjoyable listen, and deserves a place on any film score collector's shelf.

-Colin Thomson


Read more of Colin Thomson's film score reviews at:

http://soundtracksreviewed.blogspot.com/

Alright I admit, I like the film score to TITANIC, a movie that makes me violently ill (despite Kate Winslet being in the film)or puts me into a diabetic coma from the sugary storyline. James Horner's classical film score is quite effective in drawing in the audience with his often emotional music. "Rose" is the perfect example. Sissel's delicate vocals is never overwhelming and never the center point of the song. The focus is the melody. Unfortunately what drags down this soundtrack is that insidious ballad "My Heart Will Go On" that was played like every ten minutes on the radio back in 1997 to ad nauseum. I think the song would have sounded much better with Scandinavian artist Sissel. The problem with "My Heart Will Go On" is Celine Dion and her awful vocal acrobatics. It reminds me of Whitney Houston on that awful Dolly Parton remake "I Will Always Love You". Both women tries way too hard to prove to the audience that they can sing but what they get is they sound like a foghorn,loud and obnoxious. Plus the whole atmospheric mood of the film score is totally ruined by that buzzkill Celine Dion's caterwaulering. Despite the awfulness of the film and Celine Dion's screeching, I do like James Horner's score for TITANIC. It is very relaxing to listen to after a long day at the office.

As always, Sissel excels with her wonderful voice. Never a song that you don't like hearing over and over again. Especially beautiful is her duet with José Carreras in "Quando Sento Che Mi Ami" (can be watched on YouTube).

Sissel's Northern Lights CD is just wonderful. It is full of her Honey voiced renditions of known and unknow songs, all of which she performs to perfection.

This CD showed up earlyer than I thought. The case was shattered but I had an extra. Sissels music brings me to tears.

Amazon had a video clip of Sissel singing a track from this CD. Had never heard of her until then, what a find! She is one of the few vocalist that truly is versatile and able to sing a wide variety of styles. All the music contained in this CD is well suited to Sissel's voice and showcases the depth of her maturity. Added this CD plus three more to my library.

During this last Christmas I was watching PBS and saw a singer that brought me to tears. Her voice was so pure and angelic, I could not believe what I was hearing.
Sissel has the voice of an angel, her voice is literally God given.
I went out and bought the Christmas concert on DVD and CD and spent weeks listening to it almost exclusively.
She not only had a great voice, but you kept wanting more and more.
I was hesitant to buy this CD because I was afraid she would not capture the spirit she did with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
I finally broke down and bought this CD, figuring that if the songs were about Christmas and winter, maybe it was worth buying.
What she has put together here is nothing short of a masterpiece.
If you watch the Northern Lights DVD, she sings again several songs she did with the MTC. I chose to buy the CD first, wanting to hear the new songs she had recorded.
Hymn to Winter is a great song about true love with poignant lyrics.
When will my Heart Arise is an English version of Mitt hjerte alltid vanker, which she states is her favorite Christmas song. I loved hearing the lyrics in English as opposed to Norwegian like she sang with the MTC.
Going Home is another great song. The entire CD is excellant and certainly worth buying.
What you have here, is the finest soprano voice in the world, She will Captivate you with your voice and the music will haunt you like you have never heard before. Sissel is not well known in the United States ( or at least not as popular as she is in Europe. I used to think Celine Dion on Titanic was a great voice. Sissel puts Celine Dion to shame. Now I listen to Titanic with new ears and hear her incredible voice. Sissel is on the verge of being very big in the United States........It's only a matter of time. This could be the break she needs.
This is for people who love Classical, or Traditional Folk music from other countries than the United States.
I recommend this CD to anyone who loves music at its purest, and its finest..........Enjoy

Sissel's voice is transcendent. So pure and lovely and easy to listen to. Her choice of music is out of this world. I can listen to it every day and not get tired of it.

This is one of the finest CD'S ever made. It has to be experienced to truely understand. She is remarkable!

Sissel shows her versatilty and is an excellent CD with an excellent voice.Best I've heard in years

Once again, Sissel's crystal-clear, bell-like voice is complemented with beautiful songs & lush orchestrations. Among standouts: "Mon coeur s'ouvre a la voix," "O Mio Babbino Caro" and "Deborah's Theme." Sissel also does a beautiful job with "Pie Jesu," although I would have liked to have heard it as a duet. Even though there is not quite as diverse a repertoire as "Into Paradise" - which better showcases her voice (hence, the 4-star rating) - the album as a whole is wonderful and highly recommended.

The first Sissel CD I bought was "Into Paradise" where her astounding, sonorous tones are allowed full breadth of expression. This album, however, I was slightly disappionted in. The song selection does not appeal to me as well or emphasize her voice as fully. Still, as a record it is very lovely. It depends on what you expect...

Fabulous! Another great Sissel CD. Has a lighter touch than other music selections by Sissel but her fabulous voice is so versatile that it's soars no matter the style of music.

To say that Sissel has the voice of an angel might sound trite. It would also be true. If I were an angle I would be honored that someone thought my voice was as clear, as beautiful, as haunting as Sissels.

"Into Paradise" is a great mix of a variety of music from many sources all of which Sissel handles with ease. To me the most haunting are the Norwegian folk tunes.
This is my first Sissel album. I got it after seeing her preform with the Salt Lake City Choir on TV. I have no idea where it fits with her albums, but I do know that once you've heard Sissel you'll love this album.

Sissel has scored again with a collection of songs that lift you out of the mundane into a more rarified, yet very human world. Her vocalization is light and airy, but she never puts a foot wrong in laying out the emotional content of her selections.

Bought this for a Christmas present after attending a concert. Great CD. (Soft, Enya like stuff). Shipped fine.

Absolutely gorgeous CD! Sisel sings like an angel! I was completely absorbed into her music. One of the best CD's I have ever listened to.

My first exposure to Sissel was a movie - Marie Antoinette, I think - where her voice was the first thing I heard, during the opening credits. I then spent the entire time in the theater waiting for the end credits, so I could find out who that singer was, and check out everything of hers that I could get my hands on. That's how strong an impression the beauty of her voice made on me.

This specific album is one of her (relatively) pop-style albums (as opposed to her classical albums, where she sings arias and classical art songs), and of her pop albums, this one is my favorite. "Solitaire" and "Should It Matter," in particular, are wonderful songs - listen to these when making the decision on whether to buy.

Sissel is charaterized by her soulful melodies. She sings well. Music is easy listening. I like listening to her to relax.

She is in the movie Titanic performing the theme song. This Cd, sung in English, captures her amazing talent. Mostly ballads, just put your headphones on, sit back in your favorite chair and enjoy the brilliance and clarity of her singing. Sheer enjoyment. You can actually understand the words. Her voice is so pure, so soothing with a style of her own. This is a breathtakingly beautiful performance. She also has a wonderful concert video.

Coming from Bergen, Sissel`s home town, i have paid attention
to her since i first saw/heard her at TV in the early eighties.
What you like is a matter of taste, if you have liked any of
her CD`s i recommend you to listen to her recordings of
"Pie Jesu" and "Oh Mio Babbino Caro", another superb recording is the one done with The Three Tenors, Christmas In Vienna,where
she sings in "Silent Night" like no one else can sing.
It moves me everytime i hear these songs, try it !

A lot of people, including myself, are just now learning about Sissel but she's actually been putting out music for quite some time now. She's a Norwegian pop princess that became fairly known in the USA with her haunting contributions to James Hornor's 'Titanic' score. She was unfortunately mired by the belting diva, Celine Dion, on the closing credits but it was Sissel's voice that worked most of the magic when it came to evoking emotions as the misty-eyed viewers watched the movie in awe. She was only part of the background there, accenting the instruments and resonating sound effects, but she's even more magnificent here with the primary focus being HER.

I stumbled upon her self-titled album close to a year ago and reluctantly bought it since the price was unbelievably cheap at Borders and I've yet to regret it. I'm always looking for new female singers to spark my interest for a while and this angelic siren has proven time and time again that she doesn't need to market herself or become commercial to be successful. Her music is pure and beautiful and heavenly and ... I could go on forever but it's truly something one must experience for them self. This is one of few CDs I keep returning to only to find myself enjoying it more and more every time I do. From pop ballads such as "Sarah's Song" and "Carrier Of A Secret" to the more upbeat "Can't Go Back" and "All Good Things", which has a tropical, Hawaiian vibe with carefree, fun-in-the-sun type beats, to the slightly somber "Molde Canticle" and the Celtic "Shenandoah", her gorgeous gift from God is laced with warm, operatic soaring that's clear in pronunciation and sweetly simple.

Sissel is like a burst of light in my often dark collection and I definitely plan on checking out her many imports in the near future. There's no question about it: This is one talented gal, and if I had to choose a favorite track on this record that won't relent its constant hold on me, it would probably be the wonderful message of love she conveys on "Weightless".

BTW, I've heard some people compare her to Sarah Brightman but I really don't hear the resemblance there.

A spiritual experience Vince Gill and Sinead O'Connor, laced with levity Mick Maloney, add to this recipe Eileen Ivers on Fiddle, the Chieftans, Van Morrison are some of my favorites. There isn't one track on this CD that you'll skip. The theme thoughout is amazing - this is truly Celtic Amazing Grace. If you have any Irish in your blood this is a must buy.

CD in fine shape but packaging just so-so. Wouldn't say very good. Delivery a tad slow -7 or 8 days to receive.

1. Van Morrison & the Chieftains - "Shenandoah" (3:52)
2. The Irish Film Orchestra - "Main Theme" Instrumental (4:25)
3. Mary Black - "Paddy's Lamentation/Ships Are Sailing" (4:47)
4. The Irish Film Orchestra - "Emigration Theme" Instrumental (5:08)
5. Vince Gill - "The Bard of Armagh/The Streets of Laredo" (5:03)
6. Sinead O'Connor - "Skibbereen" (4:15)
7. The Chieftains & Friends - "The Night Larry Was Stretched/Jig" (2:27)
8. Liam O' Maonlai - "White Potatoes" (3:31)
9. The Irish Film Orchestra - "Famine Theme" Instrumental (3:37)
10. Mick Moloney - "Muldoon, the Solid Man/Grandfather's Tune" (3:42)
11. Sissel - "An Raibh Tu' Ag An gCarraig?" (5:30)
12. Derek Bell with the Irish Film Orchestra - "O'Carolan's Farewell to Music" Instrumental (2:30)
13. Kevin Conneff - "Bean Pha'idin" (1:44)
14. Eileen Ivers - "O'Donnell's Lament/Reel with the Beryle" (2:45)
15. The Irish Film Orchestra - "American Theme" Instrumental (2:57)
16. Elvis Costello with Anu'na - "Long Journey Home Anthem" (4:16)

If you like these kind of compilations, may I suggest a couple that are better than this one. The first is called "Common Ground: Voices Of Modern Irish Music", which I consider the best of the contemporary Irish artists doing traditional songs.. it has songs by U2, Crowded House, Elvis Costello, Sinead O' Connor, Kate Bush, Christy Moore, and many others (ASIN: B000002U4V). Then after you get that one, check out the soundtrack for the movie "Gangs of New York"... with songs by U2, Peter Gabriel, Afro Celt System, and many others (ASIN: B00007DT8M). Unfortunately, though, they left out the Sinead O' Connor song from that movie "Paddy's Lamentation", which can be found instead on her album of all traditional Irish songs "Sean-Nos Nua", which is absolutely spellbinding (ASIN: B00006L4HB). If you want some more great contemporary Irish artists doing traditional songs on compilations, do a song search and type in "Clannad" (that is Enya's sister's band, one she used to be a part of), she is on a grip of Irish/Celtic compilations. Happy Hunting! :) 7.5/10

This soundtrack to the acclaimed television mini-series is heartbreakingly beautiful in its selection of music to represent the Irish diaspora. Surprising are the renditions of traditional songs by artists as diverse as Vince Gill, Sinead O'Connor and Van Morrison, and the orchestral pieces bring tears to my eyes, they are so beautiful. As the descendent of several waves of Irish migration in the past two centuries, it makes me wonder what prompted some of my own Irish ancestors to leave their homeland and come here. This music will break your heart, make you tap your toes joyfully and will make you both smile and cry, true Irish stuff if ever I heard it. I feel both intense sadness and pride at my Irish roots when listening to these songs and instrumental pieces, and if you have even a drop of Irish blood in you, or just wish you were Irish, I urge you to listen to this album. The music will haunt you long after you finish listening, and this is one album you will want to play again and again. A great companion album is the soundtrack to the television mini-series "Out of Ireland", another documentary about the Irish diaspora in the United States. You will find some of the same acclaimed Irish and Irish-American artists on that album as you will this album, such as Mick Moloney and Eileen Ivers. Paddy Moloney and the Chieftains obviously put a lot of love into this album and it shows in the choices of pieces they selected to represent the Irish struggle both in Ireland and in the US. A brilliant compilation of artists and music, and highly recommended, even if you aren't Irish, but just wish you were. If you are Irish, keep that box of Kleenex handy - you're going to need it!

Absolutely hauntingly beautiful melodies! A must for anyone of Irish descent.

I want to dance to "Angel Rays" by Gemma Hayes with my dad at my wedding. Unfortunatly when I ordered the CD she was not singing it! It is another band, not like in the movie!! Can Somone help me find a copy with her singing it?? Thank you!

I know everyone of you who saw just will love the soundtrack. I love the movie then bought the soundtrack. Thank you.

I had been counting down the days until this album came out, and wound up driving two hours to buy it -- but it was time and money well-spent.

The soundtrack to "Evelyn" is both touching and light-hearted, with Irish jigs, pub songs, and heart-wrenching orchestral tunes. Full of rich emotion, it's easy to comprehend the film's main themes, though the movie won't be released for many weeks yet.

The record opens with Van Morrison's jazzy 'Sitting on Top of the World', then segues into the theme from the opening credits. Orchestration takes over, filled with tin whistles, bodhrans, and violins, giving the album a gentle, yet painful, Irish feel. Desmond's pain at losing his children is evident throughout, though there are some joyous passages. And there is, of course, Pierce Brosnan's singing on two tracks, the fun 'On the Banks of the Roses' and the depressing 'The Parting Glass'.

Perhaps the most touching tunes are 'The Verdict', a deeply emotional yet uplifting instrumental, and Sissel's 'Angel Rays', a tear-jerking piece about strength and courage.

Overall, the album is one of the finest examples of Irish music that I've heard. Filled with touching, emotional, yet rough tunes, it will have you believing in the power of the human spirit.

I like very much Placido Domingo, and the album is good, however not as good as I expected. I felt some enthusiasm is missing.

Of the great living tenors, Placido Domingo commands the most respect among musicians for his voice, musicality, breadth of repertoire, and professionalism. The CD purchasing public, however are more excited by Andrea Bocelli and Luigi Pavarotti. Sacred Songs is an attempt to win over some of their market share.

16 songs are contained on the disc that would admittedly be better but less alliteratively titled Inspirational Songs; Richard Rogers's Climb Every Mountain, one of the highlights, is hardly church music. Along with a healthy supply of beautifully sung classics by Franck, Gounod and the like are a handful of curiosities. The inclusion of an Ave Maria by Domingo's middle son Placido Domingo Jr, with Luisa Domingo on harp is an enjoyable bit of musical nepotism. Schubert's well-known Lullaby is merged with his ballet music from Rosemunde and the whole given a new text and backing by women's choir; likewise Mascagani's instrumental Intermezzo from Cavalleria rusticana becomes a duet between Domingo and the pop soprano Sissel. Domingo's sheer musicality saves the former, but the latter is less fortunate, as Sissel's thin singing and pious recitation spoil an otherwise gorgeous composition. (Admittedly, Sissel fares much better in her second duet on the CD.) Also somewhat aesthetically questionable is Paolo Rustichelli's Kyrie, with the composer accompanying on piano, guitar, and synthesizers. The real low point on the disc occurs in Gounod's Sanctus, where a lovely climax is destroyed by the sloppy ensemble of the Coro Sinfonicao di Milano Giuseppe Verdi.

Whether Sacred Songs will convert the unbelievers is questionable, and it may even alienate some of Domingo's more dogmatic followers with its hint of crossover.

Curiously, the previous reviewer mentions the inclusion of Schubert's Ave Maria, which Domingo sung for the victims of the September 11 attack. This is actually NOT included in my CD, nor is it mentioned in the amazon.com list above; the CD notes do refer to Domingo's performance of the work, but the only Ave Maria's on the disc are by Mascagani, Gounod, and Domingo's son.

Placido Domingo presents a beautiful new collection of sacred songs which includes old favorites like "Panis Angelicus" by Cesar Franck, and wonderful new additions like the melodious "Ave Maria" composed by his son, Placido Domingo, Jr., featuring Luisa Domingo on the harp. The recording, from the Auditorium Milano in Milano in February, 2002, is clear and vibrant. Program notes by Harvey Sachs are outstanding and indicate that the songs included cover a period of 300 years. They are sung easily by Mr. Domingo in six languages: English, French, Spanish, Italian, German, and Latin. Sensitive and moving orchestral accompaniment is under the direction of conductor Marcello Viotti, who says, "Musicians must communicate everything they have in their souls, and what makes Placido so special is his very, very rich soul: he gives so much, gives of his fullness." My favorite compositions on the recording are the robust "Domine Deus" by Rossini, and the humble "Repentir" by Gounod, which drives you to your knees. Full text of all the songs with English translation is presented, along with color pictures of Mr. Domingo at work on the two duets with his collaborating Norwegian soprano, Sissel. Also included is the inspiring "Ave Maria" by Schubert, sung by Mr. Domingo at the New York memorial service for the September 11 disaster victims. The songs are summarized best by Mr. Domingo: "Over the years, sacred music has always been close to me...every piece of music we hear [on the recording] is a miracle, therefore sacred." I recently heard Mr. Domingo in person at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. (singing the lead in Mozart's "Idomeneo"), and can assure you this "world's greatest tenor" is still in wonderful and wondrous form. The new "Sacred Songs" is a must for those who love classical sacred music, a recording which to me makes the soul soar.

I just cannot say enough about this great talent and these great musical performances. I can share one thing with the public that may be helpful to them. Her exqusite voice along with these wonderful muscial presentations are guarenteed to uplift and brighten the listener's day!! Hope you enjoy these Sissel classics!! Tony Foley

Sissel is an awesome artist. This cd has a lot of her earlier recordings, not available in the US. This seller offered it at a great price, with great service! I definitely recommend it!

Despite the high asking price, this is a treasure well worth getting. It brings together the best of Sissel's output from 20 years of glorious music-making. The first disc is devoted to her so-called "Top 20". Fittingly, it opens with the stirring "O Vestland, Vestland" taken from a collection of Norwegian poems called "I Dalom" (In the Valley). Vestland is Norway's majestic West Country and includes Sissel's hometown of Bergen. There are 4 songs from her debut album, including "Vestland" and the beautiful "Kjærlighet" (Love) and roughly 2 songs apiece from each of the subsequent albums including 2005's "Nordisk Vinternatt" (Nordic Winternight). They give a fairly good representation of her repertoire (from folk, to classical, to gospel, to pop) and are a fitting monument to her radiant voice.

Among my favourites is "Tiðin Rennur" (Time Passes), an exquisite hymn from the Danish Faroe Islands. It's an old-style church hymn that will bring comfort to even the most troubled heart. "Nordisk Vinternatt" is represented by 2 Juletide songs from Sweden - the delicate "Den Forsta Gong Jag Såg Dig" (The First Time I Saw You), and the exquisite "Koppången". "Se Oer Fjellet" is the Norwegian version of Rodgers & Hammerstein's "Climb Every Mountain" and is eminently suited to Sissel's powerfully soaring voice. (Sissel in fact played Maria von Trapp in the 1988 Norwegian production of Sound of Music.) "Se Ilden Lyse" (See the Fiery Light) is the rousing anthem from the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics. "Seterjentens Søndag" (Chalet-Girl's Sunday) is a piece by 19th Century Norwegian composer and virtuoso violinist Ole Bull and comes with a lovely violin solo from Arve Tellefsen. There are several classical pieces here, the most famous being the opera arias "O Mio Babbino Caro" (Gianni Schicchi - Puccini) and "Lascia Ch'io Pianga" (Rinaldo - Handel). Disc 1 ends with a new English recording of "Silent Night" and we are reminded in the accompanying notes that Sissel's 1987 Christmas album - titled "Gladje Jul" (Happy Christmas) in Norway and "Stilla Natt" (Silent Night) in Sweden - made Scandinavian history by selling over 500,000 copies domestically and just under a million copies across Scandinavia. At that time, she recorded Silent Night in both Norwegian and Swedish. This marks her first complete recording of Silent Night in English. And what a beautiful recording it is - simple and traditional, rising steadily from its quiet beginning to its plaintively soaring end. (This CD was released in Denmark, Norway and Sweden in December 2006 in time for Christmas, which explains the new recording of "Silent Night" and the presence of so many Juletide songs in the selection.)

The first 10 songs on Disc 2 are collectively titled "Sissels Første Minnebok" (Sissel's First Book of Memories) and consist of 10 songs she recorded in her early teens. Even amongst her juvenilia there are some true gems. The songs are all recorded live in front of a TV audience. Sound quality is very good save for the occasional audience cough and throat clearing. "Barndomshjemmet" (Childhood's Home) marked her debut on Norwegian TV when she sang as part of a children's choir. "Ung Åslaug" (Young Åslaug) is a lovely Norwegian folksong, deeply moving even for listeners who don't understand the words. She delivers an adorable Norwegian version of the Japanese song "Sukiyaki" and the booklet has a charming picture of her holding a Japanese parasol. "If You Love Me," is Edith Piaf's classic "Hymne a l'Amour" sung in English. "Vilja Sangen" is Lehar's famous "Vilja Lied" from the "Merry Widow" sung in Norwegian. Bergensiana (Udsigter fra Ulriken - View from Ulriken) is the unofficial anthem of her hometown of Bergen, belted out with obvious pride at the Grieghallen during the 1986 Eurovision Song Contest. (Ulriken is the highest of the 7 mountains overlooking Bergen.)

The last 10 songs are duets, collectively titled "Minnerike Duetter" (Memorable Duets). Most are not separately available on her albums. They reflect her wildly eclectic collaborative choices, everything from classical, to rock, to pop, to rap. Obvious pairings include those with Bryn Terfel (Schubert's Ave Maria) and Placido Domingo (Bach/Stölzel's Bist Du Bei Mir). "Prince Igor" has her singing Borodin's most famous piece - best known in America as "A Stranger in Paradise" (2nd Polovetsian Dance from the opera "Prince Igor") - in its original Russian, to the accompaniment of American rapper Warren G. cursing and swearing away. This song was Sissel's contribution to an ecumenical project called "Hip Hop meets the Classics." It was never released in the US due to legal complications. Amazingly this strange confection reached the top of the charts across Europe and made it to No.1 in the UK. "Elia Rising" is her collaboration with Danish Goth Rockers, Seth Sol. There are 2 Christmas songs here, the quiet and reflective "Mitt Hjerte Alltid Vanker" with Irish group, The Chieftains, and the more upbeat "Gå Inte Förbi" with Swedish singer Peter Jöback. The final song is one of thanksgiving, recorded live with the Oslo Gospel Choir, titled "My Tribute - To God Be The Glory".

In 2006, Sissel was knighted by the King of Norway for her services to music (Knight 1st Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav). She was also appointed UNICEF-ambassador. For her millions of fans, she will always remain Norway's Singing Ambassador to the World. This CD collection comes with a generously illustrated 14-page booklet. Sadly no lyrics are provided. Instead there is a short write-up on each song. You can download the lyrics from her official website or from her many fansites. As this is a Norwegian import, all the notes are in Norwegian.