Juha Uusitalo
The Wagner Album
Juha Uusitalo, bass-baritone
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
Leif Segerstam, conductor
Track listing
7 tracks · 72:47Listen to samples on selected tracks.
Richard Wagner
- 1 Overture, from: Der fliegende Holländer 11:40
- 2 Die Frist ist um (Holländer), from: Der fliegende Holländer 12:51
- 3 Nein! Laßt ihn unenthüllt - Wehvolles Erbe, dem ich verfallen (Amfortas), from: Parsifal 9:35
- 4 Ja, Wehe! Wehe! Weh' über mich! (Amfortas), from: Parsifal 8:03
- 5 Wie Todesahnung Dämmrung deckt die Lande - O Du, mein holder Abendstern (Wolfram), from: Tannhäuser 6:22
- 6 Dir Unweisen ruf' ich ins Ohr (Wanderer), from: Siegfried 5:46
- 7 Leb' wohl, du kühnes, herrliches Kind! (Wotan), from: Die Walküre 18:30
About this recording
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.
Features
Booklet with liner notes in English, German and Finnish, and the song lyrics in the original German and in English
Press
Ondine offers their usual high standard of sonic quality: a complete absence of noise and distortion, perfect balance and equalization, and expansive dynamic range.
John McKelve, American Record Guide, January/February 2009
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, July 2008
Uusitalo's bass-baritone is exceptional, a powerful, secure instrument blending a bright, heroic top with darkly resonant lower notes, ample stamina, clear diction, and committed (...) acting.
Michael Scott Rohan, BBC Music Magazine, May 2008
The artists
Juha Uusitalo
Juha Uusitalo was engaged by the Finnish National Opera as a soloist in 2000 and toured major international opera houses as one of the greatest emerging bass-baritone singers of today. He has appeared at distinguished venues with a number of prominent conductors such as Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Sakari Oramo, Leif Segerstam, James Levine, Sir Colin Davis, Zubin Mehta, Michael Tilson Thomas and Riccardo Chailly.
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
The Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, the first professional symphony orchestra to be founded in the Nordic countries (1882), has grown from a band of 36 players to an orchestra of 102 regular members.
Leif Segerstam
Leif Segerstam (1944-2024) received diplomas from the Sibelius Academy in violin and conducting. He won the Maj Lind Piano Competition in 1962 and gave his first violin recital in 1963. He rounded off his studies at the Juilliard School in New York, where he was awarded a conducting diploma in 1964.