Live in Helsinki [Enhanced] [Live]

Amazon.com
The women of Värttinä can sing like Finnish angels, howl like banshees, and growl like devils on the prowl, and they do it all on this live album, recorded before an adoring audience in their homeland. They've developed into a marvelously tight unit, able to move from the multipart, unaccompanied vocals of "Käppee" to the out-and-out groove of "Laulutyttö" without missing a beat. Led by violinist Kari Reiman, the band is spare, framing and emphasizing the vocals that have always been Värttinä's focal point. And the way the four singers work together--answering each other, playing off each other, coming together, and moving apart--is a joy to hear. There's a playfulness to their approach that's irresistible, and this live performance displays a very fierce energy and presence in the way they attack the songs that's missing from their studio work. Captured on a great night, they simply rock--and bring the house down. --Chris Nickson

Tracks:

Rumble in Brighton
Double Talkin' Baby
Something's Wrong With My Radio
Ubangi Stomp
Gene & Eddie
Sleepwalk
Blast Off
Drink That Bottle Down
18 Miles to Memphis
Bring It Back Again
Fishnet Stockings
Runaway Boys
Sexy + 17
Rock This Town
Please Don't Touch
Baby Let's Play House
I Fought the Law

Average customer rating:

A Decent First Live Album
Some bands are better live. Some aren't.
girls from the big forest
A taste of the Valhalla!
A good live effort

Live in Helsinki
Värttinä
Manufacturer: Northside Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Iki
Miero
Ilmatar
Oi Dai
Sjofn

ASIN: B00006311Z
Release Date: 2002-03-12

Tracks:

Aijo
Viiken Vaivane
Kappee
Hoptsoi
Meri
Liigua
Kyla Vuotti Nutta Kuuta
Pihi Neito
Mie Tahon Tanssia
Laulutytto
Outona Omilla Mailla
Ukko Lumi
Seelinnikoi
Vot I Kaalina

Amazon.com

The women of Värttinä can sing like Finnish angels, howl like banshees, and growl like devils on the prowl, and they do it all on this live album, recorded before an adoring audience in their homeland. They've developed into a marvelously tight unit, able to move from the multipart, unaccompanied vocals of "Käppee" to the out-and-out groove of "Laulutyttö" without missing a beat. Led by violinist Kari Reiman, the band is spare, framing and emphasizing the vocals that have always been Värttinä's focal point. And the way the four singers work together--answering each other, playing off each other, coming together, and moving apart--is a joy to hear. There's a playfulness to their approach that's irresistible, and this live performance displays a very fierce energy and presence in the way they attack the songs that's missing from their studio work. Captured on a great night, they simply rock--and bring the house down. --Chris Nickson

Customer Reviews:

A Decent First Live Album.......2006-07-27

I agree with others that this is not the greatest of live albums. Part of the problem is the four songs from Ilmatar, their most recent album at that time (2000). It may be their most powerful album to date, but its dark, atmospheric qualities do not transfer well to the stage, except for the volcanic "Aijo". It is also dependent on subtle and well tuned vocals, which do not seem to have been a high priority. Not helping either is a mix which places the instrumentals too far in the background, and makes the vocals shrill on too many occasions.

On the other hand, the material from earlier albums is, generally, quite good. It is fascinating to hear earlier material re-worked-- The radical re-arranging of "Viikon Vaivane" and "Ukko Lumi", from Oi Dai, is almost worth the price of the CD. There are some mis-steps (the new acappella intro to "Pihi Neito" comes to mind) but generally the old material is improved.

If one wants to hear (and see) a live Varttina concert that is absolutely wonderful from beginning to end, check out the DVD entitled "Varttina Archive Live" (available on the Varttina website). Included is a 49 minute concert from 2003 which is a joy to hear-- Vocals from Susan Aho, Mari Kaasinen and Johanna Virtanen are impeccable and gorgeous, and the band sounds better than ever. Every single song is wonderful, but especially the five songs from Iki, perhaps their most gorgeous album to date.

Also included is an extensive "Video Archive" which traces the band from a "county fair" appearance in 1985 (two years before their first album) until 2005. It's a fascinating historical record, and there are many superb performances as well. Amazon should really offer this DVD-- It certainly supplants the live album from 2000, in spite of its good qualities.

Scott Tisdel

P.S. Be warned-- The Varttina DVD uses the European "PAL" coding, which makes it unplayable on most DVD players in the USA. However, it does work on my laptop (Mac IBook), and it is fairly easy to plug a laptop into a TV, if you so choose.

Some bands are better live. Some aren't........2005-12-04

Most of this album is the revisioned folk I know and love from Varttina; those parts of the album are excellent songs that, unfortunately, just don't live up to their potential in these live versions.

A few songs on here, though, are material that hasn't appeared on their albums and is stylistically very different; to be blunt, it sounds more like generic European dance/pop. Mie Tahon Tannsia and Laulutytto are the examples that come to mind. Maybe you'll like them. I don't.

girls from the big forest.......2003-03-25

Värttinä first became popular in our country in the 80's as part of the new folk movement and quickly established themselves as spokesgirls for roots music. this album captures their in their prime. Outstanding tracks are "Kylä vuotti uutta kuuta" (The village was waitin for the new moon") and "Ukko lumi" (Snow man). These girls had a way of putting you under their spell - maybe it was the Eastern-Karelian mysticism that's so hard to resist for a Finnish audience. As a time piece this album is essential - a reminder to us Finns that Värttinä could really touch our hearts and make us cry (and a moment later laugh through the tears).

A taste of the Valhalla!.......2002-07-14

I love Varttina, I love the vocals.

Having said that I would say this group is one of the reasons why I started studying Finnish (after all, I wanted to understand what was sung :).

"Kyla vuotti uutta kuuta" is the best traditional song I have ever heard. The strength with which Varttina vocalists sing this song is touching. If you close your eyes, you can almost see valkyries taking you from the ground and sending you to paradise.

The first time I heard this song I thought to myself: "This is the song I want someone to sing for me in my funeral and send me strait to paradise!"

The live presentation has its pros and cons but the overall result is really impressive. I would love to have the tape or better a DVD of this show in Helsinki.

A good live effort.......2002-07-03

This is a good live effort from Värttinä's tour supporting the "Ilmatar" album. Värttinä's strengths are captured well on this album, and the harmonies, as usual, are top notch on their live renditions of "Käppee", "Liigua" and their perennial classic "Kylä Vuotti Uutta Kuuta". These renditions are almost all shifted up a notch in tempo from the original recordings, which adds some energy (which is good and bad in some cases here) to the festivities.

Outside the core of vocalists Mari Kaasinen, Susan Aho, Johanna Virtanen and (the recently departed from Värttinä) Kirsi Kähkönen, the band is spry and energetic, although not all of the arrangements work well, and some of the playing is sloppy, notably the bizarrely reworked version of "Vihma" (renamed "Ukko Lumi" here) and a rendition of "Seelinnikoi" which is rearranged into a pale imitator of the studio version.

Tracks:

Tannhauser: I Greet You, Dear Hall
Rusalka: Song To The Moon
Aida: Return, Victorious!
La Forza Del Destino: Peace, Grant Me Peace O Lord
Tosca: I Have Lived For Art
Die Fledermaus: I Like To Invite Guests
Die Fledermaus: My Dear Marquis
Die Fledermaus: Sounds Of My Homeland
The Tryst
You Thought I Was Watching You
Why I Sing
I Still Have A Suitcase In Berlin - Finnish RSO/Jukka-Pekka Saraste
Falling In Love Again
Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend
Porgy And Bess: Summertime (Encore) - Karita Mattila/Peter Lerche

Amazon.com

Any doubts that Finnish singer Karita Mattila--fresh from her triumph in the Met's new production of Fidelio in the 2000-2001 season--has moved from the top ranks of today's sopranos into the rarefied aura of full-fledged diva status are dispelled by this remarkable disc capturing her in full flight at a concert in Helsinki. She opens with an ecstatic "Dich teure Halle" from Tannhäuser, follows with a sinuous Dvorák "Song to the Moon" from Rusalka, moves on to satisfying Verdi and Puccini arias, then launches into three delectable arias from Strauss's Die Fledermaus, in which she perfectly portrays three characters of wildly different voice types: Orlofsky, Adele, and Rosalinde. As if that wasn't enough, Mattila then lavishes her gorgeous soprano on a group of Finnish songs, does a convincing version of a Marlene Dietrich classic, and finishes with an idiomatic "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend" and a bluesy "Summertime." It's hard to think of another soprano who could tackle a program this varied or sing it as well. Throughout, Mattila beautifully characterizes each piece and sounds as if she's having a great time. So are we. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

strangely disappointing in Verdi.......2006-03-14

On the whole, this is an enjoyable live recital. Mattila opens with a very plugged-in, alive delivery of the Hall of Song aria from Tannhauser. I hope she records this in the studio, if she has not already done so.

Unfortunately, though her best roles include Amelia from Simon Boccanegra, she doesn't excel in the arias from Aida and La Forza. Ritorna Vincitor fares the worst. Her pacing is schizophrenic, her pronunciation of the vowels rather odd. Instead of choosing such a "heroic" Verdi aria, she should have turned to something more lyrical. Something from Un Ballo in Maschera, perhaps?

Pace, Pace Mio Dio fares better, though marginally. Mattila makes the most out of the lyrics, drawing much from the text, even better than some revered artists from the fifties and sixties. Her urgent singing of "fatalita" will rankle the purists. I, for one, welcome something more than mindless floating and note-spinning, a la Zinka Milanov. Karita's ability to draw even more from the text than native speakers reminds me of Edita Gruberova. However, like Gruberova, such passioned delivery comes at the expense of some covered notes and laborious approach.

Things improve dramatically with the three arias from Die Fledermaus. Most enchanting is Mein Herr Marquis. Mattila proves herself to be a ravishing coquette in this delicious interpretation. She even makes an honest-to-goodness stab at the coloratura, acquitting herself quite well, given that she is a lyric soprano.

Of the Finnish songs, the first one, The Tryst, is the best. Then, near the end, we are treated to some lighter fare. Her hommage to two other blonde sirens, Dietrich and Monroe, is spot-on. Falling in Love is my favorite of the two, with Mattila showing off a very convincing lower register.

Now, I couldn't get through Summertime with the guitar accompaniment. Still, there are enough tasty morsels in this recital to whet the appetite.

Live wire.......2005-09-26

Karita Mattila has more vocal brilliance & stamina and dramatic spunk than just about any other soprano singing today and I first became aware of that when listening to this collection.
Her technique is perfect, and she has lungs of steel- not that she cannot drop the opera hat in a second and adopt a cabaret persona, as aptly demonstrated here.
That she is drop dead gorgeous, and a great actress, doesn't hurt either, but this is an audio CD and opera recital first, and she has the goods, in spades, when it comes to hardcore opera repertoire.
And what a selection it is- soaring Wagner, full blooded Verdi, fantastic Tosca, a beautiful, lyrical Song to the Moon, the three heroines from Fliedermaus- each different and absolutely spot on- plus Finnish songs and some old fashion diva selections- Marilyn Monroe's and Marlene Dietrich's songs, and for finish, Summertime. This list is as crazy as it gets, and yet somehow everything works- and how! The word sparkling is often to use to describe singing of fluffy coloratura sopranos, but that would apply- there's a sort of electrical buzz that Mattila creates: every song is exciting, utterly absorbing. This is a recording of one fully-fledged diva in a great live performance.

Contemplative performances from Karita Mattila.......2001-11-01

I love live recordings. I first became aware of this music several months ago. I listen to this CD quite a bit at home and in the car. I really relish her performances. And then there is Wagner's music!

Mattila superb in Verdi, Puccini, and Wagner!.......2000-12-03

A friend of mine sent this CD for me, and I was stunned. There are great Verdi singers in the world after all! The opera arias are all outstanding, packed with emotion, sung in resplendent tone and perfect technique (portamento, legato line, strong chest voice). My favourites on this disc are hauntingly beautiful Rusalka's aria, "Pace, pace, mio Dio" from Forza, and Elisabeth's greeting from Tannhäuser. Operetta pieces are wonderful. I don't care that much about the lighter department, but she certainly shows her versatility. Marlene Dietrich song (from Blue Angel) is more succesful than the Marilyn one.

This is a must have for every opera lover! IMO she is the most exciting opera personality in the world today. BTW - the CD program in here looks strange, my copy does not include Elsa's dream (I wish it would) or Edith Piaf song. I became a fan of her after seeing her as Manon Lescaut (I wish she would record "Sola, perduta, abbandonata" someday).

Interesting Recital.......2000-11-27

The CD is a live recording from a concert Karita Mattila gave here in Helsinki. I did not get a ticket, but listened the concert on the radio (Mattila is accompanied by Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra). She was almost tireless, singing for over three hours (no guest artists).

The programme was interesting. I would love to hear Mattila as Elisabeth, Leonora or Aida, because she sings their arias beautifully. Her lyric but strong voice suits Verdi and "lighter Wagner" very well, I think. Vissi d'arte was also very good; Tosca would be a perfect role for a diva like Mattila. She sang Musetta's waltz in the concert, but it has not found it's way on the recording. The Fledermaus arias show the artist's versatility and make it clear that Mattila likes to sing operetta.

Mattila is generally better suited to opera than lied, but in Finnish music she is excellent - my personal favorite is "Flickan kom ifrån sing älsklings möte" by Sibelius. The "lighter" music is not that successfull, and I wonder why trained opera singers are so enthusiastic in performing and recording music that obviously does not fit their voices. Mattila imitated Marlene Dietrich and Marilyn in the concert, which was quite fun, but not to my liking. In addition, Mattila's encore was "Summertime" (included in the recording), a song she obviously likes very much, but sings less successfully. I think she should stick to classical music.

Tracks:

Folk Song
He Could Stop The World
Yana
Bucky Fuller's Bop
Candelabra
One, Two, 1-2-3-4
Two Loves

Product Description

This completely live and improvisational trio recording featuring Klaus Suonsaari on drums & percussion, Scott Robinson on soprano& tenor saxophones, and Julian F. Thayer on bass captures the stream of conscious thought processes between some of today's most talented, unique and most interesting musicians.