Soile Isokoski, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra Ondine ODE 1202-2 ****

Soile Isokoski is a leading lyric soprano particularly associated with the music of Mozart and Richard Strauss. Her disc centred around the Four Last Songs by Richard Strauss has become a benchmark for these beautiful songs. Here she takes on arias from three of Strauss's most famous opera soprano roles with a filler of three hymns. Isokoski is particularly successful in the excerpts from Ariadne auf Naxos and Capriccio, where her silvery tone matches the emotional content. And she effectively manages the extremely low notes of Es gibt ein Reich from Ariadne, notes which have defeated many sopranos. Her performance of the Marschallin's monologue from Der Rosenkavalier Das geht er hin is less successful. The other tracks are exemplary – this is a fine disc with some lovely singing. ondine.net

Download Tracks: Es gibt ein Reich, Closing scene from Capriccio