Search - Sissel :: De Beste 1986-2006

Excellent Survey of her Finest Recordings... Plus Rare Juven

dooby | 02/17/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."

Great cd at a great price!

deannaot | SLC, UT USA | 03/10/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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!"

Sissel is truely a great talent to the world

Anthony D. Foley | 07/10/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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"