Isokoski:Viitasalo - R. Strauss: Lieder

This CD features Finnish star soprano Soile Isokoski and her longstanding duo partner Marita Viitasalo, with a selection of Lieder by Richard Strauss. Included are such popular songs as Zueignung, Cacilie, Morgen!, and Allerseelen. Along with the cycle of 3 Ophelia-Lieder and Strauss's final complete composition, Malven, this collection spans 65 years of Strauss' writing. The music of Richard Strauss has been a cornerstone of the singing career of Soile Isokoski:His music just sits so well in my voice, in terms of both its range and its lyrical quality. Soile Isokoskis' earlier CD release of Strauss Orchestral Songs and Vier letzte Lieder (ODE982-2) became a major commercial success and earned her a Gramophone Award. Soile Isokoski is hailed as one of the finest singers in the world (Isokoski's lyric soprano is like liquid gold. - David L. Kirk, Fanfare Magazine, March/April 2009) whose recordings have been praised as top-choice and garnered the highest distinctions at the BBC Music Magazine Awards, Gramophone Awards and MIDEM Classical Awards.