Into Paradise

1	Dusk (Velkomne Med Æra) 3:18
2	Bachianas Brasileiras 5:41
3	Wachet auf, Ruft Uns Die Stimme 3:26
4	Dido's Lament 3:05
5	In Paradisum (Into Paradise) 2:56
6	Sancta Maria 2:57
7	Vitae Lux 3:31
8	Ingen Vinner Frem 2:53
9	Bereden Väg För Herran 3:15
10	Marble Halls 2:56
11	Adagio 4:02
12	Like an Angel Passing Through 5:04

Barnes & Noble

It's no secret that Scandinavian crossover diva Sissel has one of the loveliest voices in any genre of music today -- her previous solo albums, and of course her appearance on the Titanic soundtrack, have proven this many times over. But Into Paradise really sets her apart as an artist of taste and refinement. There's no hint of the bombast or bluster that mars a lot of classical crossover releases; Sissel trusts to the beauty of this music -- and of her angelic voice -- and the result is a wonder of delightful simplicity. Just over half the melodies are borrowed from classical favorites, all of them well chosen for Sissel's interpretation: Villa-Lobos's "Bachianas Brasileiras" and Albinoni's "Adagio" feature long, lyrically sustained lines that float blissfully from her vocal cords, while the operatic numbers by Purcell and Mascagni bring out a more expressive quality in her singing, and Bach's "Wachet Auf" gets a lightly jazzy treatment that calls the Swingle Singers to mind. Most of the other tracks are traditional Norwegian songs, all of them memorable and emotionally resonant, and for a final touch of Scandinavian authenticity, Sissel closes the album with ABBA's quietly touching "Like an Angel Passing Through." Scott Paulin

All Music Guide

If you think you've never heard this classical Norwegian singer, dig into your CD collection and pull out the Titanic soundtrack. Alongside the Oscar-winning Celine Dion tune everyone remembers are tracks and tracks of Sissel's haunting, ethereal vocals illuminating the tragedy of the sinking liner. Over her varied 20-year career, she's sung for queens, princes, Winter Olympics, and Nobel Peace Prize ceremonies -- in addition to dates with Dion and Josh Groban, who in some ways could be considered her American male equivalent. While a brilliant singer of uncommon range and emotional depth, she may have a bit of trouble finding an easy niche because albums like Into Paradise are slightly all over the map. But that's not a bad thing for adventurous listeners who want to take the journey, which runs from Mozart to Bach, Puccini to (and you have to wait until track 12) Abba ("Like an Angel Passing Through")! Then there are the Norse folk tales, which are obviously close to home. A lack of familiarity with some of the material, however, will help the listener focus on the purity of her voice. The one quality she possesses that some of her pop-classical counterparts don't is restraint, and the production is very focused on her voice rather than on booming production and powerhouse grooves (though she boasts punkers and rappers on her résumé). The collection was recorded in Norway with the internationally renowned Trondheim Soloists. ~ Jonathan Widran, All Music Guide