1952 - Legend of the Sun Virgin

WHAT NYMITH SAYS

On Legend of the Sun Virgin, Yma Sumac satisfies all of her most operatic tendencies. She and Moisés Vivanco were still a year away from the staggering achievement of Inca Taqui, and as such Sun Virgin finds them still working in a super-lush and dramatic framework, though far more tasteful with the removal of Les Baxter and his unsubtle exotica from proceedings. If Voice of the Xtabay mostly set out to showcase Sumac's range, this album finds her engaged in more singing and less vocalizing, if you know what I mean, though it's best when she combines the two, as on the stunning first track, 'Karibe Taki,' which begins with Sumac launching into an aria and ends somewhere completely different. It's not "real" opera, a la Carmen or Turandot, but it's certainly a lot closer to opera than to its bastardized American parallel the Musical, and that makes this record a particularly appreciable occurrence in the 1950s.

There are no experimental masterpieces to be found here, but there is a far greater level of consistency than Xtabay could manage. Along with 'Karibe Taki' the major highlight this time around is 'Montana,' a sweeping waltz that counts as one of the most beautiful things she ever did. Waltz is a conventional choice to convey romantic sentiment but Sumac effortlessly elevates it to a genuinely affecting level.

More fun is to be had with tracks like 'No Es Vida,' where she attempts to sing as fast as possible and 'Zana,' which starts out sober and then launches into a festival-type arrangement where she's accompanied by a bunch of guys. It's a little intrusive at first (they're usually further in the background), but it breaks up any monotony that was starting to form. The less convincing numbers sound almost like leftovers from the Xtabay session, as in the first half of 'Panarima.' But there's nothing serious to complain of here.

It really depends on what you're looking for. Sun Virgin gives you more conventional beauty, Xtabay gives you more weirdness and disbelief. However, if you've joined the club of Yma Sumac admirers, you will want to collect all her stuff and this review is rendered irrelevant.

WHAT TICHARU SAYS

Lush melodies that soar on Yma's incredible voice from the operatic cinematic to melancholia with tongue twisting group singing that leaves me breathless and so much more packed into a little over half an hour. Sometimes all within 2 minutes 25!

Yma brought a sense of fun and mystery to all her performances but seemed especially at home working with her husband and long time collaborator Moises Vivanco who did all the arrangements on this disc. I listened to this a few days ago for the Cold Coffee review project and have literally had the melodies and rhythms of Legend of the Sun Virgin running through my head since. I can't recommended highly enough.