Anna Netrebko's first live solo album and first Lieder album is accompanied by star conductor/pianist Daniel Barenboim. This was the concert event of the Salzburg Festival 2009. Netrebko's all-Russian recital is accompanie... more »d by Barenboim's masterful, idiomatic playing. Anna's voluptuous voice surrenders completely to the haunting, soulful melodies of songs by Rimsky-Korsakov, Tchaikovsky, and others. In The Still Of Night showcases Netrebko's artistry and deep connection to art songs from her homeland. This recording is a natural follow-up to her Grammy ®-nominated Russian Album. This album will be released in the U.S. as a Deluxe Version, packaged in a beautiful hardcover book which contains additional texts, full translations of song texts, exclusive pictures and press quotes.« less
Anna Netrebko's first live solo album and first Lieder album is accompanied by star conductor/pianist Daniel Barenboim. This was the concert event of the Salzburg Festival 2009. Netrebko's all-Russian recital is accompanied by Barenboim's masterful, idiomatic playing. Anna's voluptuous voice surrenders completely to the haunting, soulful melodies of songs by Rimsky-Korsakov, Tchaikovsky, and others. In The Still Of Night showcases Netrebko's artistry and deep connection to art songs from her homeland. This recording is a natural follow-up to her Grammy ®-nominated Russian Album. This album will be released in the U.S. as a Deluxe Version, packaged in a beautiful hardcover book which contains additional texts, full translations of song texts, exclusive pictures and press quotes.
"This is Russian music of the late 19th-Century, full of emotional angst and turmoil. Track 8, from Rimsky-Korsakov's Four Songs, Op. 2 No. 2 "Plenivshis' rozoy, solovey" (Captivated by the Rose, Nightingale) is about the unrequited love of a Nightingale for a Rose. While the Rose listens to the beautiful song, it does not understand why the song is so solemn. Perhaps not understanding` Russian makes the song even more pointed: Netrebko's voice is so very divine and yet so very despondent. She sang this song on her album Souvenirs (2008), but the live performance here captures much more of the agony.
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As always, exceptionally beautiful
Wickie L. Bowman | Pasadena, CA USA | 05/27/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"After putting out the standard Puccini/Verdi arias albums, Netrebko has released two stunning albums of Russian songs. Yes, she has a language advantage over the majority of singers of this repertoire, but the nuances and beauty of her voice shine through, as no other soprano. It is also a treat to hear these songs, adequately accompanied by Barenboim, because they are not recorded that often. Since childhood I have been a sucker for 'Songs My Mother Taught Me' (Dvorak), and it brought tears to my eyes to hear her sing it. She is an exceptional artist in all respects."
Perfect!
Kari | VA USA | 05/21/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If you do not yet know Anna Netrebko, this disc is a great place to start. A live recital, with only a piano to accompany her, it is easy to focus on and enjoy her divine voice. It does not get better than this. The only complaint I have is the price of this single-disc release. Well, with the Euro in decline, maybe the price of this import will come down in the next few weeks. The main reason for posting this message is to highlight a new rising star for your attention. If you enjoy Anna Netrebko, you won't want to miss Ms. Ailyn Perez. The Violeta of this decade, based on what I heard recently at the Staatsoper's La Traviata."
Netrebko sings with great abandon, but not assisted at the k
A. F. S. Mui | HK | 05/26/2010
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This all-Russian 'staple' recital includes 2 non-Russian encores.
The main attraction remains the two Russian composers' works.
Anna Netrebko has matured into a full blown artist by this time, and she interprets the two composers' works with real emotional depth and artistic abandon.
For these art songs, we hear Netrebko giving a total committment to her compatriots' works. No longer a 'perfect' songstress as in most of her Italian bel canto portrayals, but a real flesh and blood interpretor.
However, while in most of these numbers Netrebko is able to 'throw herself off' into the music, not so could be said of her seasoned accompanist Daniel Barenboim, and at many tracks, Anna was left to build up the musical tension single-handedly. While it is without doubt that Anna's voice is nothing but beauty incarnate and is the best in these works heard outside of Russia since the great Galina Vishnevskaya, the lack of support from the keyboard is glaring in this performance, which otherwise would be a truly 5-star performance.
It also accounts for why, before La Trebka surfaced in the musical world, these works had been dominated by Mr. and Mrs. Rostropovich."