Search - Gioachino Rossini, Giacomo Meyerbeer, George Frideric Handel :: Olga Borodina - Arias

Disappointing -

nicngu | 07/09/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I was really thrilled by Olga Borodina when I heard her in the concert hall (as Marfa in Khovanschina, then as Amneris in Aida) and her contributions to a lot of the recording of Russian operas with the Mariinski under Ghergiev, or to Haitink's Don Carlo have justly been encensed by many. I therefore bought this CD, Borodina's first opera arias "collection", without a second of hesitation... and I have to say I am quite disappointed. Of course, the voice is here : large, sumptuous, sensual, but there is not much characterisation and involvement. Could this be due to the lack of stage experience in the many roles she approaches in this recital ? I am still happy to own it for her glorious Dalila in the 3 excepts of "Samson..." and for the 2 Tchaikovski numbers, but I tend to skip the other tracks... and am waiting for another aria collection CD that would do better justice to this wonderful singer."

Freezer bag of Borodina goodies

Akimon Azuki | 09/02/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"The voice is wonderful: unbelievably smooth, rich, warm, with a particularly pure timbre. A very exceptional mezzo, and a joy to behold live: even though Borodina School of Acting often consists of not much more than standing there and looking busty and imperial, there is something smoldering going on- I have seen her recently on stage as Delilah and she was every bit as good as the hype has it. She can be surprisingly witty, too, especially in Rossini. Strangely then, how any drama or excitement or any particular distinction is missing from this collection. Delilah arias are beautiful, the runs in Rossini clean and pretty, Queen of Spades quite exciting actually; but the rest is ho-hum, expect for Dido, which is so overdone and bad, it's almost fun, and Handel, which is exceptionally deranged - as Baroque as double cheese burger with Russian dressing. However, even in these pieces, if you can ignore the heavy approach, the voice sounds great.

In other words, catch her live on stage, or at least on opera DVD if you can, but if she is not coming to a town near you any time soon, this CD will do as a basic introduction to the wonders of Borodina's voice."

Tremendous singer--better than this disk suggests

L. E. Cantrell | Vancouver, British Columbia Canada | 09/28/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Having seen her in live performance, I am perfectly willing to argue that Olga Borodina is one of the better singers of our times, perhaps the very best. Having listened to this recording, I am forced to admit that she could and should have been better. This is a recital from a very good mezzo, but Borodina should be more, much more, something extraordinary.



Four stars, nevertheless, for a rare and beautiful voice."