Iolanta: "Otago eto preide ne znala ni toski ya" (Iolanta)
Twelve Songs op. 21: No. 7: "Zdes' khoroso" ("How beautiful it is here")
Six Songs op. 4: No. 4: "Ne poy, krasavica" ("Oh, do not sing to me")
The Tale of Tsar Saltan: Aria: "Tï, carevic, moy spasitel" (Swan Princess)
The Snow Maiden: Scene and Aria: "A-u, a-u!" - "Akh, bednaya Sneguroaka,
The Snow Maiden: Finale: "Velikiy car'! Sprosi menya sto raz" (Snow Maiden, Tsar, Misgir, Chorus)
The Tsar's Bride: Scene and Aria: "Ivan Sergeyic, khoces'" (Marfa)
Six Romances op. 38: No. 6: Pimpinella - Florentine Song "Yesli tï
A Life for the Tsar: Cavatina and Rondo: "V pole, pole, cistoye glyazu" (Antonida)
War and Peace: Aria: "Cudo, kak khorosa ona" (Natasha, Anatol, Sonya, Count Rostov)
Francesca da Rimini: "O, ne riday, moy Paolo, ne nado ..." (Franceska)
Eugene Onegin: Letter Scene: "Puskay pogibnu ya, no prezde" (Tatyana)
After astonishing debuts as an unknown young singer, Anna Netrebko is now one of the world's favorite opera heroines. Now, for the first time, she's ready to lavish her pure, powerful voice on composers from her homelan... more »d, in a program of some of the most beautiful arias and songs in the Russian repertoire. Russian Songs is a deeply personal recording, made in the opera house where she first found stardom, St. Petersburg's Mariinsky Theatre, and conducted by Anna's mentor and friend who has championed her from the start: Valery Gergiev. This collection includes Anna in her signature role, Natasha from Prokofiev's War and Peace - which launched her career at the Metropolitan Opera in 2002. In addition. Anna gives listeners a taste of roles yet to come with Tatiana's letter scene from Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin. Anna Netrebko has made it her mission to bring opera to a wider public. Following the huge success of her last solo recording Sempre Libera and the acclaimed Salzburg La Traviata releases, Anna will show once again that she knows how to captivate audiences.« less
After astonishing debuts as an unknown young singer, Anna Netrebko is now one of the world's favorite opera heroines. Now, for the first time, she's ready to lavish her pure, powerful voice on composers from her homeland, in a program of some of the most beautiful arias and songs in the Russian repertoire. Russian Songs is a deeply personal recording, made in the opera house where she first found stardom, St. Petersburg's Mariinsky Theatre, and conducted by Anna's mentor and friend who has championed her from the start: Valery Gergiev. This collection includes Anna in her signature role, Natasha from Prokofiev's War and Peace - which launched her career at the Metropolitan Opera in 2002. In addition. Anna gives listeners a taste of roles yet to come with Tatiana's letter scene from Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin. Anna Netrebko has made it her mission to bring opera to a wider public. Following the huge success of her last solo recording Sempre Libera and the acclaimed Salzburg La Traviata releases, Anna will show once again that she knows how to captivate audiences.
"I've found fault with Anna Netrebko's singing before... not because of her voice (which is extremely beautiful), but because of the repertoire, her lack of accurate coloratura (and no trill), and a feeling that she was not conveying the heart and soul of the character. But the difference between her singing of Italian repertoire and Russian repertorie is almost unbelievable.
This CD was a delight from the very first note. Not only are these Russian soprano roles perfect for her voice type, but Ms Netrebko conveyed superbly the inner personalities of the characters. Everything was there - the vulnerability of Natasha, the ecstatic innocence of the Snow Maiden, the joyous amazement and goodness of the young blind princess who is made to see for the first time through the power of love... everything.
I was enthralled by this superb recording from beginning to end. The Rachmaninov songs, too, were heavenly to listen to - I kept thinking, "Yes! This is how Zdes hauraushau should be sung! Yes!".
The colour of Anna Netrebko's voice is perfect for Russian repertoire. Her emotional connection with these roles is undeniable, and she conveys every nuance to the listener. I can scarcely wait to hear a recording of War and Peace with her in the pivotal soprano role, and what of a new recording of Eugene Onegin with Ms Netrebko as Tatyana? The Queen of Spades with Ms Netrebko as Lisa? I am convinced, after hearing this superb CD, that she would be the ideal exponent for the soprano roles of these operas.
Let me not forget the outstanding and magnificent conducting of Gergiev, and as for the orchestra! Oh! The colours of this absolutely wonderful orchestra bring so much to each and every track. The partnership between Netrebko and Gergiev is an artistic miracle.
I purchased this CD in the hopes that it would be better than Ms Netrebko's previous albums, as I thought the Russian repertoire would suit her better than bel canto. I frankly admit I didn't expect the magnificent achievement of this recording - it is far, far, far better than I'd hoped for. More of this, please! I would love to hear Ms Netrebko release more Russian repertoire, be it with orchestra or piano.
Unequivocally recommended."
Anna in her Element
Bruce Varner | Chicago area, USA | 02/04/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Anna Netrebko loves this repertoire. It shows with every note she sings on this CD. She is paired with Maestro Valery Gergiev, himself a lover of vocal music and a tremendous exponent of Russian opera. Netrebko, Gergiev, and the musicians of the Orchestra of the Marinsky Theatre have created something very special in this CD. I love it, and think you will too.
The bookend arias on this CD are from Iolanta and Eugene Onegin. Tchaikovsky, the undisputed master of melody, captures the pathos in Iolanta's questioning, and the passion and ardor of Tatyana as she writes to her beloved. Netrebko captures both of these heroines beautifully. Not nearly enough Russian opera is produced in the United States. I hope at least some day, we can see and hear Anna sing Tatyana.
I loved the Rachmaninov songs. They are settings of poems by Pushkin, and they are absolutely beautiful. This leads me to something else that makes this CD so special. The liner notes are fantastic, with wonderful translations. Anna's Russian diction is so clear, you'll have no trouble following.
There are four arias of Rimsky-Korsakov, including one from "The Tale of Tsar Sultan", two from "The Snow Maiden", and one from "The Tsar's Bride". These are very special, since our chances of seeing these operas produced in the U.S. is slim-to-none. They are fantastic arias, with my favorite being Marfa's Act 4 aria. Rimsky-Korsakov wrote the book (literally) on orchestration, and no composer could paint a picture like him.
I also found the bouncy "Cavatina and Rondo" from Glinka's "A Life for the Tsar" quite enjoyable. It's almost like an operetta aria.
This CD is a wonderful counterpoint to Renee Fleming's "I Want Magic". Renee's CD couldn't be more American, and Anna's CD couldn't be more Russian. All of the beauty, passion, and soul of Russian music is brought to life by this wonderful artist. This CD is a must for your collection.
Highly recommended."
The best possible Netrebko
J. Luis Juarez Echenique | Mexico City | 02/01/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"No, there is nothing bland or boring here. This is certainly the best recital Anna Netrebko has given us. While singing Bellini or Verdi she can sound foreign, especially because she doesn't articulate consonants clearly, she is throughly idiomatic in her own language, and her opulent soprano has an almost Tebaldi-like purity. This is one of those few recitals that will be long-remembered. Gergiev and the Mariinsky Orchestra are a perfect match. Do buy it."
"All Netrebko's CDs give something unique to the ear and something special to the heart. There is no need to mention any specific aria or song from this CD, because the singing is extraordinary from the beginning to the end. "Experts" question the tessitura of her voice in bel canto singing because of its darkness. Have no fear, for Netrebko's God-given darkness makes her voice so different from all the others. To compare Netrebko to the great sopranos of the past and present is futile. She is not better but different, and that makes her unique. This CD shows her voice at its best and has nothing to do with singing in her native lunguage. The expressiveness of her voice has expanded in all directions with a heart-throbbing legato and a meteoric pianissimo, and with a phenomenal breath control. This is Netrebko's best CD and highly recommended. Once you listened to this CD, you may want to play it over and over. And each time it sounds better. And it should never be forgotten: a soprano's voice reaches its peak in mid 40s. The best has yet to come, provided that Netrebko uses her talent with patience and intelligence. Gergiev and his orchestra-sometimes a little too loud, but Netrebko cuts through victoriously- provide her with the support and nuances necessary to sustain her stellar singing.
Constantine A. Papas
El Paso, Texas
"
Luscious gorgeous to die for
Jamia Netherlader | San Francisco | 01/21/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I'm a big fan of Russian music (especially Prokofiev), and I first heard Netrebko in San Francisco when she sang Betrothal in a Monastery. Wow, she has come a long way since then. This recording is to die for. Not just for her singing which is luscious, generous, and soulful throughout, but also because here she and Gerghiev bring together many beautiful Russian arias that one rarely hears in the West. They are all gorgeous! It is a "document" of Russian soprano operatic literature, a recording whose time has come, it makes a huge contribution to the recorded literature."