Russian Romances

How young he was! His voice was so pure and youthful, yet full of grace. But why is that the Russian soul is so full of longing and melancholy?

This was Hvorostovsky's second recording after his 1989 Singer of the World victory. It's nice that he and Bryn Terfel, the runner up, are still singing very well as their careers head into the third decade. It's a marvelous voice, dark and a bit wiry, but with a richness that isn't smooth in the Italianate way but has its own kind of smoothness. This recital should perhaps be listened to in segments of three or four songs at a time: they're all very well sung, but are pretty dark. If you have a stereotype of Russian melancholy, this might confirm it. What I found interesting -- and distinct from song-writers like Schubert and Schumann -- was a sense of these songs as being dramatic scenas -- more like accompanied recitative in places than straightforward melody per se -- but the music and words are well-fitted, and the accompaniment is crucial to the overall effect, and the piano here is very well played by Oleg Boshniakovich, and as much in the aural picture as the voice itself. Maybe I just got into the spirit of the thing, but I found the later songs even better than the earlier ones, and the two closing ones -- utterances of different kinds of deep bitterness -- are really powerful. The disc is called "Romances," but be warned: nothing ends well here. Great stuff nonetheless.

I am a mezzo-soprano singer and love Italian opera and German Lieder. But I haven't known how beautiful Russian Romances are. Maybe because many male low voice singers have just good voices but beautiful legato phrasing with the hottest heart as Dmitri Hvorostovsky sings on this CD. His amazing earthquaking low tone and heavenly elegant high tone are based on his deep breathing of his own. His sweet but excellent expressions moved me and my life. I recognized these Romances are his foundation of whole his musical life. I felt his deep love to Russia and his family, and it impressed me as a Lieder singer. It is a huge contribution to many foreigners including me got to love Russian music who haven't liked them before.

Even major fans of Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff may be unfamiliar with these works, but I think this CD perfectly captures what these artists sought to convey musically. The songs are mostly "torch songs" with text by major Russian poets. The piano and voice work together very well to build to "the point" of every work. The deep male voice we hear is just right for the material. After reading the text along with the music a few times, the listener can most fully appreciate this artwork, even if one may not philosophically enjoy the explicit message of the words, the music clearly delivers an artistic expression of intense longing.

This recording was my introduction to the glorious voice of this Siberian baritone, and it continues to overwhelm me with its passion and soul. These are mostly songs of love unrequited and love departed, sung with emotion and sensitivity by one of the most extraordinary singers of our generation. The simplicity and beauty of the solo piano accompaniment by Oleg Boshniakovich only adds to the power of this CD. It's a must for anyone who loves Russian music and appreciates Hvorostovsky's amazing talent.

I ordered this CD as a replacement for a much loved old cassette of these Romances and am delighted to have a more stable product to prolong my listening pleasure.

Conforme à mes attentes à tous niveaux!