Monna Vanna (act I)

"Ashkenazy and his forces inject considerable dramatic impetus into the music ... This is a tantalising disc of a what-might-have-been, Vladimir Avtomonov's rich, fluid baritone bearing the brunt of the action ... Rachmaninov never lost faith in Monna Vanna. This performance shows why".

"The new recording is preferable in every way ... For a fascinating glimpse of what might have been, Monna Vanna is well worth 40 minutes of your time ... Soile Isokoski sings seven of Rachmaninov's songs ... on rather disappointing form ... Ashkenazy's playing is thoroughly sympathetic and undemonstrative".