Romances

"These decade-old recordings have stood the test of time. Certainly none of the voices even Leiferkuss quite measures up to the greatest exemplars of the Russian vocal school in this kind of repertoire. But in their more equalized and equable way they present a laudably consonant front. Shelley is outstanding. The set is something of a steal".

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"Polish tenor Piotr Beczala ... has been a star in the leading opera houses worldwide since the late 1990s ... Here, he throws his net wider and indulges wholeheartedly in the songs of Rachmaninov and Tchaikovsky ... Beczala has both steel and honey at his disposal, and his mellifluous pianissimos are particularly attractive. As an antidote to the plangent quality of much of Rachmaninov's music, his muscular approach refreshes the atmosphere considerably ... If there is intensity and strong feeling in the Rachmaninov songs, there is even more of that in the Tchaikovsky section ... Beczala certainly wrings the last drop of feeling out of the songs, but he is balanced and stylish ... An utterly valuable addition to the growing discography of the songs of Rachmaninov and Tchaikovsky with sensitive, deeply considered singing and playing in a world-class performance".

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"Recording of the week: Many of the songs here make formidable technical demands on the pianist as well as the singer, and I mean absolutely no disrespect to Beczała when I say that Deutsch's playing would be worth the price of the album on its own ... Recent excursions into heftier operatic territory haven't dimmed the sunshine in Beczala's voice, and high notes - whether delivered with full-throated ardour or pianissimo delicacy - are unfailingly steady and supported".

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"Overall, this is a most valuable addition to the catalogue of recordings of this marvellous repertoire".

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"Editor's choice - March 2022: The white-hot charisma which the Lithuanian soprano brings to roles like Salome and Jenůfa registers just as forcefully in the studio as it does on stage, to the extent that every one of these songs really does feel like an opera in miniature - and Geniušas matches her for sheer magnetism at every turn (check out the postlude of 'What Happiness' for a taster)".

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"Hvorostovsky opens up these Rachmaninov songs with operatic fortissimos that add stature to the music as well as with pianissimos that can convey depths of quiet terror ... Vocal precision is sometimes compromised. Some of the high, softer notes fail to glow. But his long-admired breath control is, if anything, more impressive ... This is as fine as any currently available single-disc collection of Rachmaninov songs".

"This carefully programmed disc, in broadly chronological sequence, balances cool nostalgia and fiery passion. The arching vocal lines present in many of the songs suit Hvorostovsky's instrument and his delivery is fervent ... His [voice] still a full-throated, virile baritone of great beauty, capable of dramatic declaration".

"The Polish tenor is excellent in Slavic repertoire ... and is an enthusiastic advocate of these two composers ... He is joined by his recital pianist Helmut Deutsch for an extremely well-filled programme of 31 songs ... Beczala takes quite an operatic approach to this repertoire ... He is clearly comfortable in the idiom and displays a heroic tone ... Deutsch is a sensitive partner ... Fans of Beczala need not hesitate".

"Litauiska sopranen Asmik Grigorian är bekant för svenska operabesökare ... På den här inspelningen, med följsamt piano ackompanjemang av Lukas Geniušas, kan man njuta av hennes sopran i sånger av Rachmaninov. Efter scenframträdandena i Stockholm var båda publik och kritiker entusiastiska - och det är bara att konstatera att Grigorians mångfacetterade och hänförande sopranröst är helt rätt även i den här repertoaren. Magiskt!".

"'Editor's choice: "After triumphs on stage ... Lithuanian soprano Asmik Grigorian makes her solo recording debut ... an album devoted to the songs of Sergey Rachmaninov ... She has an immediately recognisable soprano ... but what's most striking about it is the way she imbues the voice with emotion, conveying a sense of anguish vulnerability or passion. Even on disc, without the visuals, you can hear how Grigorian lives and breathes each song ... Grigorian is utterly compelling throughout ... Pianist Lukas Geniušas is an equal partner dramatically".