"The Siberian baritone never fails to amaze and delight his audience with every new cd. After the wonderful cd of popular Russian songs of the war years, he gives us a cd that is truly remarkable. Sviridov's music, Pushkin's poems, Hvorostovsky's superb singing, no words can do justice to this cd. Every detail is done nicely. Mr.Arkadiev not only provides wonderful piano accompaniments, he also writes the thorough liner notes. Another pleasant surprise is that Anna Barry is the producer of this cd. Those who have Mr. Hvorostovsky's cds from Philip's are familiar with Ms.Barry's work. My humble gratitude to Ms. Amelia Haygood, founder and president of Delos, for making this cd a reality. It is a precious gift for everyone who loves great music."
Perfection Itself
doktorlehar | Columbia, MO USA | 03/09/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I picked this up on a whim, not knowing Sviridov's music at all but having enjoyed Hvorostovsky very much on other CDs. This turns out to be one of the most utterly gorgeous recordings of song repertoire I've ever heard--it's stunningly beautiful music, perfectly performed by two first-rate musicians familiar with its full cultural significance and stylistic nuance. Sviridov wrote the song cycle "Petersburg" for Hvorostovsky in 1995, and it is tailored to his considerable strengths as a vocalist. Some of the songs bring him to the top of his range and allow him to show off his astonishing breath control; others are more lyrical and restrained, but are never dull. It hardly need be said that his is one of our age's greatest voices: rich, plush, distinctive of tone, perfectly projected, and seemingly effortlessly produced. The six Puskhin Romances date from sixty years earlier and are every bit as accomplished, which is amazing since Sviridov was all of 20 when he wrote them. All of this music is clearly modern in tonality although quite accessible, and you will hear overtones of earlier Russian song composers like Rachmaninov and Mussorgsky. The mood is overall rather intense and often gloomy, but hey, this is Russia!
This is profound, moving, very beautiful music that deserves a wide audience. I can't recommend it highly enough."
Brilliant CD
Akemi | Rockland, MA United States | 11/24/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Dmitri Hvorostovsky's deep dark chocolate-like baritone is juxtaposed perfectly with the piano. The music is beyond amazing in terms of sound and texture.
This is a perfect CD, an excellent introduction to Dmitri Hvorostovsky and the wonderful world of Sviridov."
The Definition of Artistry
Joseph Tambornino | 11/15/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Hvorostovsky has an extraordinarily beautiful voice, with vast reservoirs of strength and power at his command, an incredibly wide spectrum of vocal colors over which he has utter mastery, and the breath control of a god. How fortunate we are to have him among us in our lifetime. The marriage of this finest of voices with Sviridov's intimately heartbreaking music is profoundly moving in a way that is rare in its depth and complexity, inasmuchas so few musical artists have achieved Hvorostovsky's level of technical prowess, so brilliantly on display in this recording. I consider his earlier Sviridov recording, "Russia Cast Adrift," as one of the precious gems of my collection, but this CD, by virtue of the Wizard Dmitri's astounding craft, has, though I had not thought it possible, surpassed that earlier master achievement.
"
Give it time
C. Mann | 04/10/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I'm into my fifth listening of this recording. I'm usually careful of 'modern classical' - for want of a better term - so it was my interest in and complete bias for Hvorostovsky that had me add it to my collection of his recordings. That said, the first hearing had me immediately decide this was a 'keeper' that required greater familiarization. And the subsequent hearings have only confirmed that assessment. Rich. Powerful. Intense. Not for everyone - but if you value Hvorostovsy, the richness of his tone, the intensity of his vocal interpretations - then this is for you."
Track Listings (15) - Disc #1
