Arion: Voyage of A Slavic Soul
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VARIOUS COMPOSERS
Arion: Voyage of A Slavic Soul
Natalya Romaniw (soprano), Lada Valešová (piano)
[ Orchid / CD ]
Release Date: Friday 1 May 2020
This item is currently out of stock. We expect to be able to supply it to you within 2 - 4 weeks from when you place your order.
Soprano Natalya Romaniw and pianist Lada Valešová take us on a journey through Slavic song on this sumptuous album. Welsh-born soprano Natalya Romaniw is of Ukrainian descent, roots she explores in this recital, which is dedicated to her Ukrainian grandfather. The generous programme encompasses a wealth of music by Russian and Czech composers. Dvorák's Love Songs, Op.83, are at the heart of the album, and his idiomatic Czech style influenced Janácek, from whom we hear a selection of Moravian folk songs. Novák in turn was fascinated by Moravian folk music and was influenced by Janácek; Novák's gift for melody shines in Romaniw's interpretations of his songs. From Russia, meanwhile, we hear magical, almost operatic music from Rimsky-Korsakov, powerful passion from Tchaikovsky, and some of Rachmaninov's most exquisite songs. Natalya Romaniw is often noted for the Slavic character of her voice, a quality heard to full effect on this recording.
GRAMOPHONE Award Nomination 2021 - Song
"Make no mistake, Romaniw is a great talent. The plush richness of her soprano is astonishing...Romaniw taps into the melancholy of the Russian songs especially well…The selection from Janáček's Moravian Folk Poetry in Songs positively burst with character - aided by the Czech pianist Lada Valešová as ever-attentive partner - while the five Novák songs that close the disc are a revelation...Strongly recommended. Remember the name; you'll not forget the voice." Editor's Choice Gramophone July 2020
"Star quality oozes from every note sung by the Welsh soprano in this selection of songs from Russia and the former Czechoslovakia. Indeed, I can think of no other British singer from my lifetime who brings such an idiomatic sound - a big, bright lirico-spinto soprano shot with melancholy - to this repertory...Valesova's limpid playing is an outstanding feature of this superb disc" Sunday Times
"Lada Valešová captures the varied colours of the piano writing expertly, an equal and supportive partner. These 28 songs, especially the folk-rich examples by Janáček and Novák, suit Romaniw's generous, big-toned voice, its timbre flecked and speckled with character and emotion." The Guardian
