Magdalena Kožená - Nostalgia

 
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BELA BARTOK / JOHANNES BRAHMS / MODEST MUSSORGSKY
Magdalena Kožená - Nostalgia
Magdalena Kožená (mezzo-soprano) Yefim Bronfman (piano)

[ Pentatone / CD ]

Release Date: Friday 10 September 2021

On her third PENTATONE album Nostalgia, Magdalena Kožená presents Bartók's Village Scenes, Mussorgsky's The Nursery and a selection of Brahms songs, together with acclaimed pianist Yefim Bronfman. Sung in Slovak, Russian and German, these songs on love, longing and innocence show three master composers transforming folk traditions into their unique musical styles. Kožená demonstrates her vocal mastery once more, and this recording with Bronfman is the result of a two-decades-spanning congenial artistic partnership.

Nostalgia is star mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kožená's third album as part of her exclusive collaboration with PENTATONE, after having presented the baroque cantatas recital album Il giardino dei sospiri and the songs in chamber-musical setting project Soirée in 2019. Yefim Bronfman, whose commanding technique, power and exceptional lyrical gifts are consistently acknowledged by the press and audiences alike, makes his PENTATONE debut.

"In 2002 I worked with Magdalena Kožená for the first time in Verbier and was completely taken by her voice and expressivity and a unique ability to get inside the music in a very personal and expressive way. I've always wanted to work with her again since then and thankfully have had opportunities in the US and Europe which have opened up new horizons for me as a performer to accompany a great singer in recital. In addition it has given me the opportunity to be exposed to some repertoire I've never experienced before such as the Brahms, Mussorgsky and Bartók songs incorporated here. It's a great privilege and pleasure to tour and record with her this wonderful literature."- Yefim Bronfman

"The Czech mezzo is in prime form in songs that could have been written for her. She catches every mood and inflection with spontaneous immediacy." Gramophone Editor's Choice Nov 2021

Gramophone Award Finalist 2022 - Song

"Kožená's voice is a glory at the best of times, a coppery sunset of a tone that can send its glow across the whole sky. But if her voice is gigantic, one thing is bigger still, and it's Bronfman's pianism, which almost manages to overwhelm her at certain points in the Brahms and Musorgsky songs." BBC Music

Tracks:

Bartók: Dorfszenen Sz 78
Mussorgsky: The Nursery
Brahms: Meine Liebe ist grün, Op. 63 No. 5
Brahms: Nachtigall, Op. 97 No. 1
Brahms: Verzagen, Op. 72 No. 4
Brahms: Bei dir sind meine Gedanken (No. 2 from Sieben Lieder, Op. 95)
Brahms: Von ewiger Liebe, Op. 43 No. 1
Brahms: Anklänge, Op. 7 No. 3
Brahms: Das Mädchen spricht, Op. 107 No. 3
Brahms: Meerfahrt, Op. 96 No. 4
Brahms: Der Schmied Op. 19 / 4
Brahms: Ach, wende diesen Blick (No. 4 from Acht Lieder und Gesänge, Op. 57)
Brahms: Heimweh II, Op. 63 No. 8
Brahms: Mädchenlied, Op. 107 No. 5
Brahms: Unbewegte laue Luft (No. 8 from Acht Lieder und Gesänge, Op. 57)
Brahms: Vergebliches Ständchen, Op. 84 No. 4