Russian Album

I am very happy with the CD. I enjoy Anna's voice and singing. I wish to go to the Metropolitan Opera to see her.

This acclaimed disc is a collaboration of superstars - Valery Gergiev and Anna Netrebko, Russia's two top classical artists of the era.
But the image really is much bigger than the substance.
The lining up is strange - some songs, some arias, some scenes. If what it means is to show off Netrebko's singing talent in different fields, then the resounding response must be - so-so.
Generally, the singing is recorded too backward. The sound is dark (given that the singer does not possess an overly bright timber), and the recording done in the Mariinksy Theater sounds as though taken in the mid last century.
Apart from the technical flaws, both the orchestration and the singing verge on being cold in some, and indifferent in others. While it may be true that Ms. Netrebko strives to maintain a well-balanced and overall velvety quality of singing, her top-notes sound tight, and the tone color unamimously dull-hued. The over-stressed jawline resultant from a miss-placed rear-tongue position appear to be the crux of her problem in singing. The more passionate songs in the disc are, sadly, under-done with a marked technical inhibition (or more probably, inadequacy) on the part of the singer. And she is not one bit aided by the conductor and orchestra.
Overall, bordering on dullness.

As the title states,I am just starting to learn about opera,and I found Ms.Netrebko's singing on 'Russian Album' to be absolutely breathtaking!

For now,she is my favorite soprano.

One of the best and most delightful CDs I've purchased this year. Highly recommended. Don't be put off by a prejudice against "heavy Russian stuff". This young soprano's voice is slightly on the dark side for a true soprano (which for me at least is a plus), but is as agile, expressive and simply beautiful as anyone could wish for, or even imagine. I hope to see/hear her live someday.

Although I have purchased many books and cds from amazon over the past 10 years I have never felt compelled to review a purchase. Until now. This album which I purchased based on the reviews I read on amazon - is simply amazing. The artist has the most wonderful voice and I cannot stop playing this cd. (The only other cd that had a similar impact was the first album released by Shu Cheen Yu on the ABC (Australia) Classics label.) The "Russian Album" is destined to be a firm favourite for many years and I plan to purchase lots of copies to give to friends.