Russian Album

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 more passionate songs in the disc are, sadly, under-done with a marked inhibition 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.

How intoxicating is Anna Netrebko's dark chocolaty, velvet voice! And what more delicious way to experience it than to hear her sing in her native tongue. This recital is a beautiful collection of arias by Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninav, Glinka, Prokofiev and Rimsky-Korsakov. A very pastoral libretto and lyrical piece is Glinka's "A life for the Tsar," (a new treat for us Americans) written, as they say, "in the bel canto style of Donizetti and Belini"-melodic and colorful, albeit heartbreaking. Another piece, "Oh do not sing to me," wherein Iolanta cries of foeboding grief, is breath-takingly passionate and lovely. This is by far Ms Netrebko's finest recording, and Vallery Gergiev does amazing work to facilitate her performance-really bringing out the voice of each composer and his melody and passion. Russian seems to be the magic key to Anna's heart, pouring out what we love to hear when she sings Violetta. This collection is a wonderful treat, and I would recommend it to anyone as drunk as I am for Anna's timbre and coloratura.