Dmitri Hvorostovsky - Russian Songs from the War Years

This dvd is very different from most recitals. Hvorostovsky's grandfather was killed during the war, known as the Great Patriotic War in Russia, known to us as WWII. It is apparent that he feels these songs deeply, as does the audience. These songs are well-known in Russia, and virtually unknown to those of us in the West. They are heartbreakingly beautiful, especially "The Cranes". Dmitri sings them with great feeling,
and does not sing them in an operatic voice, he croons them. The dvd is well worth hearing, both for the novelty of new repetoire for us, and the gorgeous tone Hvorostovsky produces.

The reviewers here are right on about the quality of this concert. Having just seen it in Los Angeles 1/15/06, I can tell you that 3,000 people teared up and crushed the Opera Shop to buy the DVD and CD's for Dmitri to autograph. I've just ordered this so haven't viewed it yet but in person, these songs were most effectively performed and Dmitri astonishes with his communicative ability. Just when you think he can't sing any better, he does! He certainly has it all! These songs are beautiful and he does them to perfection. No one should be without this DVD and a CD of them if possible. FIRST RATE!! GREAT MUSIC!! GREAT VOICE!! GREAT PERFORMANCE!!

I completely agree with the other reviewers regarding this DVD of a concert of Russian War Songs sung by Dmitri Hvorostovsky. What a moving concert! Dmitri sings these songs wonderfully grabbing emotionally this listener and the audience "by the throat"! I own the CD "Songs of War Years" with Hvorostovsky singing these same songs; his singing on the CD also moves me very much. However, seeing and hearing him before an audience (most in tears) comprising of, I'm sure, individuals that these songs have a very special and profound meaning to (WWII, after all, was fought in Russia's front and backyards) is an experience not to be soon forgotten. This DVD puts me right in the audience. Thus, I too was moved to tears often.
This is NOT an operatic concert. Dmitri sings most of the songs in a movingly beautiful mezza-voce only allowing his voice "full out" a couple of times on the more militaristic songs-that was, of course, very thrilling! What control! He truly posses one of the most beautiful baritone voices I've ever heard!
The audience gave him many standing ovations and many bouquets of flowers during the entire concert eliciting, from him, that gorgeous smile of his.
For an emotional and moving concert of beautiful songs, buy this DVD.

They are not Tchaikovsky; they are not Verdi; they are not Rachmaninoff; but these Songs of War Years have no short of dramatic power, nor less sentimentality! In his home country, backed by Moscow Chamber Orchestra and Spiritual Revival Choir of Russia, along with Russian folk instrument ensemble "Style of Five", baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky created great sensation in his 2003 Concert from Moscow, in retrospect the years of WWII in Russia. Retrospective the songs are, they reflect part of the culture during the Soviets era. The popularity of the songs even to this day in Russia and the immense effectiveness when sung by Hvorostovsky's deep, intoxicating voice is sensational. There is no caption of the lyrics showing on the screen - you can find the lyrics and their English translations in the booklet that comes with the DVD. But in the end you'd find the caption unnecessary. The sentiments directly come from the heart - through Hvorostovsky's expressive singing, and through the emotions from the audience, many with tears in their eyes. Although sitting in front of TV screen, I was also in tears, as well as in awe!

The content of this DVD is only the second half of the concert - in the first half Hvorostovsky sang Tchaikovsky, Rubinstein, and Leoncavallo. Cutting anything from Hvorostovsky's concert would be regretful, however, what we've seen here is a complete show, with the distinctive colors of its own. The songs from the DVD can be found in Hvorostovsky's CD "Where Are You, My Brothers", which is a studio recording released in 2002.

Dmitri Hvorostovsky is overwhelming in this concert of war era songs, taken mostly from WWII, that Hvorostovsky interprets with such subtle intensity that one doesn't have to know the meaning of the words. The sound alone tells the story, and one finds the tears rolling down one's cheeks from the sheer beauty of it.
Hvorostovsky is one of the greatest baritones in operatic history, and has been Russia's gift to the world, as well as being one of its best ambassadors, bringing Russian music to a wide audience. From the song cycles of Georgi Sviridov, to the rousing folk songs, to the melodic, moving pieces in this concert, finer renditions cannot be found.

Set in the 6,500 seat concert hall of the State Kremlin Palace in Moscow, on April 8, 2003, Hvorostovsky stands in front of the orchestra and chorus in a black suit and open white shirt. The camera often focuses on his expressive face, which occasionally breaks into a smile that would melt the winter snow in Krasnoyarsk, the Siberian city that was his birthplace in 1962. There are occasional views of the tearful audience, and moments when they bring him flowers, which he accepts and places center stage.
Whether one sits and watches this astonishing singer, or just listens to his dark, rich voice, this DVD is a treasure for anyone who likes Russian music, or appreciates the best of all possible voices.

Constantine Orbelian is an award winning pianist and conductor, and has worked extensively with Hvorostovsy. Born in San Francisco, he is the only foreign artist to be awarded the title "Honored Artist of Russia", and here leads the Moscow Chamber Orchestra; also included in this program are the Style of Five Ensemble, the Yale Alumni Chorus, and the Spiritual Revival Choir.
Total running time is 59 minutes. There are no subtitles but the name of the song and composer are briefly put on the screen.
There is a booklet enclosure with short bios and text of the songs in English and transliterated Russian.
The song list: 1: "Soldiers are Coming", 2: "Dark is the Night", 3: "Unexpected Waltz", 4: "The Roads", 5: "On a Nameless Hill", 6: "Somewhere far Away", 7: "Katyusha", 8: "The Hills of Manchuria", 9: "The Sacred Stone", 10: "The Lonely Accordion", 11: "Cranes", 12: "The Last Battle", 13: "My Moscow".