Russian Album

" Two summers ago, she created a sensation in Verdi's Traviata at the Salzburg Festival." The voice is not a classic Mozart or bel canto voice: It is a little dark, and a little unbending." However, it is a wonderful voice, and Netrebko handles it with conviction. What she has, in abundance, is charisma, and magnetism. She is a real singing actress. Where she is most convincing is in her native repertoire; the Russian repertoire. Many noticed her when she made her Met debut in Prokofiev's War and Peace. It was a sensational debut. Netrebko's timbre tends to suit Russian music, and her use of the language is enchanting. Her latest CD is the Russian Album. Netrebko performs various arias, scenes, and songs with conductor Valery Geriev and the Orchestra of the Marlinsky Theatre. Gergiev has been something of an icon for Russian opera, introducing the West to unknown repertoire. Netrebko begins with a beautiful piece: the Arioso from Tchaikovsky's Iolanta. She continues with two songs by Rachmaninoff, with piano accompaniments arranged for orchestra. She conveys a wonderful element of coolness and vulnerability. Netrebko includes works by Korsakov, Glinka, and Prokofiev. As well she performs a "tableau" from Rachmaninoff's one act opera Francesca da Rimini.The singing is superb and displays Netrebko's passion in this genre. I look forward to hearing Netrebko begin to perform the recital repertoire in the near future.
(Reference source;National Review,Inc.)

Author: Raymond Vacchino M.Mus.(MT) A.Mus. L.R.S.M. Licentiate (hon.)

Here at last is the Anna Netrebko that has been some what missing from previous encounters on CD.This is a woman whose deep love and regard for her homeland are much in evidence from the first to the last notes .Often in reviews comments are made a the darkness of her voice ,here it is perfect and at home with the somber tones of the great land that has so much to offer the world of music .
The beautiful warmth of her vocal range gives a brilliant tapestry of sound to the album, bringing to life the various characters she portrays ,with her penultimate portrayal of Natasha in Prokofiev's War and Peace,we can only hope to see her preform it one day for western audiences.
Many feel that Anna Netrebko lacks substance ,this I feel is unfair as she has many years to go to reach her peak ,this album shows that she has the range, the talent and the intelligence to make herself one of the greatest sopranos of all time

indeed beautiful music and beautiful russian songs, it's just a "must have" for every music lovers.

This CD combines knowledgeable artists about the subject of Russian music, unsurpassed talent by the singer, and a superb sound production. This is world class stuff you can get just for a few bucks.

I find myself always using food metaphors to describe voices... Netrebko is amazing in any language certainly (like perfectly oaked chardonnay), but when she sings in Russian... The thing that comes to mind is 'amuse bouche' - it's like every phrase sung is a scrumtious little morsel delicately prepared and bursting with flavour. Ahhhh.... Delicious!