Customer Reviews

Galina Gorchakova: Verdi & Tchaikovsky Arias

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I will never forget the impression Galina Gorchakova's voice produced on me when I first heard her in the Verdi and Tchaikovski arias album. It was like a punch in the stomach, a flow of pure adrenaline running through my veins. An excitement I have only previously felt listening to Astrid Varnay, Eva Turner, Birgit Nilsson, Kirsten Flagstad, Maria Callas, Anita Cerquetti, Elena Souliotis and Leontyne Price. The opera world seldom produces singers who are able to do full justice to the Verdi and, in general, to the lirico-spinto repertoire. We are accustomed to hear the great dramatic Verdi roles (specially the two Leonoras, Elisabeth de Valois, Aida and Amelia) sung by lyric sopranos who painfully struggle to adapt their voices to those killers. Of course, in this pathetic process, transpositions and strained voices are at the order of the day. Perhaps this is the reason why we are so deeply impressed when a full blooded lirico-spinto soprano makes its appearance in a musical world where dramatic voices are practically extinct. Certainly, Gorchakova's voice is far from perfection. She needs to tame her huge voice and work hard on her breath control, specially for roles such as Aida and Il Trovatore's Leonora where legato and pianissimo are as important as volume and power. Nevertheless, we have to be grateful to Gorchakova for such a powerful, sovereign and impetuous voice and, specially, for reminding us the greatness of the lirico-spinto soprano repertoire and for being the living evidence that from time to time truly great voices come to the world of music.

Galina Gorchakova is one of the greats. Her voice is beautiful, expressive and metallic. Verdi and Tchaikovsky are two of my favourite composers and Galina Gorchakova has the perfect voice for them. I personally don't find anything lacking in her voice. Her Pace pace mio dio is absolutely amazing! I love this CD!

At first I had some doubts about the selections on this CD: 4 Tchaikovsky arias (2 of the operas are totally unknown to me) sandwiched by 5 of Verdi's. I still don't understand the logic behind the ordring of the selections but that was the last of the concern I had about this CD. As soon as I started listening to it, I was totally taken by the incredible quality of her voice and I started enjoying every bit of this CD. She is definitely more at home with the Tchaikovsky (the Letter scene is just impressive) but I give her high marks for the Verdi's also. She won me over with her Willow Song - something I never cared too much about before. Even though I don't know any Russian, I really enjoy hearing her singing in Russian. If you're like that, I'd recommend her "Memories of Love" CD which has good selections of Russian Romances.

I heard her at the first time in Pacific Music Festival in Sapporo, 1996. Once I heard her singing, I loved very much. Her voice is so beautifully. Many people there is something is lacking in her voice. I don't mind it. Because her voice is especially wonderful, and this is the one that I have been wanted to hear. Of course, I had to admit that her voice isn't great in these time, but someday, her voice will be wonderful and dramatic like Tebaldi and so on.