Customer Reviews

Vesselina Kasarova sings Berlioz, Ravel, Chausson

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I have to say, I did not know this name when I stumbled onto this CD. What an amazing voice. Very controlled, and her musicality is wonderful!! At times, I felt some of the music was forced, but over all, a delight to listen to. If you want to relax by listening to a wonderfully rich voice, purchase this CD.

I'm too young to have heard Callas and Horne growing up... but I won't cry about it since I get to hear Vesselina Kasarova sing now. This is a special singer... one who is consistently able to get to the essence of each song and bring them to life when she sings. Even in this early recording (from 1995... she was only 30 yrs old then).

What a musical singer (well, shouldn't come as a surprise seeing as she graduated as a concert pianist before taking up singing)! Her French is not idiomatic, but that is more than made up by her gorgeous, expressive voice and how she paints it to bring out all the nuances in each piece. Unless you're a native French speaker or are stuck on the language itself, the iffy pronounciations shouldn't be a bother.

Berlioz's Summer Nights song cycle has been sung to death by so many singers already, but this rendition is still worth hearing just for Kasarova's individuality. The gal isn't afraid to sing it as she feel it (never mind if it isn't much like what others've done with it before or if it isn't "textbook" singing). I find it very refreshing. I'll explore Chausson more because of this recording. Heck, she even makes Ravel sounds good.... and I don't even like Ravel's music!