Customer Reviews

Where are You, my Brothers?

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Of my nearly 20 Dmitri Hvorostovsky albums, this one is in the Top 3, which has Dmitri singing in quite a different style than what he is most famous for, as one of the great operatic singers of our era, and this CD is far from the "opera singer does crossover CD" type of recording, which can sometimes be quite awful, but sings softly and with intense passion and sincerity, his dark honey toned baritone perfect for these melodious, gorgeous songs.
Though the focus of the songs is WWII, some were written as early as 1905 ("The Hills of Manchuria"), to the wonderful "Cranes" from 1969, and "Somewhere Far Away" was the title for a TV series ("17 Moments of Spring"), about a Russian spy in Nazi Germany, that was shown in 1973.

Some songs are more sublime than others, like "Unexpected Waltz" and "On a Nameless Hill", but there isn't a single composition that isn't filled with beauty and performed to perfection. Hvorostovsky has a voice that is a gift of God, with the technique of a master, and the soul of a true artist.
He is backed brilliantly by Constantine Orbelian and the Moscow Chamber Orchestra, the folk group Style of Five, and the rousing sound of the Spiritual Revival Choir of Russia.
The booklet insert is excellent, with liner notes, bios, lyrics in English and transliterated Russian; the sound is good and total playing time is 57'28.

The sound of very beginning phrase of it's first song "Somewhere Far Away" grabbed me. This title song for TV series was sung in his natural voice rather than operatic singing. I found it absolutely beautiful. Have you ever heard Dmitri's speaking voice? Renee Fleming quoted "Dmitri has the most beautiful male voice I've ever heard". Well I must say many of us have to agree with her. This album is a good collection of war time songs that indicate harsh reality of soldier's life and emotional state. He expressed them very eloquently. Text has translations but you can feel the depth without it. These songs are melodious and tuneful, I liked his flexible singing of forte to exquisite pianissimo. This is not just sell out for Russians but to everyone. As a Japanese, we grew up in Russian folk songs were heard everywhere. It's nice he introduced us to further extension of Russian materials. Evidently his colaboration with his father and Orbelian worked well. I also appreciate the lightness of "Katyusha" is a nice bonus. I thoroughly enjoyed this and I recomend it to everyone. I hope I get to hear these in his recital someday.

I attended his recent opera(War and Peace /Onegin) and recital in Tokyo. This was his first public performances in Tokyo, yet he was extremely popular here. He received mountain of flowers and presents, and for autograph session, nobody seemed to left the house. His high quality of vocal art, stylish and expressive singing and at most striking impact on his stage presence were overwelming. I hope he'll come back again.

Dmitri Hvorostovsky's voice is at its amazing, beautiful, passionate best. He seamlessly moves from silken pianissimo to forte, conveying all the tragedy and futility of life lost through war, the false hope and despair of soldiers who have trudged too far and seen too much death, destruction and experienced too much pain, fear and hunger.

This disc is a real triumph for singing.
One need not 'classify' this album as 'songs', or 'arias' or 'lieder', or 'cross-over'.
Some tunes in the tracks are very well-known, at least for listeners who are born not too long after the Second World War.
The accompanying orchestra and the singer convey all there is need to be conveyed - the message, the mood, the atmosphere, all authentic and beautifully wrapped up.
And the songs are very well-chosen, too. The singer and the producer simply put ALL their hearts into this production, as evidenced by the list of utmost beautiful choices.
For an era past; for an ears that seek only beauty from humanity - get this album without further hesitation.

Maestro Hvorostovsky is the complete singer. Range. Total control. A gorgeous "instrument". Pliable. Strong, but can be tender as a small flower in the sun. Sotto voce is amazing. Pianissimo projects yet sounds soft. (I'm a singer, and believe me, giving the illusion of singing softly in a large "house" is a very hard thing to pull off. He is the complete mid-range singer. His lows are rich and not strangled. His upper range is amazing! He gives the illusion of full voice because of his superb training. And let's not forget his charisma, stage presence. He "owns" every audience he sings before. But of course, you can't see him by listening to an mp3. But these Russian songs are so gorgeous, full of pathos and remembrance of the hard history of the Russian people (especially during WWII where over 20 million died!). Download the mp3's. This album will make you weep. And then go on YouTube and watch/hear him and watch the audience members. They are totally blown away, enthralled with this great artist. It's takes one hell of a lot of chutzpah to get up in front of the world, open yourself up as he does, and leave nothing behind emotionally or artistically. I will always have a dear spot in my heart for Lucianno P. He could sing like no other--until now. He is a baritone, so the glory is harder to come by, but to my trained ear, he is at least as great an artist as Pavarotti. His instrument is as great. His artistic interpretations are just spine-chilling. Every note is its own special "piece". I mean it. Why he isn't a household name is crime. this man needs new management and get him to America so we can make folks familiar with him. And... he's one hell of a handsome man. Devastatingly so. If it isn't enough he can sing the doves out of the rafters, he looks like actor, a big muscled brute of a man with mane of silver hair and dark dark Tartar eyes that flash when sings or takes flowers from a female admirer. I am associated with a major opera house in this country, and I am working my buns off to figure out how to get him over here and get him the fame he deserves other than just in Europe and Russia.

The silken voice of Hvorovstovsky is always a delight, and since I love Russian folk music, this is a favorite on my iPod.