Russian Romances

Dmitri Hvorostovsky (Performer), Sergey Rachmaninov (Composer), Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky (Composer), Oleg Boshniakovich (Performer)

Product Details

• Performer: Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Oleg Boshniakovich
• Composer: Sergey Rachmaninov, Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky
• Audio CD (May 10, 1991)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Polygram Records
• ASIN: B00000413C
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #229,683 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Track Listings

1. Solitude (Again, as before, alone), song for voice & piano, Op. 73/6: No 6 Snova Kak Prezhde'e Adin

2. The Nightingale, song for voice & piano, Op. 60/4: No 4 Salavej

3. Exploit ('Heroism', 'Podvik'), song for voice & piano, Op. 60/11: No 11 Podvik

4. I opened the window, song for voice & piano, Op. 63/2: No 2 Rastvaril Ja Akno

5. Don Juan's Serenade, song for voice & piano, Op. 38/1: No 1 Serenada Don Zhuana: "Gasnut Dal'nef Al'puhary"

6. The water lily, song for voice & piano, Op. 8/1: No 1 "I U Min'a Byl Kraj Radnoj"

7. She is as lovely as the noon, song for voice & piano, Op. 14/9: No 9 Ana Kak Polden' Harasha

8. Georgian Song ('Do not Sing, My Beauty'), for voice & piano, Op. 4/4: No 4 Ne Poj Krasavitsa Pri Mne

9. Oh no, I beg you, forsake me not, song for voice & piano, Op. 4/1

10. Reconciliation, song for voice & piano, Op. 25/1: No 1 Primiren'je: "O Zasni Majo Sertse Gluboka!"

11. A tear trembles, song for voice & piano, Op. 6/4: No 4 Sleza Drazhyt F Tvajom Rivnivam Zvore

12. None but the lonely heart, song for voice & piano, Op. 6/6: No 6 Net Tol'ka Tot Kto Znal

13. The fearful moment, song for voice & piano, Op. 28/6: No 6 Strashnaja Minuta: "Ty Vnimajesh Vniz Sklaniv Galofku"

14. When yesterday we met, song for voice & piano, Op.26/13: No 13 Fchira My Fstretilis'

15. He took all from me, song for voice & piano, Op. 26/2: No 2 Fs'o Otn'al U Min'a

16. Fragment from Musset, song for voice & piano, Op. 21/6: No 6 "Shto Tak Usilenna"

17. Christ is Risen, song for voice & piano, Op. 26/6: No 6 Hristos Vaskres

18. In the silence of the secret night, song for voice & piano, Op. 4/3: No 3 V Malchan'ji Mochi Tajnay "O Dolga Budu Ja"

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Essential Dmitri CD, August 24, 1999

By A Customer

The repertoire for Dmitri's second solo album was chosen with great care. The title "romances" can be somewhat misleading, though. This is not a collection of "touchy-feely" love songs. The lieder-style songs by Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov deal with anguish, suffering, reflective melancholy and the kind of love that leaves a heart scarred and bleeding forever. One exception - the bravura of Don Juan, sung with gusto and thirst for life. These songs are dear to every educated Russian. Much like Schubert, who composed the lieder to the poetry of Goethe and Shakespeare, the Russian composers selected works by Pushkin, Pleschcheyev, Fyet, and others to communicate the intense emotions or dreamy reflections. The incredible "Christ is Risen", is written by D. Myeryezhkovsky, a man far ahead of his time, lamenting the irony of hearing the happy church hymns and praises set against the background of our brutal age. Everyone who has ever experienced utter loneliness, despair, melancholy mixed with expectations of a way out will be touched by these songs, that cross the language barriers and speak to the heart with the help of today's greatest baritone. You don't have to be a native speaker like me to appreciate them. Dmitri's voice never fails to explore the very core of the human soul. It can expand thunderously or soften to the sensuous pppp with perfect control and clarity. The high notes are triumphant and soaring with none of the coarseness that so many baritones have. The lower notes impress with their basso-like quality. His passion and intelligence are reminiscent of such great singers as Boris Christoff and Nicolai Ghiaurov, yet the range of the baritone allows for new, unusual, and welcome interpretations. He receives warm, thoughtful, and lively support from pianist Oleg Boshniakovich. Philips provides great sound and a nice booklet amiss any Cyrillic texts (which is thankfully corrected in their latest releases) and, alas, with a few minor spelling mistakes. The cover features, quite appropriately, Dmitri singing, looking out into the morning mist. Great artist and great achievement!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars magnificent !, June 18, 2000

By	Alejandra Vernon "artist & illustrator" (Long Beach, California) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

This recording was my introduction to the glorious voice of this Siberian baritone, and it continues to overwhelm me with its passion and soul. These are mostly songs of love unrequited and love departed, sung with emotion and sensitivity by one of the most extraordinary singers of our generation. The simplicity and beauty of the solo piano accompaniment by Oleg Boshniakovich only adds to the power of this CD. It's a must for anyone who loves Russian music and appreciates Hvorostovsky's amazing talent.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Overlooked Treasure, August 5, 2004

By	Andrew West (Scotch Plains, NJ United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Even major fans of Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff may be unfamiliar with these works, but I think this CD perfectly captures what these artists sought to convey musically. The songs are mostly "torch songs" with text by major Russian poets. The piano and voice work together very well to build to "the point" of every work. The deep male voice we hear is just right for the material. After reading the text along with the music a few times, the listener can most fully appreciate this artwork, even if one may not philosophically enjoy the explicit message of the words, the music clearly delivers an artistic expression of intense longing.