Search - Dmitri Hvorostovsky :: Georgi Sviridov: Petersburg a Vocal Poem

It is about time

bunburina | United States | 07/27/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Siberian baritone never fails to amaze and delight his audience with every new cd. After the wonderful cd of popular Russian songs of the war years, he gives us a cd that is truly remarkable. Sviridov's music, Pushkin's poems, Hvorostovsky's superb singing, no words can do justice to this cd. Every detail is done nicely. Mr.Arkadiev not only provides wonderful piano accompaniments, he also writes the thorough liner notes. Another pleasant surprise is that Anna Barry is the producer of this cd. Those who have Mr. Hvorostovsky's cds from Philip's are familiar with Ms.Barry's work. My humble gratitude to Ms. Amelia Haygood, founder and president of Delos, for making this cd a reality. It is a precious gift for everyone who loves great music."

Perfection Itself

doktorlehar | Columbia, MO USA | 03/09/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I picked this up on a whim, not knowing Sviridov's music at all but having enjoyed Hvorostovsky very much on other CDs. This turns out to be one of the most utterly gorgeous recordings of song repertoire I've ever heard--it's stunningly beautiful music, perfectly performed by two first-rate musicians familiar with its full cultural significance and stylistic nuance. Sviridov wrote the song cycle "Petersburg" for Hvorostovsky in 1995, and it is tailored to his considerable strengths as a vocalist. Some of the songs bring him to the top of his range and allow him to show off his astonishing breath control; others are more lyrical and restrained, but are never dull. It hardly need be said that his is one of our age's greatest voices: rich, plush, distinctive of tone, perfectly projected, and seemingly effortlessly produced. The six Puskhin Romances date from sixty years earlier and are every bit as accomplished, which is amazing since Sviridov was all of 20 when he wrote them. All of this music is clearly modern in tonality although quite accessible, and you will hear overtones of earlier Russian song composers like Rachmaninov and Mussorgsky. The mood is overall rather intense and often gloomy, but hey, this is Russia!



This is profound, moving, very beautiful music that deserves a wide audience. I can't recommend it highly enough."

Brilliant CD

Akemi | Rockland, MA United States | 11/24/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Dmitri Hvorostovsky's deep dark chocolate-like baritone is juxtaposed perfectly with the piano. The music is beyond amazing in terms of sound and texture.

This is a perfect CD, an excellent introduction to Dmitri Hvorostovsky and the wonderful world of Sviridov."