Outstanding gems masterfully played, sung and recorded
Alexander Z. Damyanovich | Flesherton, Ontario, Canada | 08/01/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Now that I've finally gotten around to hearing some more of this recording, I have to amend my initial review to as follows:
Can one possibly go wrong with a package that features an opulent recording, the beautiful and highly-poetic playing of Ashkenazy (he plays these pieces so beautifully and with such poetry, matching the poetry of the original texts chosen by RakhmáÑinov for setting to music - truly, an accompanist 'to the manor born!!!'), the radiant yet versatile singing of Söderström AND such lovely music 'per se'?? Gems like "O ñe grustí", "Vchjerá mï vstrjétiljisj" and - for good measure, the Vocalise - just come off effortlessly and yet with searing passion.
[An added bonus is that a number (admittedly not all - enough would just have simply been too low for all but a real contralto or bass, period!) of those songs not originally written for high-voice still do get to be done in their original keys in spite of their not being best-suited to a soprano voice (several settings are for a mezzo or alto - not to mention those intended for a male singer); that Ms. Söderström did record many of these wonderful pieces as notated by Sjergjéy Vasíljevich (Rakhmáñinov's given name & patronymic, used here, are also how one would formally address a Russian) in the keys chosen by him speaks extra-highly for her!]
This CD-package is an absolute classic that deserves to be in the collection of any and every music-lover - it just so transcends not only the boundaries of lieder but also of all classical music, period! Yes, it may be expensive but it's worth every last penny! Original keys or not, the quality of the artistry and the obvious devotion of the performers to every aspect of these glorious songs is so magisterial as to make most competition to be redundant (only singers like Vishñévskaja or Khvorostóvskiy can really consistently match Söderström in every last one of these lieder!!). Do not hesitate to GET IT at almost any cost!!!"