“In 2016 the Delos label has done sterling service to opera and song releasing individual recital albums from Jamie Barton, Lawrence Brownlee and Dmitri Hvorostovsky, three of the finest singers on the international stage today.” —Michael Cookson, MusicWeb International
Jamie Barton: All Who Wander
A rising star Barton seems as comfortable on the concert platform as the opera stage. For her debut album ‘All Who Wander’ a recital programme with pianist Brian Zeger, Barton has chosen late-Romantic repertoire of a substantial Bohemian focus with works by Mahler and Dvořák.… In these art-songs admirable throughout is Barton’s alluring tone and gorgeous phrasing. My highlight is Mahler’s magnificent Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen (I am lost to the world) a multi-faceted score full of world-weary introspection. In this intensely melancholic writing Barton communicates a real sense of yearning to moving effect which felt extremely spiritual.”
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Lawrence Brownlee: Allegro io Son
“A bel canto specialist the tenor is in great demand singing predominantly Rossini roles. Brownlee made his Metropolitan Opera debut in 2007 singing Il Barbiere and has gone on to sing Almaviva in many of the world’s most renowned opera houses.… He is a highly poised performer in remarkable form displaying his appealing tone, crystal-clear diction and outstanding voice control particularly in his top register. These Rossini and Bellini arias are loaded with fioritura demands and Brownlee meets the challenges by zipping up and down with fluidity and dashing off trills and ornaments in a sheer brilliant display of vocal pyrotechnics.… The guest soloists have been well chosen and the Kaunas State Choir sings its heart out. Under Constantine Orbelian the Kaunas City Symphony Orchestra demonstrates a spirited sense of music making.”
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Dmitri Hvorostovsky Sings of War, Peace, Love, and Sorrow
“World famous Russian baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky with his unforgettable voice has been captivating opera and concert audiences since the mid 1980s.… Not surprisingly for his new album ‘Sings of War, Peace, Love and Sorrow’ Hvorostovsky has turned to scenes and arias from five Russian operas by Prokofiev, Tchaikovsky and Rubinstein. Hvorostovsky is in terrific voice able to communicate his charismatic personality without damaging the sense and dramatic impact of the text. Technically assured throughout I marvel at the baritone’s rich tonal warmth and expressive range. Exceptionally fine is the first scene from War and Peace set after dark, focusing on the recently widowed Prince Andrei, played by Hvorostovsky, who overhears Natasha and Sonya in conversation. Hvorostovsky demonstrates his secure control and appealing expression creating a convincing portrayal of the bereft Prince’s spiritual renewal and thirst for life. Taking twenty-six minutes here the final track on the album scene 6 and epilogue from Rubinstein’s The Demon is one of the most moving and memorable opera scenes I have heard for some time.… Hvorostovsky’s guests sing their parts splendidly especially soprano Asmik Grigorian and the Helikon Opera Chorus is in fine voice too. Constantine Orbelian phrases and paces well, generating significant drama from the responsive State Academic Symphony Orchestra of Russia ‘Evgeny Svetlanov’.”
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“These are three captivating and well presented albums on Delos with Jamie Barton, Lawrence Brownlee and Dmitri Hvorostovsky all demonstrating their remarkable voices to wonderful effect.” —Michael Cookson, MusicWeb International
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