Verdi Arias

A True Verdian!

Russian baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky made his name known to the west through 1989 Cardiff Singer of the World Competition, where he won the first prize by singing Verdi and Tchaikovsky arias. A baritone with enviably warm tone, lyricism, dramatic temperament, as well as great vocal range, musicianship, and acting, Hvorostovsky is destined to sing Verdi. His actual full undertaking of Verdi roles, however, started many years later, when his voice was matured and ready for the dramatism and intensity of the Verdi baritone roles.

In this Verdi Aria album, he takes on the dramatic aspect of Verdi baritone roles and delivers their arias with lyricism and vitality. He would make a compelling Iago, and "Vanne...Credo in un Dio crudel" proves that. The power in his rendition as well as the nuances get to the evil soul of this diabolic character, and leaves one a spinal chill with his evil laugh. As Rigoletto he gives a riveting dramatic performance. In "Pari siamo" his singing is fierce; while in "Cortigiani", for one moment he bursts with explosive rage and the next with pathos and pain. Hvorostovsky always sings through voice as well as feelings. As his voice gets more richly colored in tone and feelings deeper, his singing evokes more intense emotions. Here we hear an "Eri tu" that's so deep emotionally involved, and his legatos are forever beautiful. One year after the album released, Hvorostovsky made his debut as Count di Luna in "Il trovatore" at Covent Garden. "Il balen del suo sorriso" is a master delivery of passion and tenderness, and "Perme ora fetale", which in the opera immediately follows the aria, is a masculine ensemble sung with Spiritual Revival Choir of Russia.

Bravo, Dmitri Hvorostovsky!
June 27, 2005

Dmitri's most dramatic offering

Dmitri Hvorostovsky's rich, glorious voice is combined with his sense of drama in this recording and captures all the passion and fervor of these magnificent arias.
Verdi made his baritone characters the most complex and interesting of his operas...sometimes evil, sometimes desperate, they would often lose the object of their affections to the tenor, whether it was a love interest like the Conte di Luna (Il Trovatore) or daughter like Rigoletto.

Among my favorite arias is "Alzati ! ...Eri tu", from Un Ballo in Maschera, and Hvorostovsky's interpretation is sublime; other choice selections are "Cortigiani, vil razza dannata" (Rigoletto), and the villainous Iago's "Vanne...credo in un Dio crudel" (Otello). Some of these arias are better known than others, but all are terrific.
Mario Bernardi provides energetic backing with the Philharmonia of Russia, tenor Vsevold Grivnov sings a few lines in "Sogno di Francesco" (I Masnadieri) and bass Alexander Vinogradov is Ferrando in "Tutto e deserto..." (Il Trovatore).
Often thought of as primarily a singer of Russian music, Siberian-born Hvorostovsky is also completely at home with the Italian repertoire, as this fabulous CD proves. Sound is good and total playing time is 68'58. May 23, 2004

Superb!

Being a die-hard Dmitri fan (and a Russian) I was waiting for more Verdi repertoir since "Tchaikovsky & Verdi Arias" -- his debut album. He has since then recorded a complete Don Carlo and La Traviata on Philips label, but the material on this CD was "in the works" for all these years. And rightfully so -- Hvorostovsky's dark baritone voice has gained more depth and his breath control improved even further. So has his characterization ability; his Iago is the devil incarnated, his Rigoletto is multifaceted, and what a great Stankar! In the aforementioned first recital, Dmitri did sing "Il balen del suo sorriso", but here he included "Per me ora fatale" -- a rousing cabaletta where the Count is not at all melancholic. By the way, check out a DVD of "Il Trovatore" from BBC.
The recording quality is quite decent, the only minor disturbance happened at track 9. Overall, I am more impressed with Delos vs. Philips.
Like a previous reviewer, I wish La Forza del Destino would have been represented here. But including rare arias from I Masnadieri made this disc even more a treasure.
In my opinion, any opera fan needs to get this CD. For some it would be a great intro to the art of Hvorostovsky. October 22, 2002

A Beautiful Voice, A Beautiful CD!

Let me say up front that I am not an authority on opera. I'm basically just a "greatest hits" type. But you don't have to be an opera fan to love this CD of Hvorostovsky's singing Verdi. My favorites are the selections from NABUCCO and UN BALLO IN MASCHERA; you'll probably find your favorite Verdi here too. This CD would be perfect if Mr. Hvorostovsky sang "De Provenza il mar," but as his fans know, he has already recorded that aria on TCHIKOVSKY & VERDI ARIAS. Perhaps it speaks to his integrity as an artist that he doesn't record the same selections over and over with very little variety on his CD's as do so many singers.

A music critic in a national magazine recently opined that perhaps that lovers of classical music would be left with listening to baritones since the tenor greats were nearing retirement and that there weren't many young tenors to replace them. If Mr. Hvorostovsky is an example of the best of the baritones and what we may be forced to listen to, let's retire the tenors. (Surely no one should have to listen to "The Three Tenors" ever again. Knowing when to stop singing is such an admirable quality.)

Oh, if this CD gets my vote for the most beautiful recording this year, the design of this CD gets my vote for the worst art. The design and photo on the cover are somewhere beyond silly. No artist of this stature deserves such a photograph. August 23, 2002

Exiting Verdi Cavaliere

Finally long awaited Hvorostovsky's Verdi is out. For everyone's expectation, his artistic quality soared to the highest level. My addiction to Hvorostovsky has gotten only worse. This CD is climbing up the chart fast, competing with "The very best of Maris Callas". Obviously opera audiences anticipated his Verdi roles as much as Hvorostovsky himself.

When he made sensational international debut at the end of 89', he was bonafide Primo Uomo right from the start. He was every opera house's dream but Verdi roles were too heavy for his voice then. He recorded some Verdi arias earlier in his career like Macbeth, Luisa Miller, Don Carlo, Trovatore and Traviata. I was totally mesmerized by him then, and now over 10 years later, his voice has matured and ready for various Verdi's.

With his romantic looks and sounds, it's hard to picture him as Rigoletto or other father figures and villains, but it doesn't matter. I'm overwhelmed by his characterizations, expressive tones and beautiful phrases in Rigoletto, Ballo, Ernani,Trovatore and the rest. It's so exiting to have top notch Verdi Cavaliere again.

Strangely he didn't include Forza's "Urna fatale" in this CD.
I would love to hear his Forza someday. I've attended some of his Verdi opera performances, he was absolutely wonderful in all of them. I loved his Rigoletto in Houston. No one should miss this gifted, brilliant baritone in his prime. I deeply thank Dmitri for giving us tremendous pleasure and his fine work. March 23, 2002

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