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PETER TCHAIKOVSKY
(1840-1893)
Complete Songs, Volume Two. Children's Songs, Op. 54. Six Romances, Op. 73.
Lyuba Kazarnovskaya (soprano); Ljuba Orfenova (piano).
Naxos 8.554358 [DDD] [64'09].

Volume One of this series provided a bitty selection of songs - three unpublished, followed by extracts from Opp. 6, 25, 27, 28, 47 and 60 (Naxos 8.554357). Perhaps more sensibly, Volume Two presents two complete sets. As before, transliterated texts and translations are usefully included. Tchaikovsky's songs deserve more credit than they sometimes get, and this series is most definitely a step in the right direction. The sixteen Children's Songs, Op. 84 date from 1881 and are mainly to texts by Alexey Pleshcheyev. None of this set attempts to plumb the despairing depths, and in general Kazarnovskaya's responses are aptly light, Orfenova's accompaniments appropriately tripping and engaging. Occasionally the singer over-eggs her pudding - both the third song, 'Spring', and the fifth, 'A Legend', are far too hevy and vibrato-laden, for instance, but if you wish to sample the highlights, try the well-characterised 'The Cuckoo' (track 8) or the enganing intimacy of No. 14, 'Autumn'.

The Romances, Op. 73, on the other hand, bring out the best from Kazarnovskaya. Tchaikovsky wrote this set in 1893, over a decade later than the Children's Songs. From the very first phrase in 'We sat together', there is a pathetic intimacy that remains in the mind. This is followed by the compulsively intense desolation of the second song, 'Night', and Kazarnovskaya effectively shades the fourth, 'One Gloomy Day' (not 'On Gloomy Day', as the back CD cover proclaims!). The pianist, Lyuba Orfenova, seems similarly inspired and plays excellently, evoking real depth of tone when required. The fifth and final song, 'Once more, as before, I am alone', is truly touching. Well worth acquiring for the Op. 73 set, then, even if this only makes up the final sixteen minutes of the disc. Throughout I would have welcomed more body to the recorded sound.

Reviewer

Colin Clarke

Performance

Recording


Reviewer

Colin Clarke

Performance

Recording


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