Track Listing

1. "Atchevo eta prezhde ne znala"
2. Zdes' khorosho, Op.21, No.7 - Arranged by Michael Rot
3. Ne poy, krasavitsa, pri mne, Op.4, No.4 - Orchestrated by Nikolai (?) Saveliev
4. "Ty, tsarevich, moy spasitel"
5. "Au, au - Akh, bednaya Snegurochka, dikarka - S podruzhkami po yagodu khodit��
6. "Velikiy car�! Sprosi menya sto raz"
7. Scene & Aria :Ivan Sergeich, khochesh'"
8. Pimpinella, Op.38 No.6 - Arranged by Elena Firsova
9. V pole, pole, cistoye glyazu
10. "Chuda, kak harasha ana"
11. "O ne rydai, mai Paolo"
12. Letter scene. "Puskai pogibnu ya, no prezde"

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #12909 in Music
• Released on: 2006-10-30
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .25 pounds
• Running time: 63 minutes

Customer Reviews

From Russia with Lovely Anna

The `Russian Album', released in 2006, is Anna Netrebko's debut solo recording with long friend, teacher and conductor of the Orchestra of the Mariinsky theatre, Valery Gergiev. It's also her solo debut album with the Deutsche Grammophon label.

Russian composers of opera have not enjoyed such popularity, in recent years at least, as those by the great Italians such as Verdi, Puccini, Donizetti and Rossini. Russian opera emerged during the early 1800's, at a time when the European composers completely dominated the field, and used elements of Russian folklore, traditions and native melodies to produce a distinctive sound.

So it's only natural that a Russian opera singer should feel compelled to celebrate and show off some of those lesser heard arias from her homeland, and Anna Netrebko should feel justifiably pleased with the results. She states (from the sleeve notes):

"Ten years ago [1996] Russian opera was much less known outside Russia, but that is changed now - and it's because Valery Gergiev and the Mariinsky are working very hard and doing many wonderful new productions". I believe she should also attribute herself as a reason for that change.

Naturally, this album will not have the familiarity of Italian and German opera arias, but for me that adds interest. The contributions are by Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov, Rimsky-Korsakov, Glinka and Prokofiev, and Anna Netrebko has adapted her style for the Russian theme with a deeper mezzo soprano sound for many of the songs. I like that change for I think it suits much of this music.

This is a good album of Russian opera which should please those looking for some less mainstream opera. If not, there's always Anna Netrebko's 'Opera' album of familiar favourites to enjoy.

To a T
I can only echo what other reviewers on the US website have said about this CD. Netrebko has scored a great success and the repertoire suits her to a T. This disc is a sure winner for many an award and Netrebko will earn more loyal fans indeed!

melting snowmaiden
I have to agree with those who love this album. I've not always enjoyed this singer in the Italian and French repertoire, and her bel canto is not always "bel".

But here, the engagement with the words, and the slavic richness suits these roles to perfection. How thrilling to hear these quite rare Rimsky-Korsakov arias sung so gloriously, shaded so touchingly. The mad scene from The Tsar's Bride is magnificent. True, Tchaikovsky's Tatyana suits her less well at her young age. I think she'll grow into it. she's already growing out of the snowmaiden - she's no glittering lightweight, but a full-bodies warm lyric soprano now. I hope she returns to some of her native repertoire one day, because she serves it so well. I think this is one of the finest recital discs I've heard for a long while.