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See Terms & Conditions for p&p rates. | |  | Elisabeth Söderström: The Russian Songbook
Grechaninov: | The Lane – Five Children’s Songs, Op. 89 | Mussorgsky: | The Nursery | Prokofiev: | The Ugly Duckling, Op. 18 | Tchaikovsky: | The Cuckoo, Op. 54 No. 8 Evening, Op. 27, No. 4 The Nightingale Op. 60 No. 4 Last Night Op. 60 No. 1 None but the lonely heart, Op. 6 No. 6 Lullaby, Op. 16 No. 1 Otchevo? (Why?), Op. 6 No. 5 Strashnaya minuta (The Fearful Moment), Op. 28 No. 6 Den' li tsarit? (Does the day reign?), Op. 47 No. 6 Spring, Op 54 No. 9 Simple Words, Op. 60, No. 5 Mezza notte Sérénade, Op. 65 No. 1 Déception, Op. 65 No. 2 Qu'importe que l'hiver, Op. 65 No. 4 Les Larmes, Op. 65 No. 5 Zakatilos solntse (The sun has set), Op. 73 No. 4 Kak nad goratcheïou zoloï, Op. 25 No. 2 Moy geni, moy angel, moy drug (My genius, my angel, my friend) Pesn' Zemfiri (Zemfira's song) Do not believe, my friend Op. 6 No. 1 Zabït tak skoro (So soon forgotten) Oh! Chante Encore!, Op.16 No.4 Spirit my heart away Why did I dream of you?, Op. 28 No. 3 To bilo ranneyu vesnoy (It happened in the early spring), Op. 38 No. 2 Sred' shumnogo bala (Amid the din of the ball), Op. 38 No. 3 If only I had known, Op.47, No.1 Was I not a blade of grass?, Op. 47 No. 7 My little garden, Op. 54 No. 4 Do not ask, Op. 57 No. 3 This, our first reunion, Op. 63 No. 4 O ditya, pod okoshkom tvoim (Serenade), Op. 63 No. 6 Rondel, Op. 65 No. 6 We sat with you, Op. 73 No. 1 Behind the window, Op 60 No. 10 |
Elisabeth Söderström was a born storyteller. She told stories not just in music, but also peppered her recitals on stage with tales and anecdotes. It made her a perfect interpreter for the collection of children’s songs by Mussorgsky, Prokofiev and Gretchaninov she recorded with Vladimir Ashkenazy in 1977–78 which appear on CD2 of this set, the first (LP) issue greeted with enthusiasm by Gramophone reviewer W.S.M. with the words ‘the best record of song to appear in 1979’. It later went on to win the 1979 Gramophone’s Solo Vocal Award. But there was more: a selection of Tchaikovsky songs over two LPs; a substantial survey of the Rachmaninov songs (‘one of the gramophone’s crown jewels’ wrote John Steane in Gramophone) as well as the complete Sibelius songs. Born in Stockholm on 7 May 1927 to a Russian mother and Swedish father, Söderström she was a talented recitalist, as much in demand in the concert hall as she was in the opera theatre. From 1991–96 she also directed the Drottingholm Festival Opera with much success. The two LPs of Tchaikovsky songs were issued in part by Decca on CD and this is their first complete release in this format. Overshadowed by his orchestral works, they are nonetheless absolute gems, with their piano parts of almost orchestral scope. Ashkenazy’s is, too, the disembodied voice that speaks a few of Pushkin’s lines in the early setting of Zemfira's song. ‘Söderström came to be known internationally in the late 1950s,’ wrote John Steane, ‘and over the next three decades, on until her retirement from singing in the early 1990s she never “blotted her copybook”. She neither sought nor won cheap success.’ Söderström passed away in Stockholm on 20 November 2009, aged 82, from complications from a stroke. This release marks the launch of an Eloquence series of notable recitals of songs and opera arias by some of the great voices of Decca and Deutsche Grammophon. “The Maikov Lullaby is enchantingly done, especially with the gentle wash of piano tone in the background from Ashkenazy … a delightful, excellently recorded recital of some songs which we know too little … Tchaikovsky wrote some exquisite songs; and it is splendid to have them being explored so skilfully, intelligently and sensitively” Gramophone Magazine (Tchaikovsky Songs) “brilliant … endearing … musicianly” Gramophone Magazine (Songs for Children) | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | Tchaikovsky - Songs
Tchaikovsky: | Last Night Op. 60 No. 1 Zabït tak skoro (So soon forgotten) The Nightingale Op. 60 No. 4 To bilo ranneyu vesnoy (It happened in the early spring), Op. 38 No. 2 Sred' shumnogo bala (Amid the din of the ball), Op. 38 No. 3 Strashnaya minuta (The Fearful Moment), Op. 28 No. 6 Do not believe, my friend Op. 6 No. 1 The Cuckoo, Op. 54 No. 8 Lullaby, Op. 16 No. 1 Behind the window, Op 60 No. 10 O ditya, pod okoshkom tvoim (Serenade), Op. 63 No. 6 The Canary, Op. 25 No. 4 Ni slova, o drug moy (Not a word, O my friend), Op. 6 No. 2 Lullaby in a storm, Op. 54 No. 10 Spring, Op 54 No. 9 Why did I dream of you?, Op. 28 No. 3 None but the lonely heart, Op. 6 No. 6 Den' li tsarit? (Does the day reign?), Op. 47 No. 6 If only I had known, Op.47, No.1 Otchevo? (Why?), Op. 6 No. 5 |
‘I find this British singer’s identification with Tchaikovsky almost uncanny. Having heard countless performances … in my native Russia, I was totally overcome by Rodgers’ unaffectedness and sincerity … her intonation is faultless, her Russian excellent. A rare treat indeed’ (Vladimir Ashkenazy) “A lovely record” Sunday Times | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | Tchaikovsky - Complete Songs Volume 4
Tchaikovsky: | They said: You fool, do not go, Op. 25, No. 6 No time to take a walk Last Night Op. 60 No. 1 I don’t tell you anything, Op. 60, No. 2 Excuse me, Op. 60, No. 8 Behind the window, Op 60 No. 10 Noch' (Night), Op. 60 No. 9 Simple Words, Op. 60, No. 5 For one simple word The Canary, Op. 25 No. 4 The eyes of spring are blue Qu'importe op.16 No.5 Oh, if only you knew, Op. 60, No. 3 Oh! Chante Encore!, Op.16 No.4 Primiren'ye (Reconciliation), Op. 25 No. 1 Blagoslavlyayu vas, lesa (I Bless you, Forests), Op. 47 No. 5 Evening, Op. 27, No. 4 To bilo ranneyu vesnoy (It happened in the early spring), Op. 38 No. 2 Sred' shumnogo bala (Amid the din of the ball), Op. 38 No. 3 The exploit, Op. 60, No. 11 Migon’s Song, Op. 25, No. 3 |
Ljuba Kazarnovskaya (soprano) & Ljuba Orfenova (piano) Recorded at the Small Hall of Moscow Conservatory December 2005 | | | (also available to download from $5.75) | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. (Available now to download.) |
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