Mussorgsky* / Rimsky-Korsakov* / Tchaikovsky* - Galina Vishnevskaya, Mstislav Rostropovich, London Philharmonic Orchestra – Songs And Opera Arias

Hopak 3:07 Lullaby 4:41 Darling Savishna 1:12 Songs And Dances Of Death Lullaby 5:35 Serenade 4:36 Trepak 4:55 The Field-Marshall 5:42 The Rose And The Nightingale, Op.2 No.2 2:56 The Heavy Clouds Disperse, Op.42 No.3 3:37 More Sonorous Than The Lark's Singing, Op.43 No.1 1:13 Sadko: Lullaby Of The Sea Princess (Act 2) 6:58 The Tsar's Bride Marfa's Scene And Aria (Act 2) 5:42 Lyubasha's Aria (Act 2) 4:52 The Snow Maiden: Lel's Song 1:12 Was I Not A Little Blade Of Grass? Op.47 No.7 6:38 Cradle Song, Op.16 No.1 4:38 Why? Op.6 No.5 4:09 Amid The Din Of The Ball Op.38 No.3 1:51 Again, As Before, Alone Op.73 No.6 2:49

This EMI re-release seems to be flying under the radar but you shouldn’t overlook it. It is a powerful, musical disc by one of the world’s premier divas at the height of her powers. I think any fan of classical vocal music will want to hear it. To make it even more interesting, Vishnevskaya performs several overlooked arias and songs that are attractive and first-rate as compositions.

The marquee performance is Vishnevskaya’s “Songs and Dances of Death”, where the sense of despair and doom is heightened to a fever pitch., I could well understand why someone would think Vishnevskaya’s “Songs and Dances” is one of the great vocal performances ever. It’s at that level of artistry and commitment.

The disc features recordings from three different recording sessions in the 1970s when Vishnevsakya was about 50 years old. One was done with Vishnevskaya’s famous husband, Mstlav Rostropovich conducting the London Philharmonic, and two others where the talented Rostropovich – a “triple threat” cello virtuous, conductor and pianist – accompanies his wife on the keyboard.

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