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Cover: The Bells of Dawn – Russian Sacred and Folk Songs

The Bells of Dawn

Russian Sacred and Folk Songs

Dmitri Hvorostovsky, baritone
The Grand Choir "Masters of Choral Singing"
Lev Kontorovich, conductor

ODE 1238-2 · CD · September 2014

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Track listing

16 tracks · 63:14

Listen to samples on selected tracks.

Dobri Khristov

  1. 1 Praise the Name of the Lord (Khvalite imya Gospodne) 3:35

Pavel Chesnokov

  1. 2 Blessed Is the Man (Blazhen muzh) 3:26
  2. 3 Pre-eternal Counsel (Sovet prevechnïy) 2:45
  3. 4 Hear My Prayer (Da ispravitsya molitva moya) 7:14
  4. 5 From My Youth (Ot yunosti moyeya) 2:43

Mikhail Burmagin

  1. 6 The Wise Thief (Razboynika blagorazumnago) 2:24

Aleksandr Arkhangelsky

  1. 7 Symbol of Faith (Creed; Simvol verï ) 5:34

Aleksandr Varlamov

  1. 8 A Snowstorm Sweeps the Street (Vdol? po ulitse metelitsa metyot) 2:35

Russian folk song

  1. 9 They Do Not Let Masha? (Ne velyat Mashe za rechen?ku khodit?) 3:36
  2. 10 There Is Not One Path Through the Field (Ne odna vo pole dorozhka) 3:24
  3. 11 The Lonely Coach Bell (Odnozvuchno gremit kolokol?chik) 4:30
  4. 12 Farewell, My Joy (Proshchay, radost?) 3:16
  5. 13 The Fog Has Fallen Onto the Field (Uzh kak pal tuman) 3:42

Elizaveta Shashina

  1. 14 I Walk My Path Alone (Vïkhozhu odin ya na dorogu) 4:54

Russian folk song

  1. 15 Oh, Night (Akh tï, nochen?ka) 4:27

Georgy Sviridov

  1. 16 The Bells of Dawn (Zoryu b?yut) 5:09

About this recording

Ondine's third release with the star baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky is devoted
to sacred works by Russian composers and to Russian folk songs. Hvorostovsky is accompanied by the prestigious Russian Grand Choir ‘Masters of Choral Singing', conducted by Lev Kontorovich, a choir which is keeping up the best traditions of the Russian choral singing.

Dmitri Hvorostovsky is recognized as one of the leading and most charismatic baritones of our time, performing internationally at such opera houses as the New York Met, and partnering regularly with singers Renée Fleming and Jonas Kaufmann. Hvorostovsky's warm timbre and interpretations bring particular warmth and spirituality to these Russian sacred songs. He is equally at home in giving a lively and heartfelt characterization to the Russian folk song.

The title song of the album Georgy Sviridov's (1915-1998) Bells of Dawn, is an atmospheric song creating an almost otherworldly and remote soundscape.

Features

Sleeve notes in English, lyrics in English transliteration and translation.

Press

Hvorostovsky strikes a note of artless sincerity, matching the choir in mellifluousness, control of melodic lines and in unaffected expressiveness (...). The overwhelming impression is that the music is close to Hvorostovsky's heart, its dramatic impact directed at a higher power.

Geoffrey Norris, Gramophone, November 2014, 'Editor's Choice'

Hvorostovsky strikes gold (...). This richly beautiful music, little known in the West, suits Hvorostovsky's bass-baritone to a T.

Performance: *, Recording:

Michael Scott Rohan, BBC Music Magazine, November 2014, 'BBC Music Choral & Song Choice'

The artists

Dmitri Hvorostovsky

Dmitri Hvorostovsky was born and studied in Krasnoyarsk, Siberia. From the start, audiences were bowled over by his cultivated voice, innate sense of musical line, and natural legato. In 1989, he won the prestigious BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Competition. Since his Western operatic debut at the Nice Opera in Tchaikovsky's Pique Dame, he has been invited for regular engagements at the major opera houses and festivals internationally. Dmitri also performed as a celebrated recitalist in every corner of the globe, and appeared in concert with the world's top orchestras and conductors, including James Levine, Bernard Haitink, Claudio Abbado, Lorin Maazel, Zubin Mehta, Yuri Temirkanov, and Valery Gergiev.

Full biography

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Romances

Dmitri Hvorostovsky, baritone · Ivari Ilja, piano

ODE 1207-2 · CD · Jan 2012

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