“Kozena's voice is silvery but lacks power in coloratura arias by Mozart and Myslivecek. Tender Gluck in a fascinating collection.” BBC Music Magazine, December 2012 ***
"The Prague Philharmonia led by Michel Swierczewski offers great assistance, and DG's engineers have given the whole project their most natural, warm sound. This CD is not a luxury, it's a necessity." --classicstoday.com
"The Prague Philharmonia led by Michel Swierczewski offers great assistance, and DG's engineers have given the whole project their most natural, warm sound. This CD is not a luxury, it's a necessity." --classicstoday.com
For a singer to begin a recital disc with Sesto's aria "Parto, parto" from Mozart's La clemenza di Tito is a bold statement: The aria requires an exquisite legato, great breath control, an absolutely even range covering two octaves, a real trill, great agility (coupled with great accuracy), and of course, the intelligence and focus to make Sesto's plight (love, resignation, vengeance) come to life. Magdalena Kozena has it all, and more. The voice is billed as a mezzo-soprano, but listeners looking for the heft and/or booming low notes of Marilyn Horne or Ewa Podles will be disappointed; indeed, the voice is lighter than Kasarova's, too. The closest I can come in comparison is to Anne Sofie von Otter, and that's no mean praise. In fact she has everything Otter has and more. Otter's musicianship and sense of style are exemplary, and her production is impeccably natural, but Kozena's mid-range has a sensual throb to it and she uses it for just such communication, whereas her Swedish counterpart tends to keep an emotional distance from what she sings. Both singers radiate class--there's not a vulgar or inappropriate moment here.
The top of Kozena's voice is free and clear as a bell, and from top to bottom the general quality is glowing and beautiful. In fact, I can't find anything wrong with this recital disc, and the program is fascinating. In addition to Mozart's Sesto, we get an ideally understated Cherubino, a warm, happy Idamante, and relative rarities from Lucio Silla and La finta giardiniera--all individually characterized. Gluck's "Le belle immagini" from Paride ed Elena is ravishingly beautiful and worthy of replaying the moment it's over. The other Gluck selections are equally well performed and worthy.
The CD's surprise is three arias by Josef Myslivecek (1737-81), who was admired by Mozart and famous all over Europe during his time. His arias are wonderfully florid and Kozena lashes into them with absolute certainty, executing the most difficult leaps and runs--upward and downward--with what seems to be great enjoyment and absolutely flawless rhythm. She touchingly expresses Sara's unhappiness in an aria from Myslivecek's Abramo ed Isacco and makes you long to hear more from this composer. The Prague Philharmonia led by Michel Swierczewski offers great assistance, and DG's engineers have given the whole project their most natural, warm sound. This CD is not a luxury, it's a necessity.--Robert Levine, ClassicsToday.com
The top of Kozena's voice is free and clear as a bell, and from top to bottom the general quality is glowing and beautiful. In fact, I can't find anything wrong with this recital disc, and the program is fascinating. In addition to Mozart's Sesto, we get an ideally understated Cherubino, a warm, happy Idamante, and relative rarities from Lucio Silla and La finta giardiniera--all individually characterized. Gluck's "Le belle immagini" from Paride ed Elena is ravishingly beautiful and worthy of replaying the moment it's over. The other Gluck selections are equally well performed and worthy.
The CD's surprise is three arias by Josef Myslivecek (1737-81), who was admired by Mozart and famous all over Europe during his time. His arias are wonderfully florid and Kozena lashes into them with absolute certainty, executing the most difficult leaps and runs--upward and downward--with what seems to be great enjoyment and absolutely flawless rhythm. She touchingly expresses Sara's unhappiness in an aria from Myslivecek's Abramo ed Isacco and makes you long to hear more from this composer. The Prague Philharmonia led by Michel Swierczewski offers great assistance, and DG's engineers have given the whole project their most natural, warm sound. This CD is not a luxury, it's a necessity.--Robert Levine, ClassicsToday.com
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