Evening of Russian Songs, From Ardent
to Sentimental
December 22, 2001
By PAUL GRIFFITHS
Maybe it was not planned this way, but Sunday night's recital at
Carnegie Hall by the bass-baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky, with
Mikhail Arkadiev at the piano, provided a kind of sunset
postscript to the festival of Russian music that had been brought
to the hall in four preceding concerts by the Kirov Orchestra.
Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff were on the program (as they had
been for the orchestra): nine songs by each. The sound was
superb, the mood glowing.
Tchaikovsky's songs - superior domestic music - may have been a
bit too frail for these circumstances, but it was good to hear
Mr. Hvorostovsky sounding so ardent in "Why?" so
melodious in "I Bless You, Forests." He also did well
in his manner and stance to give the songs some dignity even
while showing a sense of humor. Touching a hand to his silver
locks, smiling easily, he made his good looks a joke he shared
with his appreciative audience.
After intermission, the Rachmaninoff group was more serious and
more varied. It also gave Mr. Arkadiev a chance to sing. He is
indeed an exceptionally tender and sensitive pianist, with a fine
feeling for songful phrasing and resonant tone. Meanwhile, Mr.
Hvorostovsky just seemed to get better and better, increasing his
range of dynamics and color, driving deeper into the music.
His last encore, though, was something else. Brought back again
and again, he had already sung a piece from Rachmaninoff's opera
"Aleko" and two outrageously sentimental songs. Then he
returned without Mr. Arkadiev to
sing, as he said, his favorite Russian folk song. The house went
silent, and he threw himself back into the primeval
present. Grace notes were beautifully articulated and integrated
into the ululation. Extraordinary pianissimos
happened. Head tones were fully integrated into the chest voice.
What was being said? Who knows? This was a voice communicating
beyond language.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/22/arts/music/22DMIT.html?ex=1010417727&ei=1&en=5d386bc05d321fb3
(Ñ) The New York Times, 2001
December 2001 Performance Diary