Amata Dalle Tenebre
Deutsche Grammophon, 2021
8/10
The Russian artist Anna Netrebko returns with her first solo album in 5 years, and it includes several debut recordings amid her rich, operatic delivery.
R. Strauss’ “Ariadne auf Naxos, Op. 60, TrV 228” opens the listen with Netrebko’s soaring, operatic pipes surrounded by elegant strings, and the triumphant spirit of the bright brass and booming percussion of Verdi’s “Aida Ritorna Vincitor! Numi piéta” follows with incredible vocal acrobatics.
In the middle, Cilea’s “Adriana Lecouvreur - Poveri fiori” rumbles with both tension and grace, as Netrebko’s incredible singing highlights the powerful landscape, while Tchaikovsky’s “Pique Dame, Op. 68, TH. 10 - Uzh polnoch blitzitsy” offers a timeless and melodic spirit that’s quite meticulous.
Arriving near the end, Purcell’s “Dido and Aeneas, Z. 626 - When I am laid in earth "Dido's Lament" flows with a cautious and emotive appeal to the album highlight, and Wagner’s “Tristan und Isolde, WWV 90 - Mild und leise wie er lächelt "Isoldes Liebestod” finishes the listen with glowing strings complementing the gorgeous singing.
An album that’s colorful with texture and focused on her stunning soprano, Netrebko welcomes plenty of classical sounds to this highly focused and exciting body of work.
Travels well with: Daniil Trifonov- BACH: The Art Of Life; Buchbinder- Beethoven Piano Concertos