Arion: Voyage of a Slavic Soul Natalya Romaniw & Lada Valešová

• Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844 - 1908):
• 14 Romances, Op. 27: No. 1, Softly the Spirit Flew up to Heaven02:50
• 22 Songs, Op. 56: No. 1, The Nymph03:27
• 32 Songs, Op. 56: No. 2, Summer Night's Dream05:25
• Antonín Dvořák (1841 - 1904): Love Songs Op. 83, B. 160:
• 4Love Songs Op. 83, B. 160: No. 1, Oh, That Longed-For Happiness02:02
• 5Love Songs Op. 83, B. 160: No. 2, So Many a Heart Is as Though Dead02:20
• 6Love Songs Op. 83, B. 160: No. 3, Around the House Now I Stagger01:39
• 7Love Songs Op. 83, B. 160: No. 4, I Know, with Sweet Hope02:34
• 8Love Songs Op. 83, B. 160: No. 5, Over the Landscape a Light Slumber Reigns02:01
• 9Love Songs Op. 83, B. 160: No. 6, In the Woods by the Stream02:07
• 10Love Songs Op. 83, B. 160: No. 7, In That Sweet Power of Your Eyes02:00
• 11Love Songs Op. 83, B. 160: No. 8, Oh Dear, Matchless Soul01:46
• Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840 - 1893):
• 1212 Romances, Op. 60, TH 106: No. 12, The Gentle Stars Shone for Us03:47
• 137 Romances, Op. 47, TH 103: No. 6, Does the Day Reign?03:22
• 146 Romances, Op. 6, TH 93: No. 5, Why?03:24
• Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873 - 1943):
• 156 Songs, Op. 4 (Excerpts): No. 4, Sing Not, O Lovely One04:44
• 166 Songs, Op. 4 (Excerpts): No. 5, The Harvest of Sorrow04:19
• 1712 Songs, Op. 21: No. 7, How Fair This Spot02:06
• 1812 Romances, Op. 14: No. 11, Spring Waters02:11
• 1914 Romances, Op. 34: No. 5, Arion02:40
• Leoš Janáček (1854 - 1928): Moravian Folk Poetry in Songs, JW V/2 (Excerpts):
• 20Moravian Folk Poetry in Songs, JW V/2 (Excerpts): No. 1, Love01:44
• 21Moravian Folk Poetry in Songs, JW V/2 (Excerpts): No. 16, Constancy01:17
• 22Moravian Folk Poetry in Songs, JW V/2 (Excerpts): No. 30, Rosemary03:13
• 23Moravian Folk Poetry in Songs, JW V/2 (Excerpts): No. 50, Musicians01:23
• Vítězslav Novák (1870 - 1949): A Tale of the Heart Op. 8:
• 24A Tale of the Heart Op. 8: No. 1, Melancholy Song01:56
• 25A Tale of the Heart Op. 8: No. 2, Is It a Dream?03:03
• 26A Tale of the Heart Op. 8: No. 3, Evening01:33
• 27A Tale of the Heart Op. 8: No. 4, Autumn Mood01:21
• 28A Tale of the Heart Op. 8: No. 5, When the Day Ends02:53
• Total Runtime01:13:07

Info zu Arion: Voyage of a Slavic Soul

Soprano Natalya Romaniw and pianist Lada Valešová take us on a journey through Slavic song on this sumptuous album. Welsh-born soprano Natalya Romaniw is of Ukrainian descent, roots she explores in this recital, which is dedicated to her Ukrainian grandfather. The generous programme encompasses a wealth of music by Russian and Czech composers. Dvorák's Love Songs, Op.83, are at the heart of the album, and his idiomatic Czech style influenced Janácek, from whom we hear a selection of Moravian folk songs. Novák in turn was fascinated by Moravian folk music and was influenced by Janácek; Novák's gift for melody shines in Romaniw's interpretations of his songs. From Russia, meanwhile, we hear magical, almost operatic music from Rimsky-Korsakov, powerful passion from Tchaikovsky, and some of Rachmaninov's most exquisite songs. Natalya Romaniw is often noted for the Slavic character of her voice, a quality heard to full effect on this recording.

Natalya Romaniw, soprano
Lada Valešová, piano

Natalya Romaniw
is one of Europe’s most promising young stars. Recent winner of the 2016 Critic’s Choice Award for Music, for her ‘big toned, generous, gut-wrenching performances’ (Sunday Times) and her ‘glowing voice capable of astonishing power’ (FT), she is often hailed by the British press as ‘the outstanding soprano of her generation’ (Telegraph). Upcoming engagements include major role debuts as Cio Cio San in the acclaimed Minghella Madame Butterfly for English National Opera under the baton of Martyn Brabbins, title role in Tosca with Scottish Opera, and her return to Garsington Opera as Rusalka. She will make her BBC Proms debut in 2019 with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and will make her first solo recital recording in collaboration with pianist Lada Valesova, featuring repertoire by Dvořák, Janáček, Novák and Rachmaninov.

Highlights of her 18/19 season include her house debut with English National Opera as Mimi in Puccini’s La Bohéme. She also recieved critial aclaim in her returns to Garsington Opera as Mařenka, in Smetana’s The Bartered Bride, and to Opera Holland Park as the title role in Tchaikovsky’s Iolanta. On the concert stage, she gave the world premiere of Mark Anthony Turnage’s Testament with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.

Natalya received unanimous critical acclaim in 2016 for her portrayal of Tatyana in Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin at Garsington Opera. She has since performed the role with the Welsh National Opera, and in Oliver Mears’s new production for Scottish Opera. Other notable engagements include her European debut as Suzel in L’amico Fritz for Den Jyske Opera, Lisa in Pique Dame with Opera Holland Park and National Theatre Brno, title role in Janacek’s Jenůfa with Grange Park Opera, and Beethoven Symphony No. 9 with the Hallé orchestra under the baton of Sir Mark Elder.

She is a graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where she was awarded the prestigious Gold Medal in her final year. Since graduating Natalya has gone on to win many competitions including the Loveday Song Prize and the renowned Kathleen Ferrier Awards in 2012; she was a prize winner in the Houston Grand Opera Eleanor McCollum Competition; the 2017 operatic nominee in The Times breakthrough category of the Southbank Sky Arts Awards, and a finalist for the Song Prize in Cardiff Singer of the World 2009. After graduating, Natalya joined the Houston Grand Opera Studio, where she debuted roles such as Mimi in Puccini’s La Bohème, Rosalinde in Die Fledermaus, Micaela in Bizet’s Carmen and Krystina in Weinburg’s The Passenger. After finishing her time with Houston Grand Opera, she returned as a guest for her role debut as Ortlinde in Wagner’s Die Walküre.

Booklet für Arion: Voyage of a Slavic Soul