An exciting soprano conjures up the greats - and aspires to their company

Funny things, these introductory recital albums. Designed to show off a new voice, they tend to swing from one corner of the repertoire to another and the results can be uneven. Kate Royal’s calling-card does not altogether escape this trap, but I think it will come to be regarded as important despite the odd slight moment of vocal stress. One only needs to sample the swooning opening to Debussy’s Air de Lia , the hushed solemnity with which she enters Orff’s In trutina or the melting femininity she finds in Strauss’s Ich wollt ein Sträusslein binden to realise at once that this is a major voice. And this is a recording every opera and vocal music fan will want on their shelves or their iPod. Above all, Royal’s soprano has an addictive quality – once heard you want to hear more. The arrival of this voice is already to be applauded, cheered and delighted in. Royal’s future potential is a matter for great excitement and, of course, crossed fingers. This could be one of those albums that we will look back upon as the first appearance of a true star. There is much for her to do, but Kate Royal has it within her grasp.

-- Gramophone [10/2007]