Notes and Editorial Reviews
"The basic sound – a mix of grit and velvet – is immensely appealing." -
The Guardian, UK
"Your head might explode in the final track of Slavic Heroes. Bombarded by treacly tones and the lush eroticism of Szymanowski's Król Roger, this is heady stuff indeed. But it's just one of many such treats on Mariusz Kwiecie?'s new recording...The sheer lyrical arrogance of his dismissal of Tatyana breaks your heart. And, as if playing the opera for real, his Act 3 aria is palpably neurotic... I cannot wait to hear Kwiecie? performing these roles live." -
Entartete Musik, January 2012
"Kwiecieñ fields wide variety of dynamic and tone-colour to convey dramatic mood...he
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is greatly aided by the exceptional playing of Borowicz's marvellous orchestra, and indeed by his conducting, which raises this disc high above run-of-the-mill recitals. Their hair-raising account of the finale of King Roger is alone worth the price....This is a lovely disc, thanks to both singer and conductor." -
Opera, February 2012
“[His signature roles] suggest a certain dashing Italianate quality that's refelcted in his voice: lighter, less rich and chocolatey than some Slavic rivals, for example Dmitri Hvorostovsky. But he also sounds more luminous and less thickly textured, with excellent diction and bel canto agility...Backed by an obviously committed Polish conductor, Kwiecien offers a seriously appealing recital, recorded in first-rate sound.” -
BBC Music Magazine, February 2012 ****
Polish baritone Mariusz Kwiecie? has won over audiences in many of the world's greatest opera houses with his powerful interpretations. For his first solo recital he employs his mellifluous and burnished voice to great effect in Polish, Russian and Czech arias which are very close to his heart. A collection of operatic gems, familiar and rare.
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Works on This Recording
1.
Mazeppa: O, Marija, Marija by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Performer:
Mariusz Kwiecien (Baritone)
Conductor:
Michael Borowitz
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1881-1883; Russia
2.
Iolanta, Op. 69: Duke Robert's Aria by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Performer:
Mariusz Kwiecien (Baritone)
Conductor:
Michael Borowitz
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1891; Russia
6.
The devil's wall, T 129: Vok's Aria by Bedrich Smetana
Performer:
Mariusz Kwiecien (Baritone)
Conductor:
Michael Borowitz
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1879-1882
7.
Halka: The wind wails in the hills by Stanislaw Moniuszko
Performer:
Mariusz Kwiecien (Baritone)
Conductor:
Michael Borowitz
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1848/1857; Poland
8.
The cunning peasant, Op. 37: Prince's Aria by Antonín Dvorák
Performer:
Mariusz Kwiecien (Baritone)
Conductor:
Michael Borowitz
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1877; Bohemia
9.
Sadko: no 5, Song of the Venetian Guest by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Performer:
Mariusz Kwiecien (Baritone)
Conductor:
Michael Borowitz
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1894-1896; Russia
10.
Verbum nobile: Come, let invigorating sun by Stanislaw Moniuszko
Performer:
Mariusz Kwiecien (Baritone)
Conductor:
Michael Borowitz
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1860; Warsaw, Poland
11.
Prince Igor: No sleep, no rest "Igor's Aria" by Alexander Borodin
Performer:
Mariusz Kwiecien (Baritone)
Conductor:
Michael Borowitz
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1869-1887; Russia
12.
King Roger, Op. 46: Hymn to Apollo by Karol Szymanowski
Performer:
Mariusz Kwiecien (Baritone)
Conductor:
Michael Borowitz
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1918-1924; Poland
Featured Sound Samples
Eugene Onegin (Tchaikovsky): Act I, Scene 2: "You wrote to me..." ("Onegin's Aria")
King Roger (Szymanowski): Act III: Hymn to Apollo
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