Notes and Editorial Reviews
Valentina Levko was another in the glorious line of Russian 20th-century contraltos who in some ways defined the sound of Russian opera for ears, both Eastern and Western, which were often discovering the rich tradition of Russian opera for the first time through recordings. Levko's name, however, unlike compatriots such as Elena Obratzova, never travelled as far or as well. Committed to her contract at the Bolshoi, she spurned several opportunities to make a name for herself in the West, with the lucrative recording contracts that would surely have followed. And yet hers was, as this important set reveals, a voice and dramatic presence firmly in the mould of greats of the past such as Zara Dolukhanova.
The set is carefully
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curated by themes, thereby revealing Levko's remarkable versatility. Arias from Bolshoi classics by Glinka, Rimsky-Korsakov and Tchaikovsky sit alongside Western operas by Ponchielli, Verdi and others; her ability to scale her voice to an intimate environment results in warmly idiomatic recordings of art song by Schubert, Brahms, Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov. The pleasure she took in the popular song of her own country also resulted in many recordings with the Ossipov Folk Orchestra, but her facility extended to folk songs of many languages, as the last CD reveals. Perhaps most remarkably of all, the first CD reveals a natural interpreter of Bach and Handel.
An extensive booklet note discusses her life and career; for anyone interested in Russian voices, this set will be essential.
Other information:
- A true discovery for many western ears: Valentina Levko, star contralto of the Bolshoi!
- This set features an unrivalled breadth of recordings: Levko in a wide variety of repertoire, ranging from moving Baroque arias by Bach and Handel, through the art songs of Schubert and Brahms, towards great opera scenes from Prince Igor, Ruslan & Ludmilla, Ivan Susanin, Queen of Spades, Rossini, Verdi, the songs of Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff, and a superb collection of Russian folk songs.
- "In a career of 50 years, I have rarely encountered such a voice, rounded, youthful, with an uncommon timbre and astonishing warmth" , thus said the legendary Sol Hurok, one of the most famous American Impresarios, who introduced Valentina Levko in the New York Met. Although she frequently toured the world, her real home was Russia, where she reigned for more than 40 years, and 25 years as the star contralto of the Bolshoi Theatre. Read less
Works on This Recording
1.
Saint Matthew Passion, BWV 244: no 47, Erbarme dich by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano),
Mark Lubotsky (Violin)
Conductor:
Adolf Bruk
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra
Period: Baroque
Written: ?1727; Leipzig, Germany
3.
Aria di Chiesa by Alessandro Stradella
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Moscow Philharmonic Chamber Ensemble
4.
Bella rosa by Andrea Falconieri
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Moscow Philharmonic Chamber Ensemble
5.
Vado ben spesso by Giovanni Bononcini
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Moscow Philharmonic Chamber Ensemble
9.
Serse, HWV 40: Ombra mai fu "Largo" by George Frideric Handel
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Juozas Domarkas
Period: Baroque
Written: 1738; London, England
12.
Mass in B minor, BWV 232: Qui sedes by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Alexander Lazarev
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra
Period: Baroque
Written: 1747-1749; Leipzig, Germany
13.
Mass in B minor, BWV 232: Agnus Dei by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Alexander Lazarev
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra
Period: Baroque
Written: 1747-1749; Leipzig, Germany
14.
Catone in Utica: Confusa, smarrita by Leonardo Vinci
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Adolf Bruk
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra
Period: Baroque
Written: 1727-1728; Rome, Italy
15.
Se tu m'ami by Alessandro Parisotti
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Moscow Philharmonic Chamber Ensemble
Period: Romantic
17.
Die Forelle, D 550 by Franz Schubert
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano),
Grigory Zinger (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1817; Vienna, Austria
18.
Der Erlkönig, D 328 by Franz Schubert
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano),
Grigory Zinger (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1815; Vienna, Austria
19.
Gretchen am Spinnrade, D 118/Op. 2 by Franz Schubert
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano),
Liya Mogilevskaya (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1814; Vienna, Austria
20.
Im Frühling, D 882/Op. 101 no 1 by Franz Schubert
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano),
Irina Sherbina (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1826; Vienna, Austria
24.
Elégie by Jules Massenet
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano),
Alexander Malter (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: circa 1869; France
25.
Vasco da Gama: Ouvre ton coeur by Georges Bizet
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano),
Alexander Malter (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1859-1860; France
26.
Si vous aimez! by Georges Bizet
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano),
Alexander Malter (Piano)
27.
E se un giorno tornasse by Ottorino Respighi
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano),
Vera Podolskaya (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: by 1919; Italy
28.
Echo by Ottorino Respighi
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano),
Vera Podolskaya (Piano)
29.
Work(s) by Isaac Albeniz
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano),
Liya Mogilevskaya (Piano)
Period: Romantic
33.
Canciones populares españolas (7) by Manuel de Falla
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano),
Grigory Zinger (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1914-1915; Spain
34.
Song of the Rose by Thibault de Champagne
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano),
Anna Litvinenko (Piano),
Igor Boguslavsky (Viola)
35.
Shepherd Boy by Thibault de Champagne
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano),
Anna Litvinenko (Piano),
Igor Boguslavsky (Viola)
36.
Semiramide: Ah! quel giorno ognor rammento by Gioachino Rossini
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Kurt Masur
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1823; Italy
37.
La Gioconda: Voce di donna by Amilcare Ponchielli
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Mark Ermler
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1876; Italy
38.
Il trovatore: Stride la vampa! by Giuseppe Verdi
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Mark Ermler
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra
39.
Quella fiamma by Benedetto Marcello
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Moscow Philharmonic Chamber Ensemble
40.
Ombra felice...Io ti lascio, K 255 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Adolf Bruk
Period: Classical
Written: 1776; Salzburg, Austria
42.
Plaisir d'amour by Giovanni Battist Martini
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Moscow Philharmonic Chamber Ensemble
Period: Classical
52.
Rogneda: Varangian Ballad by Alexander N. Serov
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Sergei Kolobkov
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ossipov State Russian Folk Orchestra
55.
Snow Maiden: Third Song of Lel by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Gennadi Rozhdestvensky
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Moscow State Philharmonic Orchestra
58.
Tsar's Bride: You will pay "Lyubasha's Aria" by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Boris Khaikin
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1898; Russia
67.
Songs (6), Op. 73: no 2, Night by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano),
Grigory Zinger (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1893; Russia
76.
A prayer by Sergei Rachmaninov
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano),
Grigory Zinger (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1916; Russia
77.
Songs (6), Op. 8: no 3, Brooding by Sergei Rachmaninov
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano),
Grigory Zinger (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1893; Russia
88.
Night by Sergei Rachmaninov
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano),
Grigory Zinger (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1900; Russia
93.
No, it's not you I love so fervently by A. Shishkin
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Sergei Kolobkov
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ossipov State Russian Folk Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: Russia
94.
Elegy by Mikhail Yakovlev
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Vladimir Fedoseyev
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ossipov State Russian Folk Orchestra
95.
Morning's Fog by Arkady Abaza
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Sergei Kolobkov
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ossipov State Russian Folk Orchestra
96.
All is quiet by Tatyana Tolstaya
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Vladimir Fedoseyev
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ossipov State Russian Folk Orchestra
97.
Prayer by Pyotr Bulakhov
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Vladimir Fedoseyev
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ossipov State Russian Folk Orchestra
98.
Bright is the night by Nikolai Shishkin
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Vladimir Fedoseyev
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ossipov State Russian Folk Orchestra
99.
Gate by Alexander Obukhov
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Vladimir Fedoseyev
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ossipov State Russian Folk Orchestra
100.
Why does the heart beat so loud? by Boris Borisov
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Vladimir Fedoseyev
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ossipov State Russian Folk Orchestra
102.
I remember the evening by César Cui
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano),
Vera Podolskaya (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1857; Russia
103.
Step away by Vladimir Sokolov
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano),
Fedor Kondenko (Guitar)
105.
No, he didn't love me by Alfonso Guercia
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano),
Fedor Kondenko (Guitar)
107.
Stars in the sky by Boris Borisov
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano),
Fedor Kondenko (Guitar)
108.
The Little Bell by Alexey N. Verstovsky
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Sergei Kolobkov
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ossipov State Russian Folk Orchestra
109.
Embrace and Kiss by Mily Balakirev
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Nikolai Nekrasov
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ossipov State Russian Folk Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1858; Russia
110.
I feel sorry for you by Alexander E. Varlamov
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Vladimir Fedoseyev
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ossipov State Russian Folk Orchestra
111.
Oh, do not kiss me by Alexander E. Varlamov
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Sergei Kolobkov
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ossipov State Russian Folk Orchestra
112.
Girl's melancholy by Alexander Gurilyov
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Vladimir Fedoseyev
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ossipov State Russian Folk Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: Russia
113.
Do not scold me by Alexander Diubuk
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Sergei Kolobkov
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ossipov State Russian Folk Orchestra
114.
Old Husband, Cruel Husband by Alexey N. Verstovsky
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Sergei Kolobkov
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ossipov State Russian Folk Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1827; Russia
115.
Russian Carriage-and-Three by Pyotr Bulakhov
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Sergei Kolobkov
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ossipov State Russian Folk Orchestra
116.
Red Sarafan by Alexander E. Varlamov
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Sergei Kolobkov
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ossipov State Russian Folk Orchestra
117.
Prince Kholmski: Song of Ilinichna by Mikhail Glinka
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Sergei Kolobkov
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ossipov State Russian Folk Orchestra
118.
Oh, if I had known by Traditional
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Sergei Kolobkov
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ossipov State Russian Folk Orchestra
119.
Songs (10), 1896: no 5, I loved him by Mily Balakirev
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Sergei Kolobkov
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ossipov State Russian Folk Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1896; Russia
120.
Reminder by Alexander E. Varlamov
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Sergei Kolobkov
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ossipov State Russian Folk Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: Russia
121.
I loved you by Boris S. Sheremetiev
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Vladimir Fedoseyev
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ossipov State Russian Folk Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: Russia
122.
Over the fields by Ekaterina Gorina
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Sergei Kolobkov
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ossipov State Russian Folk Orchestra
126.
Russian Song by Gyorgy Sviridov
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Nikolai Kalinin
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ossipov State Russian Folk Orchestra
127.
Serenade from Ruy Blas by Gyorgy Sviridov
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Gazis Dugashev
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ossipov State Russian Folk Orchestra
128.
In deep dark woods by Vladimir A. Vlasov
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Gazis Dugashev
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ossipov State Russian Folk Orchestra
129.
The Motherland readied its son by Alexander Dolukhanyan
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Emin Khachaturian
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Moscow Radio Variety Orchestra
130.
Ancient Russian Fortress by Alexander Dolukhanyan
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Emin Khachaturian
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Moscow Radio Variety Orchestra
131.
The Volunteers: The Years Fly by Mark Fradkin
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Vitaly Gnutov
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ossipov State Russian Folk Orchestra
132.
A Simple Story: Song of Love by Mark Fradkin
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Vitaly Gnutov
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ossipov State Russian Folk Orchestra
133.
Reminiscence by Nina Illutovich
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Nikolai Misailov
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Concert Ensemble
134.
Song of Words by Alexander Fliarkovsky
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Yuri Silantyev
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Moscow Radio Variety Orchestra
135.
Be the One by Alexander Fliarkovsky
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Yuri Silantyev
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Moscow Radio Variety Orchestra
136.
Vocalise by Yuri Strzhelinsky
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Yuri Silantyev
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Moscow Radio Variety Orchestra
137.
Snowfall by Yuri Strzhelinsky
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Yuri Silantyev
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Moscow Radio Variety Orchestra
138.
Song of a Young Mother by David Toradze
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano),
Josef Bedersky (Violin)
Conductor:
Yuri Silantyev
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Moscow Radio Variety Orchestra
139.
May I tell you something by Yevgeni Ptichkin
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Yuri Silantyev
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Moscow Radio Variety Orchestra
140.
Sleeping Mountains by Giya Kancheli
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Yuri Silantyev
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Moscow Radio Variety Orchestra
143.
Land of Our Fathers: Exile by Gyorgy Sviridov
Performer:
Irina Sherbina (Piano),
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano)
Period: Modern
Written: 1950
145.
Three Octaves by Dmitri Kabalevsky
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano),
Dmitri Kabalevsky (Piano)
146.
Il bacio by Luigi Arditi
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Vladimir Fedoseyev
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ossipov State Russian Folk Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1860; Italy
147.
Work(s) by Various
Performer:
Valentina Levko (Mezzo Soprano)
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