DmitriHvorostovsky

On May 25, Delos releases the Dmitri Hvorostovsky’s new recording, Pushkin Romances.  The album includes seventeen songs composed to texts by Alexander Pushkin, Russia's greatest poet. The composers represented here—Glinka, Borodin, Cui, and Rimsky-Korsakov, among others—have helped to define the true meaning of the Russian romance and have created some of the world's greatest song literature. Hvorostovsky's accompanist on the recording is pianist Ivari Ilja.  The two also recently released an album dedicated to Tchaikovsky Romances.

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The opening performance of La traviata at the Royal Opera House on Tuesday, May 12 was greeted with excitement and praise from the London audience and critics alike.  George Hill of The Stage was on hand and gave this account: "Richard Eyre’s traditional staging of Verdi’s opera is back for a series of performances dignified by the presence of Russian baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky, whose entrance in Act II as young Alfredo’s morally conventional father Giorgio Germont marks a rise in the evening’s emotional power. As expertly authoritative in his singing as he is impressive as an actor, he is by far the most focused and consistent of the three principals."  The Times went even further claiming, "The masterclass in vocal style here comes from Dmitri Hvorostovsky."

Click here to read The Stage review of La traviata

Click here to read The Times review of La traviata

Returning to the Vienna State Opera for the first time in five seasons, Dmitri Hvorostovsky won over critics in his recent performances in the title role of Verdi's Rigoletto at the Staatsoper.  Kronenzeitung, Austria's largest daily newspaper, raved that Dmitri's "acting and expressive singing result in an impressive unit full of personality."  Österreich went even further in their praise, writing, "his performance makes the audience feel the melancholy, paternal concern, rebellion and despair. His rather noble than dramatic baritone expresses emotions in a truly genuine way, especially during the outstanding monologues. Hvorostovsky is a truly intelligent singer who knows how to phrase and nuance. Moreover, his acting does justice to the part of Rigoletto."

After he finishes his current run of performances as Rigoletto at the Vienna State Opera, Dmitri travels to London to reprises the role of Germont in Verdi's La traviata at the Royal Opera House.  The production opens on May 11 and and closes on May 24.  Yves Abel leads a cast that also includes Ermonela Jaho as Violetta and Saimir Pirgu as Alfredo.

Visit the Royal Opera House website for more information