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PRESS
REVIEW:
Caro
Mitis CM 0042003 – Multichannel Hybrid SACD – 55
minutes
BORTNYANSKY:
The Italian Album –
Galina Knysh, soprano; Elena Pozjidaeva, alto;
Anton Vassiliev, baritone – members of the Russian Patriarchate
Choir and the Moscow Boys Cappella – Pratum Integrum Orchestra
/ Pavel Serbin, Artistic Director
5
Stars - *****
Dmitry
Bortnyansky is almost exclusively known as the father of the Russian
Orthodox
liturgical choral tradition (for a truly superb cross-section of
that work, get the excellent Powers of Heaven SACD on Harmonia Mundi – very
highly recommended). His combined output exclusive of his liturgical
works totaled more than 200 other compositions, including operas,
concertos, sonatas and symphonies. Manuscripts for most of these
are lost, and the remaining works in general have been largely forgotten,
with only fragments of his five operas and various motets remaining.
Bortnyansky showed great promise as a youthful choirboy in the
court of Catherine the Great, and the Italian composer Galuppi
(also a member of Catherine's court)
begged to be allowed to take him to Venice for further education. The selections
on this excellent disc are taken from his output during that period, hence
the name, "The Italian Album."
Although all of the selections are performed on period instruments,
there's none of the harshness or "thinness" sometimes associated with historical
performances. The vocalists are superb; soprano Galina Knysh, who most often
gets the spotlight, has a purity of tone and range that are equally impressive
and thrilling to hear – she hits the really extended notes effortlessly.
Most of the works here have a real chamber feel to them, but when the combined
forces of choirs, orchestra and soloists join together on the finale, it's
both passionate and majestic. As with the Bach disc noted above, every aspect
of the sound presentation is superb, and bodes well for Caro Mitis. Very highly
recommended.
- Tom Gibbs
Audiophile
Audition
MA Recordings will soon be discontinuing the sale of Caro
Mitis, the Hybrid
SACD classical label from Russia.
All recordings produced by Caro Mitis (translated
from the Latin as "Succulent Fruit") are pure multi-channel
DSD productions, most of them recorded in the revered studios of
The Russian Television and Radio Broadcasting Company (RTR) in Moscow.
Caro Mitis'
policy is to present state-of-art performances of classical works
by outstanding Russian & European
musicians, ensembles & orchestras. The catalog contains a number
of World Premiere Recordings, particularly of early music.
Caro Mitis fundamentals
are:
• recording and postproduction
by Polyhymnia International B.V. from Holland, the leader in the
SACD format that also works with Harmonia Mundi, Pentatone
and others.
• manufacturing of all titles as hybrid SACDs (thus allowing listeners
to play the disks on regular CD-players as well as SACD players) at SONY DADC
(Austria);
• unique designs for each disk (created by Kosta Gusalov - one of the leading
Russian graphic artists) based on the use of national historical engravings
• multi-lingual booklets and inlays with extensive illustrated information
• a long-term
recording program with a number of World Premiere Recordings every
year.
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