Arion: Voyage of a Slavic Soul Natalya Romaniw & Lada Valešová

• Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844 - 1908):
• 1 4 Romances, Op. 27: No. 1, Softly the Spirit Flew up to Heaven 02:50
• 2 2 Songs, Op. 56: No. 1, The Nymph 03:27
• 3 2 Songs, Op. 56: No. 2, Summer Night's Dream 05:25
• Antonín Dvořák (1841 - 1904): Love Songs Op. 83, B. 160:
• 4 Love Songs Op. 83, B. 160: No. 1, Oh, That Longed-For Happiness 02:02
• 5 Love Songs Op. 83, B. 160: No. 2, So Many a Heart Is as Though Dead 02:20
• 6 Love Songs Op. 83, B. 160: No. 3, Around the House Now I Stagger 01:39
• 7 Love Songs Op. 83, B. 160: No. 4, I Know, with Sweet Hope 02:34
• 8 Love Songs Op. 83, B. 160: No. 5, Over the Landscape a Light Slumber Reigns 02:01
• 9 Love Songs Op. 83, B. 160: No. 6, In the Woods by the Stream 02:07
• 10 Love Songs Op. 83, B. 160: No. 7, In That Sweet Power of Your Eyes 02:00
• 11 Love Songs Op. 83, B. 160: No. 8, Oh Dear, Matchless Soul 01:46
• Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840 - 1893):
• 12 12 Romances, Op. 60, TH 106: No. 12, The Gentle Stars Shone for Us 03:47
• 13 7 Romances, Op. 47, TH 103: No. 6, Does the Day Reign? 03:22
• 14 6 Romances, Op. 6, TH 93: No. 5, Why? 03:24
• Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873 - 1943):
• 15 6 Songs, Op. 4 (Excerpts): No. 4, Sing Not, O Lovely One 04:44
• 16 6 Songs, Op. 4 (Excerpts): No. 5, The Harvest of Sorrow 04:19
• 17 12 Songs, Op. 21: No. 7, How Fair This Spot 02:06
• 18 12 Romances, Op. 14: No. 11, Spring Waters 02:11
• 19 14 Romances, Op. 34: No. 5, Arion 02:40
• Leoš Janáček (1854 - 1928): Moravian Folk Poetry in Songs, JW V/2 (Excerpts):
• 20 Moravian Folk Poetry in Songs, JW V/2 (Excerpts): No. 1, Love 01:44
• 21 Moravian Folk Poetry in Songs, JW V/2 (Excerpts): No. 16, Constancy 01:17
• 22 Moravian Folk Poetry in Songs, JW V/2 (Excerpts): No. 30, Rosemary 03:13
• 23 Moravian Folk Poetry in Songs, JW V/2 (Excerpts): No. 50, Musicians 01:23
• Vítězslav Novák (1870 - 1949): A Tale of the Heart Op. 8:
• 24 A Tale of the Heart Op. 8: No. 1, Melancholy Song 01:56
• 25 A Tale of the Heart Op. 8: No. 2, Is It a Dream? 03:03
• 26 A Tale of the Heart Op. 8: No. 3, Evening 01:33
• 27 A Tale of the Heart Op. 8: No. 4, Autumn Mood 01:21
• 28 A Tale of the Heart Op. 8: No. 5, When the Day Ends 02:53
• Total Runtime 01:13:07

Info for Arion: Voyage of a Slavic Soul

Soprano Natalya Romaniw and pianist Lada Valešová take us on a journey through Slavic song on this sumptuous album. Welsh-born soprano Natalya Romaniw is of Ukrainian descent, roots she explores in this recital, which is dedicated to her Ukrainian grandfather. The generous programme encompasses a wealth of music by Russian and Czech composers. Dvorák's Love Songs, Op.83, are at the heart of the album, and his idiomatic Czech style influenced Janácek, from whom we hear a selection of Moravian folk songs. Novák in turn was fascinated by Moravian folk music and was influenced by Janácek; Novák's gift for melody shines in Romaniw's interpretations of his songs. From Russia, meanwhile, we hear magical, almost operatic music from Rimsky-Korsakov, powerful passion from Tchaikovsky, and some of Rachmaninov's most exquisite songs. Natalya Romaniw is often noted for the Slavic character of her voice, a quality heard to full effect on this recording.

Natalya Romaniw, soprano
Lada Valešová, piano

Natalya Romaniw
is one of Europe’s most promising young stars. Recent winner of the 2016 Critic’s Choice Award for Music, for her ‘big toned, generous, gut-wrenching performances’ (Sunday Times) and her ‘glowing voice capable of astonishing power’ (FT), she is often hailed by the British press as ‘the outstanding soprano of her generation’ (Telegraph). Upcoming engagements include major role debuts as Cio Cio San in the acclaimed Minghella Madame Butterfly for English National Opera under the baton of Martyn Brabbins, title role in Tosca with Scottish Opera, and her return to Garsington Opera as Rusalka. She will make her BBC Proms debut in 2019 with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and will make her first solo recital recording in collaboration with pianist Lada Valesova, featuring repertoire by Dvořák, Janáček, Novák and Rachmaninov.

Highlights of her 18/19 season include her house debut with English National Opera as Mimi in Puccini’s La Bohéme. She also recieved critial aclaim in her returns to Garsington Opera as Mařenka, in Smetana’s The Bartered Bride, and to Opera Holland Park as the title role in Tchaikovsky’s Iolanta. On the concert stage, she gave the world premiere of Mark Anthony Turnage’s Testament with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.

Natalya received unanimous critical acclaim in 2016 for her portrayal of Tatyana in Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin at Garsington Opera. She has since performed the role with the Welsh National Opera, and in Oliver Mears’s new production for Scottish Opera. Other notable engagements include her European debut as Suzel in L’amico Fritz for Den Jyske Opera, Lisa in Pique Dame with Opera Holland Park and National Theatre Brno, title role in Janacek’s Jenůfa with Grange Park Opera, and Beethoven Symphony No. 9 with the Hallé orchestra under the baton of Sir Mark Elder.

She is a graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where she was awarded the prestigious Gold Medal in her final year. Since graduating Natalya has gone on to win many competitions including the Loveday Song Prize and the renowned Kathleen Ferrier Awards in 2012; she was a prize winner in the Houston Grand Opera Eleanor McCollum Competition; the 2017 operatic nominee in The Times breakthrough category of the Southbank Sky Arts Awards, and a finalist for the Song Prize in Cardiff Singer of the World 2009. After graduating, Natalya joined the Houston Grand Opera Studio, where she debuted roles such as Mimi in Puccini’s La Bohème, Rosalinde in Die Fledermaus, Micaela in Bizet’s Carmen and Krystina in Weinburg’s The Passenger. After finishing her time with Houston Grand Opera, she returned as a guest for her role debut as Ortlinde in Wagner’s Die Walküre.

Booklet for Arion: Voyage of a Slavic Soul