Naxos has released recitals devoted to the little-known songs by Romantic opera composers Bellini and
Donizetti and continues its series with this album featuring Giacomo Meyerbeer, whose French grand operas were once central to the repertoire, but have now for the most part faded into semi-obscurity. Meyerbeer was born in Berlin, achieved his first success with Rossinian operas in Italian, and established his legacy in Paris, so it is appropriate that the recital includes songs in Italian, French, and German. The songs are consistently graceful, charming, and lyrical, and are varied in tone. Soprano
Sivan Rotem has the coloratura to easily handle these often operatically challenging songs, and she sings with thoughtful and effective attention to characterization, highlighting the emotional range of the music. Pianist Jonathan Zak offers strong and sensitive accompaniment. Naxos' sound is immediate and clean.