The fifth volume in Delos' series of recordings dedicated to the songs of
Shostakovich masterminded by series pianist
Yury Serov is as absolutely essential for anyone who loves the music of
Shostakovich. On this disc,
Serov has programmed two of the composers' greatest song cycles: From Jewish Folk Poetry and Suite to Words by Michelangelo Buonarroti. For vocalists,
Serov has wisely chosen to retain bass
Fyodor Kuznetsov from the previous issues for the Michelangelo songs, but daringly recruited a new trio of singers for the Jewish songs. While
Kuznetsov has heavy competition in the Michelangelo songs, including the premiere recording by Nesterenko and the more recent recording by
Fischer-Dieskau, he acquits himself with enormous dignity and passionate intensity. The trio of soprano Svetlana Sumatchova, mezzo soprano Miranna Tarassova, and tenor Konstantin Pluzhinikov acquits itself with equal intensity, if not quite with as much dignity but then with perhaps even more terror. Delos' sound is dry and close but honest. Anyone who loves the music of
Shostakovich will love this disc, just like he/she would love the four previous discs in this series.