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Editorial Reviews

Magdalena Kozená's recital of Love Songs is more than just a showcase for an extraordinarily talented young singer -- it's also an enticing exploration of the fertile repertory of Czech song. None of the music here is well-known, but it comes as no surprise that Dvorák's Love Songs, Op. 83, are charmingly lyrical, or that the selections from Janácek's Moravian Folk Poetry are engagingly quirky. The true discoveries on this disc are the songs of Bohuslav Martinu -- there are 22 of them here, most of miniature proportions -- revealing him as a master of the form. The majority of these songs are based on folk texts, embracing a superficial simplicity that's belied by the subtle sophistication of his harmonic innovations. This collection also boasts a world premiere, Songs for a Friend of My Country, a cycle composed in 1940 as Martinu fled from Europe to the United States but only recently rediscovered. Hearing a native speaker perform all this music is a true pleasure, but Kozená brings much more than just proper pronunciation. Singing these songs with warmth, dedication, and an obvious sense of pride in sharing her homeland's music, this striking mezzo-soprano builds on her previous recorded achievements (principally in baroque opera and sacred music) emerging as one of the most distinctive singers of her generation. Her voice, which lies on the high, light side of the mezzo range, folds the tricky consonants of her language into rapturous lyrical flights. Pianist Graham Johnson, certainly one of today's finest and most experienced vocal accompanists, is an ideal partner. As Kozená embarks on what's sure to be a major career, we can only hope she continues to champion the music of her compatriots so eagerly. Scott Paulin, Barnes & Noble

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