Classical Music: Aigul

Aigul
Bizet Carmen, L'amour est un oiseau rebelle (Habanera); Sequidilla. Près des remparts de Séville; Mêlons, coupons (Card Scene); Massenet Werther, Carreau! Pique!... La mort!(Act III); Werther! Werther! Qui m'aurait dit la place... (Act III); Va! Laisse couler mes larmes; Bellini I capuleti e i Montecchi, Ascolta! Se Romeo t'uccise un figlio; La tremenda ultrice spada (Act I); Deh! Tu, bell'abima (Act II); Rossini La Cenerentola, Aria Nacqui all'affanno; Non piú mesta (Act II); Rossini Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Cavatina Una voice poco fa; Cabaletta lo sono docile (Act I); Trad Bashkir folk song The Nightingale (Orch Rachimov)

Aigul Akhmetshina mezzo-soprano
Apollo Voices - Genevieve Ellis chorus master
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Daniele Rustioni
Decca Decca 4870262
https://www.deccaclassics.com/en

Aigul is a phenomenon. Hailed as the 'Carmen of our time,' she has led the cast of Bizet's immortal masterpiece in no fewer than eight international productions in one season.

Her journey from an isolated village in rural Bashkortostan to the world's most prestigious stages and a recording contract is nothing short of a modern-day fairy tale. Despite facing rejection at early auditions (where she was told she lacked the right voice and appearance), at the age of 27, Aigul has already etched her name in history as the youngest artist ever to take on the title role of Bizet’s Carmen at the Royal Opera in London.

This stunning album will mesmerise you; what a voice! It will melt you with such gorgeous versatility in a programme that demonstrates her gracefulness and agility.

In a marvellously curated programme expertly recorded by the Decca engineers, Aigul captivates the audience. Remarkably, for a recording of opera arias, the listener feels it is a live performance.

The excerpts are stunning, whether they be taken from Bizet’s Carmen - as good as the live performance according to reviews (she is joined by Freddie de Tommaso as Don José); Massenet’s Werther - simply delightful; Bellini’s I Capuleti e i Montecchi - magnificent, especially those high notes; or Rossini’s La Cenerentola and Il barbiere di Siviglia, where the coloratura is simply terrific. The emotional dynamics are excellent. The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, under Daniele Rustioni’s direction, provides beautiful and lovely balanced accompaniments. As a treat, there is an encore of the Bashkir folk song The Nightingale in an orchestration by Rachimov, which is a splendid close to an impressive debut disc. Her voice has a glowing warmth, and she is comfortable in all of her registers with a pleasant nimble tone.

Like Carmen, Aigul is seductive, and it is a must to hear this remarkable mezzo live.

Every time I perform Carmen, I don't actually play. I live, and it goes through my experience. It's about a woman from a difficult past a difficult childhood who also dreams about a happy future. Aigul Akhmetshina