SERGEJ LEMESHEV, CD releases
Aquarius label
Sergej Lemeshev doesn’t need any introduction to the seasoned record collector. He belongs without doubt to the greatest tenors of the previous century. If the name for some reason is still unfamiliar to you the Russian Aquarius label now offers you the opportunity (at very affordable prices) to acquire the greater output of his recorded legacy. Grab them as Lemeshev is one of those tenors you can never get tired of. Sergej Lemeshev (1902 – 1977) had a strong lyrical tenor which he used with great intelligence and his wide ranging ability, exquisite musicianship and finely focussed upper register made him a matinee idol not only in the opera house and the concert platform but also on screen. Some of the films are now available on DVD as well.
The remarkable thing about Lemeshev is that his highly individual tenor voice is always under perfect control enabling him to give full play to his intelligent and musical approach in everything he sang whether opera, operetta, folk songs, Lieder or film songs. This varied repertoire has now become available on 14 CD’s (!) which also feature other legendary former Soviet singers such as Vera Davydova, Alexander Pirogov and Maslenikova to name but a few. The earliest recordings go back to 1928 and the latest to 1974 thus spanning more than 45 years of making records. A Russian firm offers the Aquarius catalogue on ebay. Warning while the booklets contain many interesting photographs the text is in Russian only so some very basic Cyrillic may come in handy on the other hand these must-have releases will delight you for as long as you live.
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