Vesselina Kasarova.(Sound Recording Review)

"BULGARIAN SOUL" Arrangements of Bulgarian folk songs by Krassimir Kyurkchiyski. Sofia Soloists Chamber Orchestra, Cosmic Voices from Bulgaria, Delibozov. Schweizer-Sekulinova, piano. Texts and translations. BMG Classics 74321 93658 2

This unusual venture from the celebrated Rossini mezzo invites us to share the folk-song heritage of her birthplace, as well as the gifts of several of its national musical treasures--namely, the extraordinary choir Cosmic Voices from Bulgaria, and the celebrated composer and folk-song historian/arranger Krassimir Kyurkchiyski. Recently, BMG has been having some of its artists write liner notes for their CDs, and Kasarova's are particularly scholarly. She feels a strong attachment to this music and seems to have studied its origins thoroughly. The accompanying essay provides a helpful guide, but the strength of the evocative songs, their fascinating harmonic structure and, particularly, the unique sound of the unison female choir carry the day. The mezzo also makes a strong contribution, her vocalism direct and unmannered. While it is customary, historically, for these songs to be sung unaccompanied, the orchestrations here are never overwhelming, and the power of the melodic message does not feel diluted.

Of the fourteen selections on the CD, all but two are traditional folk songs arranged by Kyurkchiyski. An additional two are his original compositions, one a variation on a folk theme, the other a song "in folk tone" with lyric by Bulgarian poet Hristo ...