Decca Classics release Aigul, an album that showcases the talents of Aigul Akhmetshina. Hailed as the “Carmen of our time,” she was chosen to lead the cast of Bizet’s immortal masterpiece in no less than eight international productions in one season. Her most recent performances included the Metropolitan Opera in New York, directed by Carrie Cracknell, known for her work on Netflix's Persuasion. She became the youngest to take on this role on this stage. Aigul's album features a portrait of her famed Carmen and other operatic arias, including a specially arranged folk song from her Ural Mountains home...

Not only is Aigul a wonderful introduction to the talents of Aigul Akhmetshina as a performer, but it's also a great way to introduce the novice to opera. That's not to say fans of the genre won't also be attracted to this well polished release.

Over the course of the album's 7 tracks we hear segments from Bizet's Carmen, Massenet's Werther, Bellini's I Capuleti e i Montecchi, Rossini's La Cenerentola and the traditional piece 'The Nightingale'.

The album opens with 4 pieces from Carmen, an opera that Akhmetshina is incredibly familiar with, having performed in numerous production in just one season. The album then shifts in style and pace as we are treated to Akhmetshina's range.

We close with 'The Nightingale', my personal favourite piece. It obviously means a lot to the artist, as it's a specially arranged folk song from her Ural Mountains home. It's melancholic and beautifully performed.

Track listing:

Bizet
01. Habanera. L'amour est un oiseau rebelle [Carmen, Act I] - With Choir (04:18)
02. Seguidilla. Près des remparts de Séville [Carmen, Act I] (04:24)
03. Trio. Mêlons! Coupons! [Carmen, Act III] (03:22)
04. Carreau! Pique!... La mort! [Carmen, Act III] (03:48)

Massenet
05. Werther! Werther! Qui m'aurait dit la place... [Werther, Act III] (07:09)
06. Va! Laisse couler mes larmes [Werther, Act III] (02:23)

Bellini
07. Ascolta! Se Romeo t'uccise un figlio [I Capuleti e i Montecchi, Act I] (02:34)
08. La tremenda ultrice spada [I Capuleti e i Montecchi, Act I] (03:36)
09. Deh! Tu, bell'anima [I Capuleti e i Montecchi, Act II] (03:47)

Rossini
10. Aria. Nacqui all'affanno [La Cenerentola, Act II] (03:19)
11. Non più mesta [La Cenerentola, Act II] (03:14)
12. No. 5a, Cavatina. Una voce poco fa [Il barbiere di Siviglia, Act I] (02:21)
13. No. 5b, Cabaletta. Io sono docile [Il barbiere di Siviglia, Act I] (03:41)

14. Traditional: The Nightingale (Orch. Rachimov) (04:17)

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Darren Rea