The Verdi Album

Following recordings of French arias and Handel, Bulgarian soprano Sonya Yoncheva gives us a superb album of some of the roles for which she’s justly acclaimed and others she’s less known for. As a singer, she has buckets of personality and the imagination to characterise these very different women, often in extremis, with enormous flair. Her technique is impressive and her vocal acting is hugely stylish. Elisabeth (Don Carlo), Leonora (Il trovatore), Desdemona (Otello) and Amelia (Simon Boccanegra) are joined by the less-often-encountered Luisa Miller, Odabella (Attila) and Lina (Stiffelio)—all living, breathing creations thanks to Yoncheva’s impressive artistry.