Folk Songs

Folk music was a strong influence on 20th-century composers, and Czech mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kožená charts how four of them responded in this fascinatingly varied album. Béla Bartók mined his own national heritage in the 5 Hungarian Folk Songs of 1933, where his pungent orchestrations vividly complement the original folk tunes. Ravel’s approach in his 5 Mélodies populaires grecques is more understated and Impressionistic, although “Quel galant m’est comparable” gives Kožená and the players a moment of spicy extroversion. She revels in the lush melodies and seductive rhythms of Xavier Montsalvatge’s 5 Canciones negras, while both “A la femminisca” and “Ballo” from Luciano Berio’s Folk Songs showcase her sense of humor and talent for sharp characterization. Pin-sharp accompaniments by the Czech Philharmonic add a further layer of enjoyment to this richly entertaining recital.