Ritorna Vincitor! Veronika Dzhioeva

A soprano previously unknown to me, Veronika Dzhioeva, is showcased in a selection of arias in Ritorna Vincitor! She is a house star in Novosibirsk, Siberia, but her career seems to be branching out internationally. She starts with a belt through Lady Macbeth’s opening aria, which she survives intact but doesn’t allow her voice to shine. She progresses through some Puccini warhorses, which are infinitely better and permit the voice to unfold, and settles upon arias from Aida, Ballo and Forza, where she really springs into life and brings some dramatic specificity to each role. Her soprano has a rich tone, slightly strident when pushed, her natural vibrato tending to a wobble, but can generally ride the phrasing with confidence. From a recording it is impossible to gauge the size of the instrument, but it would be interesting to hear her onstage.

Francis Muzzu Read the full review on Agora Classica