Bela Rudenko sings Glière’s Coloratura Concerto (2nd mvt.)

Bela Rudenko () Reinhold Glière: Concerto for Coloratura Soprano and Orchestra, Glière’s two movement coloratura concerto of 1943 is, perhaps, his most frequently performed composition in the genre (his other concertos are for harp, violin, cello, and french horn), though commercial recordings are still relatively infrequent. This should come as no surprise, since the piece makes substantial demands on the soloist. Vocal agility, steadiness of tone, and accuracy of attack are required here, as is superior breath support (particularly in the first movement, where the singer must form carefully arched phrases while negotiating the endless passages of lyrical, wordless melisma).