Recent Decca signing Julia Lezhneva was in Barcelona earlier this month recording her debut disc for the label.

We announced Julia Lezhneva's signing to Decca back in February. The Russian soprano joined the label, part of Universal Classics, following recordings for Naïve – including a 2011 disc of Rossini arias with Marc Minkowski and Sinfonia Varsovia which received a Gramophone Editor’s Choice.

The repertoire for the new recording is: Handel’s Saeviat Tellus Inter Rigores, Vivaldi’s In furore, Mozart’s Exsultate Jubilate, and Porpora’s In caelo stele clare. Lezhneva was joined by Il Giardino Armonico and conductor Giovanni Antonini for the recording.

Reflecting on the recording sessions, Lezhneva described them as having 'left me with one of the strongest, most exciting impressions I've ever had and, simultaneously, it was some of the hardest work for me singing many hours per day.'

'I felt so much support from Giovanni Anronini and the whole orchestra Il Giardino Armonico, I cannot overestimate this feeling. It is a great team with a huge passion and they are all extreme perfectionists - so much so that the whole orchestra always went to the studio and listened to the takes: discuss, imagine, improvise, breathe together - all this I find most exceptional and I absolutely love how devoted they are to the music. I am most grateful to the recording producer Mark Brown and engineer Jonathan Stokes for their calm and most experienced approach, which created a complete harmony between all of us.'

The release is due for release by Decca in spring 2013.