Once again Leiferkus proves an exemplary interpreter of Mussorgsky. His imagination and intelligence illumine from within everything he sings. He uses his firm, incisive voice to colour and shape his words with exceptional conviction. His strong advocacy is badly needed as, truth to tell, not all the songs are as inviting as those on this disc’s distinguished predecessors (2/95 and 12/95). Many early, immature ones, lamenting lost or frustrated love, are conventional, and fail to come to life even with the most sympathetic of interpreters.
There are notable exceptions. The Pushkin setting, Night, is a great paean of love to which Leiferkus brings his most seductive tone, closing with the phrase “I love you, I am yours” sung in a melting mezza voce. The haunting Lullaby, an Ostrovsky setting, is no less magical as a piece in this interpretation, and the dry humour of Kalistratushka is fully exploited. Others, such as The wild wind blows, have a raw vigour willingly encompassed by the singer.
If you are collecting this set, you won’t be disappointed. Skigin is again a searching partner, and his playing is finely balanced with the voice in Conifer’s recording. Less commendable are the notes. The writer is illuminating only in the most superficial sense, and he often tells us that there is more than one version of a song without making clear which has been chosen here. We must be thankful that Conifer include all the poems and translations – not necessarily to be taken for granted these days – and for Leiferkus’s persuasive singing.'