Here is yet another compilation of Russian Romances from a master purveyor of self-regarding baritonal syrup. This time Hvorostovsky offers us 10 composers’ takes on Pushkin and his demonstration of finely controlled legato and evenness of tone through the registers is truly impressive. But is he serving the music or vice versa? Since he makes so little acknowledgement of stylistic difference or interpretational nicety, the question is soon answered. Hvorostovsky applies a deadening uniformity of colour and expression across the board, reducing everything to the level of the kitsch-mongery of Vlasov and Sviridov.

Well, if you want a disc to reinforce your prejudice that Russian song is all cloying self-indulgence, here it is. Otherwise, to hear such generalised intensity poured over every phrase is, to put it mildly, exasperating. Apart from offering fine recording quality, Delos have some nerve expecting anyone to part with money for 45 minutes of such indifferent artistry, just as they did for 81 minutes of Hvorostovsky’s recent Tchaikovsky compilation on two discs.