Dagmar Pecková Breaks Out A Battery Of Sinful Women On New Disc

Mezzo-soprano Dagmar Pecková as Klytaemnestra for the new recording on Supraphon.

"Recorded at the Studio of Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra, Bratislava, September 2–4 and 8–10, 2014. The provocative title of the new album by the feted mezzo-soprano Dagmar Pecková reflects a remarkable dramaturgic idea: that which connects the life of modern humans with the heroines of Antique mythology is the principle of sin – and forgiveness. This is perhaps why all

The singer as Cherubini's demented Medea

the featured characters are smart and strong women, some of them even endowed with supernatural abilities. Women determined to apply the boldest means so as to gain that which they long for – or to take revenge. Women betrayed by a ruse or wounded by their own love. The very first aria featured, that of Massenet’s Marie-Magdeleine, opens the scope for the message – that the only way out of sin is forgiveness. 'When you look at mezzo-soprano characters, virtually all of them can be branded sinners. Perhaps it is owing to the darker voice colour...' says Dagmar Pecková. As rendered by her on the present album, each of the 'sinful women' is profoundly treated in psychological and emotional terms. This profundity and inspiration is based on the soloist’s own professional experience and is also the fruit of the collaboration with the accompanying Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra, under the uncompromising and masterful baton of Aleksandar Markovic. Love, sin and forgiveness. An insight into the mysterious female soul." [Source] Read more about the album here. Watch a video from the recording session, see more photos, and the full track list, after the jump.

Dagmar Pecková
Sinful Women
 
Jules Massenet – Marie-Magdeleine
1/ O mes soeurs 5:48  

Camille Saint-Saëns – Samson et Dalila
2/ Mon coeur s'ouvre a ta voix (Dalila, Act 2) 6:27
3/ Bacchanale 6:54

Jules Massenet – Hérodiade
4/ Ne me refuse pas (Hérodiade, Act 2) 4:22

Igor Stravinsky – Oedipus Rex
5/ Nonn' erubescite, reges – Oraculum (Iocasta), 6:45  

Luigi Cherubini – Medea
6/ Del fiero duol che il cor mi frange (Medea, Act, 3) 4:28)

Richard Wagner – Parsifal
7/ Ich sah das Kind (Kundry, Act 2) 5:36 (Libretto Richard Wagner)
 
Richard Strauss – Salome
8/ Dance of the Seven Veils 9:25

Richard Strauss – Elektra
9/ Ich habe keine gute Nächte (Klytaemnestra) 6:50

Antoine Mariotte– Salomé
10/ Salomé: Ah! Je baiserai ta bouche, Iokanaan
(Salomé, Hérode, Choeurs, Final Scene) 11:19