V1267. MARK REIZEN: Songs by Glinka, Borodin, Rimsky-Korsakov, Gretchaninoff, Varlamov, Rubinstein, Malashkin, Ippolitov-Ivanov, etc. (Russia) Aquarius AQVR 305, recorded 1930-52. - 4607123630587

CRITIC REVIEWS:

“Certainly one of the most sonorous, expressive and beautifully-controlled bass voices ever to have been recorded was that of Mark Reizen. He was a legend in his own lifetime in Russia and, at the age of 90, he was still able to make a remarkable stage appearance, singing Prince Gremin in EUGEN ONÉGIN….This material in its original 78rpm form will be very difficult to find, and this compilation is a worthy tribute to one of the greatest bass singers of the 20th century.”

- Alan Bilgora, THE RECORD COLLECTOR, 2010



“A superb singer and powerful actor with a highly expressive, rich voice of astonishing color and range, [Reizen’s] forte was legendary, but he also had a pianissimo so expressive it could stop a rehearsal to allow Natalia Shpiller singing opposite him to regain her composure, while the rest of the cast were drying their eyes.”

- Richard D. Sylvester, TCHAIKOVSKY’S COMPLETE SONGS