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Winning Flexibility
A recital by Agnieszka Kozlowska and Beate Toyka,
reviewed by MIKE WHEELER
Polish soprano Agnieszka Kozlowska first came to Derby audiences' attention a couple of years ago, in a charity recital in support of plans to restore Derby's Hippodrome Theatre. So she already had something of a local following for her song recital with pianist Beate Toyka (Derby Chamber Music, Multi-Faith Centre, Derby University, Derby UK, 23 January 2015).
Together they got to the expressive core of much of a wide-ranging programme, exploring a fine dynamic range, though Kozlowska's voice was not helped by the aftermath of a heavy cold, with top notes inclined to be squally, and a tendency to swallow ends of phrases.
She captured the eagerness of Schumann's Er Ist's and start of Strauss' Zueignung, and brought out the playfulness of Serenades by Strauss (Op 17 No 2) and Brahms (Op 106 No 1)...
Copyright © 1 February 2015
Mike Wheeler,
Derby UK
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