Of all the genres of Russian music, song seems the slowest to take hold in the West. And of all the major Russian composers, Shostakovich's output is surely the most underestimated. This first volume in Delos's survey of his complete songs, dedicated to the works of the 1950s, is full of riches and Contains several first recordings. The four Russian soloists make the most of these often beguiling settings - and the project's guiding spirit, Yury Serov, is a strong accompanist.

-- Gramophone [Awards Issue, 2002]