Gramophone Magazine
September 2021
Editor's Choice
Kateřina Knězikova (soprano), Janaček Philharmonic Ostrava, Robert Jindra
Martinu: Kouzelné noci – Three songs on Chinese texts for soprano and orchestra H119
Robert Jindra
Duparc: La Vie antérieure
Robert Jindra
Duparc: L'Invitation au voyage
Robert Jindra
Duparc: Phidylé
Robert Jindra
Duparc: Chanson triste
Robert Jindra
Ravel: Cinq mélodies populaires grecques
Robert Jindra
Ravel: Shéhérazade
Robert Jindra
Szymanowski: Penthesilea, Op. 18
Kateřina Kněžíková’s lyric coloratura soprano has delighted audiences in numerous music centres worldwide, both at opera houses and concert venues. She has appeared with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the Bamberger Symphoniker, Camerata Salzburg, the Czech Philharmonic, the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, etc., under the baton of conductors of such renown as J. Bělohlávek, S. Baudo, M. Honeck, J. Hrůša, T. Netopil and R. Ticciati. The highlights of her career include the invitation to portray the title role in Janáček’s opera Katya Kabanova in Glyndebourne. Kateřina Kněžíková’s debut Supraphon solo album features enchanting fin de siècle songs, “... songs that are particularly close to my heart and voice, all of them dating from the turn of the 20th century, all of them tinged with Impressionism,” as the singer herself put it. The first of them is Bohuslav Martinů’s Magic Nights, set to Chinese poetry. Henri Duparc’s songs, one of which, depicting Phylidé, a simple and pious country girl, has given the album its title, may come as a revelation to many a listener. All the songs chosen for the CD reflect a penchant for the exotic, foregrounding connection with Nature and intuition. Conducted by Robert Jindra, the Janáček Philharmonic Ostrava has created a splendidly colourful backdrop for Kateřina Kněžíková’s soprano to embellish.
"Clearly a singer to watch...It’s an outstanding showcase of her willowy, seductive voice and natural interpretative skill." - Gramophone Magazine, September 2021.
