It is hard to miss Kurzak’s impressive vocal strength and projection. Her nuanced use of dynamics is well beyond the norm…every fluctuation is present in Cio-Cio San’s ‘One fine day’…The rapport between singer and orchestra is consistently good.

In many ways it’s impressive, and she does a good job of everything she sings here – within the limitations imposed by her neatly produced, flexible but hardly luxurious voice...the voice isn’t what we’re used to [in Verdi], but Kurzak offers pinpoint, lightweight but pleasing performances of ‘D’amor sull’ali rosee’ and the Vespri Bolero...And no one should miss her heartbreaking performance of the tragic heroine’s final aria from Moniuszko’s Halka.

Kurzak sounds ripe and ready to take on Dvořák’s water nymph. Micaëla’s third-act aria from Carmen suits her well too, but then it always would have done. Elena’s ‘Mercè, dilette amiche’ from Verdi’s I vespri siciliani is another winner; but the disc’s highlight is taken from Halka...This example of Kurzak singing her own native language sits proudly at the centre of the album, and she delivers the harrowing moment with visceral engagement.