I've given four stars to this CD for the perhaps rather weak reason that I can imagine them better sung - but I don't think anyone would be seriously disappointed by the performances or recording here. Tchaikovsky was not famed for his song-writing, though he wrote many songs. The Op. 73 Songs, written for Desiree Artot, with whom he once imagined himself in love, are serious and impassioned ; the Op. 54 Songs for Children are quite a different matter. Some of these are very slight, but the majority are charming. Kazarnovskaya tackles the difficult task of doing justice to these very differing songs well. Her voice is bold rather than beautiful, but she sings in tune and sensitively. The role of the piano is often important - there are some lovely little piano postludes here - and Orfenova likewise is idiomatic and convincing. The recorded balance is very good and the recording is excellent. Naxos are to be congratulated on providing us with all the Tchaikovsky songs on CD, this being Vol. 2, and the potential buyer need not hesitate.