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25 years after her debut recording with Decca Classics, celebrated soprano Angela Gheorghiu releases her solo album Plaisir d’amour. The 23-track album features rare and classic songs – all of which have never before been recorded by Angela – spanning four centuries in classical music. For this release, Angela takes us on a journey through the highs and lows of romance across eight countries around the world. Accompanied by her compatriot, pianist Alexandra Dariescu, the recital opens with two Romanian songs and includes such classics as Fauré’s "Après un rêve", Tosti’s "ideale", Strauss’ "Morgen" and the Chopin "Tristesse". Angela heads north to Russia, bringing to life two of Rachmaninoff’s songs, exploring with vocal dexterity the composer’s emotionally spontaneous style of song writing. Crossing the Atlantic, Angela leads us through the dense and humid forests of Villa-Lobos’s Brazil before returning to the Spanish mainland for Obradors’s fiery Andalusian flamenco song, "El Vito". “I have always enjoyed singing lieder and songs in different languages, because not only are these musical jewels, they are also little universes or complete stories in just a few pages… It is like a competition with yourself, challenging your interpretative force and vocal resistance. I wanted to record the vast repertoire on this disc for the first time with a real concert pianist… [Alexandra Dariescu] is one of the most important young pianists of our time, and her touch, sensibility, force, charisma and personality have conquered me. She is eclectic and full of courage in trying new experiences, just as I am… I hope the public all over the world will like it as much as we are enjoying offering it.” - Angela Gheorghiu