Isabella Yurieva is one of the brightest interpreters of old Russian romance. Listening to her voice, you feel irresistable fascination of simple and sincere Russian melody, the whole gamut of feelings and emotions.
She was only a seventeen-year-old singer, when she came to Leningrad from Rostov-on-Don. There her debut was a real success.
Later Yurieva moved to Moscow and soon the whole Moscow theatrical music lovers knew her name.
The charm og youth and femininity combined with unpretentiousness were her main features at the performance. Slim, with fluffy fair hair, Yurieva was a beautiful and graceful woman without even a hint of that vulgar manner, typical of some variety singers. She was a good actress by nature and had a gift to contact with the audience. Addressing to her listeners Yurieva took into their confidence the thoughts, feelings and emotions of her songs' characters. Her unusually strong, robust voice, rare in timbre and beauty was especially alluring in high, broad notes. In her singing she expressed her own rich inner world, sense of music and lofty ideals of true love. She deepened the simple poetry of songs with versatility and delicity of musical intonations. In her best songs there was a sensation of an image and openness of feelings. That is why Yurieva's lyrical character appeared before her listeners as a sincere, respectful lady.
Yurieva performed old romances, romances of the 19th century, and modern lyrical songs. Gypsy romances were also included in her repertoire. While singing them she used typical Gypsy folk intonation and was nicknamed a "white Gypsy".
Yurieva had her own special "note", expressing cordial frankness and naivity. It was free "nightingale" note, close to open broad sounding of folk singing. It adorned beautiful, happy songs, where her hope and dreams were felt and heard.
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