Mikhail Glinka Ruslan and Lyudmila A Magic Opera in Three Parts 3 Multichannel Hybrid SACDs Duration - 204 minutes | Ruslan and LyudmilaIn April, 2003, The Bolshoi Theatre presented a unique music project based on authentic performance principles: Mkhail Glinka’s opera Ruslan and Ludmila was played for the first time as per its original, reconstructed specially for the Bolshoi Theatre, score.In 2004, the Dutch firm of PentaTone released its recording of the premiere performances on three CDs. The recording made in state-of-the-art SuperAudio CD surround technology conveys the "live" sound of these performances and the unique acoustics of the Bolshoi Theatre auditorium. The set comes with a booklet containing the full text of the libretto and articles commenting on the distinguishing features of the score. "This remarkable recording deserves to attract attention if only because the opera is given in its original version. Presented by the Bolshoi Theatre, this is a full recording: it contains everything down to the last dance and replay". (Gramophon, Germany) "This is one of the best SuperAudio CDs. In multi-canal sound, the orchestra, cborus and soloists are excellently balanced. Each detail of the orchestration is crystal clear, the different timbres of the chorus are subtly distinct, and the balance between the participants is smooth and sustained." (amazon.com site) Conductor: Alexander Vedernikov Chorus Master: Valery Borisov Ruslan - Taras Shtonda Lyudmila - Yekaterina Morozova Svetozar - Vadim Lynkovsky Ratmir - Alexandra Durseneva Finn - Vitaly Panfilov Gorislava - Maria Gavrilova Farlaf - Valeri Gilmanov Bayan - Maksim Paster Naina - Irina Dolzhenko |
Highlights from Russian Operas Bolshoi Opera Soloists, Orchestra and Chorus Conductor – Alexander Vedernikov PentaTone 5186 089 CD DSD recorded 2006 Total playing time: 1.15.59 | Highlights from Russian OperasMikhail GlinkaA Life for the Tsar 1. Bog vojnyi posle bitv… (After the battle the god of war) - Polonaise and chorus Playing time: 4. 39 2. Tchujut pravdu! (They sense the truth!) – Ivan Susanin’s aria Vladimir Matorin Playing time: 5. 08 Alexander Dargomyzhsky Rusalka 3. Nevol’no k etim grustnyim beregam.. (Some unknown power) - Prince’s cavatina Playing time: 6. 00 4. Chto eto znachit? (What does this mean?) – Mad scene Mikhail Gubsky (Prince) Alexander Naumenko (Miller) Male chorus Playing time: 11. 39 Pyotr Tchaikovsky Iolanta 5. Net, charyi lask krasyi myatezhnoj… (No, the charms of a voluptuous beauty) -Vaudemont’s romance Vsevolod Grivnov Playing time: 4. 14 The Queen of Spades 6. Uzh polnoch blizitsya (It is close on midnight already) - Liza’s aria Elena Zelenskaya Playing time: 5. 14 Mazeppa 7. O Marija, Marija - Mazeppa’s arioso Yuri Nechaev Playing time: 5. 12 Sergei Rakhmaninov Aleko 8. Volshebnoy siloy pesnopen’ya (The magic power of song) - Old Gipsy’s Story Taras Shtonda Male chorus Playing time: 5. 25 Alexander Borodin Prince Igor 9. Ni sna ne otdykha (No sleep no rest) - Prince Igor’s aria Playing time: 6. 53 10. Zdorov li, knyaz? (Are you in good health, Prince?) - Konchak’ s aria Playing time: 6. 31 11. Gey, privesti syuda! (Hey, bring the captive girls here!) - Recitativo Playing time: 2. 57 12. Polovtsian Dances Yuri Nechaev (Prince Igor) Valery Gilmanov (Konchak) Chorus " The Russians have been better known for their baritones and basses, and Vladimir Matorin, Alexander Naumenko, and Yuri Nechaev contribute greatly to that tradition, and Vsevolod Grivnov scores points with his solid, expressive, lyric tenor. The last piece on the disc is a knockout, a no-holds-barred, no-prisoners-taken version of the famous Polovtsian Dances from Prince Igor. Conductor Alexander Vedernikov’s tempos are faster than any others I have heard in these dances, but because his players are first-class, this creates excitement, not chaos. The swirling woodwind solos are breathtaking. Rad Bennett (goodsound.com) |
 | Eugene OneginPyotr TchaikovskyEugene Onegin Lyric scenes in two acts Bel Air Classiques DVD 2009 Conductor - Alexander Vedernikov Director - Dmitri Tcherniakov Eugene Onegin - Mariusz Kwiecien Tatiana - Tatiana Monogarova Vladimir Lensky - Andrei Dunaev Olga - Margarita Mamsirova Madame Larina - Makvala Kasrashvili Filippievna - Emma Sarkisyan Prince Gremin - Anatoli Kotscherga Zaretsky - Valery Gilmanov Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra and Chorus |
Alban Berg Wozzeck Opera in three acts Bel Air Classiques DVD 2012 | WozzeckConductor: Teodor CurrentzisStage direction and set design: Dmitri Tcherniakov Wozzeck — Georg Nigl Marie — Mardi Byers Drum-major — Roman Muravitsky Andres — Roman Shulakov Captain — Maxim Paster Doctor — Pyotr Migunov Margret — Xenia Vyaznikova First Apprentice — Valery Gilmanov Second Apprentice — Nikolai Kazansky Madman — Leonid Vilensky Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra and Chorus Director: Andy Sommer |
