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Alexander Arkhipov (Kashchey The Immortal), Irina Zhurina (The Princess), Nina Terentieva (Kashcheyevna), Vladislav Verestnikov (Prince Ivan Korolevitch) & Vladimir Matorin (The Storm Knight) Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra & Yurlov Academic Choir, Andrey Chistiakov By 1901 Nikolai Rimsky‐Korsakov had already been a professor at the St Petersburg Conservatory for thirty years and had achieved considerable renown as a composer. Having written eleven operas of varying subject matter, his interest in folklore led him to Yevgeny Petrovsky’s libretto – based on the tales of the evil genie Kashchey – which would become the topic of his next stage work. The opera’s story – in which the malevolent Kashchey holds Princess Tsarevna captive – has been perceived as having an allegorical meaning, with Kashchey representing a tyrannical power and the eventual triumph over him a warning of political upheaval. Indeed, one memorable performance of the work took place in St Petersburg in the aftermath of Bloody Sunday (1905), with proceeds intended for families of the victims of the tragic event, and cries of ‘Down with autocracy!’ after the performance led police to evacuate the hall. The opera is written on a small scale, with just five characters, and the realm of the supernatural is emphasised through artificial modes. Further musical characterisation can also be found in the chromaticism and altered harmonies given to Kashchey, and the heroic lyricism of Prince Ivan Korolovitch. This recording features five acclaimed soloists who have all enjoyed successful careers in their native Russia. They are accompanied by the Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra and led by the late Andrey Chistiakov, the Orchestra’s conductor for twelve years. | 
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| |  | Aleko and Kaschey the Immortal
Rachmaninov: | Aleko Recorded in 1986 Konstantin Pluzhnikov (Kaschei), Natalya Lapina (Kashcheyevna - actress), E. Rubin (Kashcheyevna - singer), Alla Oding (Princess), Sofia Yalysheva (Princess), Valery Lebedev (Prince Ivan Korolevich), Yuri Stoyanov (The Storm Knight - actor), Alexander Morozov (The Storm Knight - singer) Moscow State Symphony Orchestra, Gosteleradio Chorus, Dimitri Kitayenko | Rimsky Korsakov: | Kashchey the Immortal Recorded in 1987 Nelli Volshaninova (Zemfira - actress), Svetlana Volkova (Zemfira - singer), Vladimir Golovin (Old Gypsy - actor), Vladimir Matorin (Old Gypsy - singer), Maria Papazian (Old Gypsy Woman - actress), Raisa Kotova (Old Gypsy Woman - singer), Sandor Semenov (Young Gypsy - actress), Mikhail Muntyan (Young Gypsy - singer) Dmitri Shostakovich Symphony Orchestra of Leningrad, A Trifonov |
A “double bill” of two Russian operatic masterpieces. Legendary bass Evgeny Nesterenko stars in the title role of Aleko (1892), an early work of Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943), written the composer was still a student at the Moscow Conservatory. Strongly influenced by the Italian verismo school (the plot is a close relation to that of Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci), the score is full of colorful evocations of Gypsy life and passionate emotional outpourings. The cast of this expansive 1986 film version, directed by Victor Okuntsov, includes members of Gypsy folk ensembles, adding to the production’s striking authenticity. The Moscow State Symphony Orchestra and Gosteleradio Chorus are under the direction of Dimitri Kitayenko. By contrast, Kashchey the Immortal (sometimes called Kashchey the Deathless) is very much a mature work of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908); it was the composer’s twelfth opera, and premiered in 1902. Moreover, its mythic setting and magical storyline (drawn from the same Russian folk tale that inspired Stravinsky’s ballet The Firebird) are worlds away from Aleko’s gritty realism. This 1987 Russian film version stars the great singing actor Konstantin Pluzhnikov in the title role (Pluzhnikov is also the Kaschey in the acclaimed CD recording conducted by Valery Gergiev). Directed by Oleg Yeryshev, the film goes far beyond what could be achieved in a stage production, adding clarity, depth, and spectacle to this poignant fairy tale. 124 minutes, Color, 4:3, Mono, All regions Subtitles in English and Russian | | | Usually despatched in 4 - 5 working days. |
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| |  | Rimsky Korsakov: 5 Operas
Rimsky Korsakov: | Kashchey the Immortal Konstantin Pluzhhnikov (Kashchey the Immortal), Marina Shaguch (The Princess), Larissa Diadkova (Kashcheyevna), Alexander Gergalov (Prince Ivan Korolevich) & Alexander Morozov (The Storm Knight) The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh and the Maiden Fevronia Nicolai Ohotnikov (Prince Yury Vsevolodich), Yuri Masurin (Prince Vsevolod), Galina Gorchakova (Fevroniya), Vladimir Galuzin (Grishka Kuter' ma), Nicolai Putilin (Feodor Poyarok), Olga Korzhenskaya (Page), Evgeny Boitsov, Evgeny Fedorov (Two well-off people), Mikhail Kit (Gusli player), Nikolai Gassiev (Bear leader), Grigory Karazev (Singing beggar), Bulat Minjilkiev (Bedyay), Vladimir Ognovienko (Burunday), Tatiana Kravtsova (Sirin) & Larissa Diadkova (Alkonost) The Maid of Pskov Vladimir Ognovienko (Ivan the Terrible), Galina Gorchakova (Princess Olga), Vladimir Galusin (Mikhail A. Tucha), Ludmilla Filatova (Vlasyevna), Evgenia Perlasova (Perfilyevna), Olga Korzhenskaya (Styosha), Gennady Bezzubenkov (Prince Yuri I. Tokmakov), Nikolai Gassiev (Boyar Nikita Matuta), Evegeny Fedotov (Prince Afanasy Vyazemski), Georgy Zastavni (Yushko Velebin) & Yuri Laptev (Bomelius) The Tsar's Bride Gennady Bezzubenkov (Vasily Stepanovich Sobakin), Marina Shaguch (Marfa), Dmitri Hvorostovsky (Grigory Grigoryevich Gryaznoy), Sergei Alexashkin (Grigory Lukyanovich Malyuta-Skuratov), Evgeny Akimov (Ivan Sergeyevich Lykov), Olga Borodina (Lyubasha), Nikolai Gassiev (Yelisey Bomelius), Irina Loskutova (Domna Ivanovna Saburova), Olga Markova-Mikhailenko (Dunyasha), Lyubov Sokolova (Petrovna), Yuri Shkliar (Stoker), Lyudmila Kasjanenko (Serving Girl) & Viktor Vikhrov (Lad) Sadko (opera) Vladimir Galusin (Sadko), Marianna Tarassova (Marianna Tarassova), Sergei Alexashkin (Okian-more), Valentina Tsidipova (Volkhova), Larissa Diadkova (Nezhata), Vladimir Ognovenko (Duda), Nikolai Gassiev (Sopel), Evgeni Boitsov (Foma Nazarich), Gennadi Bezzubenkov (Luka Zinovich), Bulat Minjelkiev (Varangian Merchant), Alexander Gergalov (Venetian Merchant), Gegam Grigorian (Indian Merchant) & Nikolai Putilin (Apparition) |
Kirov Opera & Orchestra, Mariinsky Theatre, St. Petersburg, Valery Gergiev Enter the magical world of Rimsky-Korsakov opera with five celebrated recordings made by the Kirov Opera under Valery Gergiev: Kashchey the Immortal, Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh, The Maid of Pskov, Sadko, and The Tsar's Bride – a unique set with no competition on the market. A great follow-up to the earlier Prokofiev Operas box (4782315). Synopses included. | | | (Sorry, download not available in your country) | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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