Tchaikovsky: Cherevichki (The Slippers)

After its completion Tchaikovsky considered his opera Cherevichki “his finest work”. Cherevichki is vintage Tchaikovsky, the master of miniature: fantasy, colour, wit, charm and folkloristic elements, fused together into the great form of a large scale opera.

A superb live performance with vibrant Russian voices, directed by veteran Gennadi Rozhdestvensky.

A “10/10” for this production from ClassicsToday.com! Issued in the Brilliant Classics Opera Collection.

Despite Tchaikovsky’s conviction that his eighth complete opera – Cherevichki – was his ‘finest work’, deserving of a prime place in the opera repertoire, listeners outside Russia have never demonstrated the enthusiasm and appreciation that the composer evidently felt was merited. After its initial performances, Cherevichki was not staged again during Tchaikovsky’s lifetime, but as this fine release – one of the only recordings on the market today – attests, the work is ripe for rediscovery.

A revision of the earlier work Vakula the Smith, the opera tells the story of Vakula, whose courtship of his beloved Oksana is thwarted by Bes, a devil. Oksana will only give her love in exchange for the Tsarina’s shoes, so Vakula embarks upon a journey to the palace, where he hopes to outsmart Bes’s diabolical schemes and obtain the shoes through his own cunning. Although listeners will be delighted by the moments of luminous orchestral beauty, sumptuous arias and sparkling dances that are such a familiar part of Tchaikovsky’s music, Cherevichki is surprising for its humour, which reveals the composer’s masterful talent for characterisation.

Blending comedy, fantasy, colour, elegance and allusions to Russian folksong, Cherevichki gives voice to the many facets of Tchaikovsky’s compositional skill. With this fantastic new addition to the Brilliant Classics Opera Collection, listeners can rediscover one of his forgotten operatic masterpieces, performed with skill and imagination under the esteemed direction of Gennady Rozhdestvensky.

Recorded in 2000

60 CD + CD-ROM

A high voltage set capturing the inner passion of the Russian soul, from the light-footed ballets to the tormented Pathetique Symphony, from a delicate song to the explosions of Overture 1812, the Tchaikovsky Edition includes the complete symphonies, complete concertos, complete ballets, complete suites, complete piano works, complete string quartets, complete songs and 8 operas (sung in Russian, by Russian singers)

Includes performances of legendary Russian artists, such as Sviatoslav Richter, Emil Gilels, David Oistrakh, Leonid Kogan, Evgeny Kissin, and conductors Gennady Rozhdestvensky, Evgeny Mravinsky, Yuri Simonov, Vladimir Fedoseyev.

Includes rare historical recordings of great collector’s value.

A comprehensive survey of Tchaikovsky’s output, spanning 60CDs with a CD-ROM containing comprehensive booklet notes, and sung texts.

This set also contains historical recordings from great interpreters including Ernest Ansermet in performances of the 6th Symphony and the three great ballets. Byron Janis plays the 1st Piano Concerto, Shura Cherkassky in the 2nd, and Michael Ponti in the Taneyev reconstruction of the 3rd concerto. The Oistrakh Trio perform the Piano Trio, The 1st concerto again in performances by Lev Oborin and Emil Gilels, Sviatoslav Richter and Yevgeny Kissin. Leonid Kogan and David Oistrakh can be heard in the Violin Concerto.

In addition to these fascinating documents the 6 symphonies, all the chamber music, songs and piano works can be heard in modern recordings. The operas are presented in historical Russian recordings from the Bolshoi with some great Russian voices of the 20th century.