Cheap Mussorgsky - Khovanshchina / Abbado, Ghiaurov, Atlantov, Vienna State Opera (DVD) (Brian Large) Price
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The plot is complex and rather disjointed, alternating between intimate, personal conflicts and crises (brilliantly portrayed by a stellar cast of solo singers) and broad, historical themes in which the focus is on the Russian people (represented by enormous, diverse, and highly skilled choral forces). To most Westerners, the historic situations and characters may be unfamiliar, but the libretto brings them vividly to life. Mussorgsky's score, borrowing idioms from Russian religious music and folksong, creates a convincing atmosphere and generates tremendous tension in one violent confrontation after another, leading up to one of the most spectacular final scenes in opera.
Khovanshchina is not the kind of opera usually associated with the Vienna State Opera, but this production uses Russian and Eastern European singers with Western imaginative freedom and technical expertise--a combination that surpasses the competing versions by Russian companies. It is a model of excellence in video opera production. --Joe McLellan
| CATEGORY: | DVD |
| DIRECTOR: | Brian Large |
| THEATRICAL RELEASE DATE: | 1989 |
| MANUFACTURER: | Image Entertainment |
| MPAA RATING: | NR (Not Rated) |
| FEATURES: | Classical, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, NTSC |
| TYPE: | Adult Situations, Arts & Entertainment, Atmospheric, Classical, Color, Earnest, Fathers and Sons, Forceful, Moody, Music, Musical Features, Opera, Opera / Operetta / Oratorio, Opera/Operetta, Performance, Performing Arts, Performing Arts - Opera, Political Unrest, Russia, Russian |
| MEDIA: | DVD |
| MPN: | 9243 |
| # OF MEDIA: | 1 |
| UPC: | 014381924329 |
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Customer Reviews of Mussorgsky - Khovanshchina / Abbado, Ghiaurov, Atlantov, Vienna State Opera
Khovanschina This is an enthralling performance. The soloists are all outstanding, and the choir sings with conviction and purpose. I had an old LP recording of Shostakovich's orchestration of the overture to Mussorgsky's opera, so I was always going to be interested in his orchestration of the complete work. This is a dark work, and the orchestra, at times, punctuates the action with menacing growls. <
>Interwoven into this plot of the struggle for power in Moscow, is a truly remarkable love story. <
>It is Marfa's love for the wayward Andrey Khovansky who is the son of Prince Ivan Khovansky-the heavy drinking and lecherous leader of the Streltsy.Marfa, sung with passion and dignity by Ludmila Semtschuk, is torn between earthly love and her faith. She has the ability to see the future, and predicts the inevitable end (the salvation for herself and Andrey) where the old believers, in act of martyrdom, refuse to be slain by Peter the Great's henchmen, and are consumed by flames. <
>Thank you for giving me the opportunity to submit this review.
Rare Opportunity
What a treat to be able to hear the final scene, the True Believer's chorus composed by Igor Stravinsky for Diaghilev's "restoration" of 1913. Richard Taruskin writes about it at length in "Stravinsky and the Russian Traditions."
Well-thought Khovanshchina
Abbado is a strong Mussorgsky-champion.
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>He cares not for the Russian tradition, perhaps rightly so, because the tradition actually concerns Rimsky-Korsakov's version, while he uses Shostakovich's.
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>Instead, he offers his own original ideas, treating the score as seriously as he would have treated a Wager or Mozart opera, with all the intellect and sophistication needed.
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>For comparison, listen to Opera D'oro's release of La Scala's Khovanshchina led by the Russian Leskovich.
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>Ghiaurov plays in both recordings the part of Ivan Khovansky.
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>Here he is past his prime, but uses his vast experience to put on a credible performance.
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>Paata Burchuladze is Dosifey. He has a subtle bass voice. He takes the opportunity to reach the low D in his great monolog.
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>Still, he's a bit young for being a convincing Dosifey.
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>Maybe he should have taken Khovansky and let Ghiaurov be Dosifey...
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>Atlantov is strikingly great singing Andrey's ungratefully difficult tessitura.
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>Kotcherga is in top shape (Strong voice, very strong). You get the notion why Abbado let him sing Boris in his later recording of Boris Godunov.
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>Semtschuk succeeds most of the time to push her chest tones, except for some slips, but she is obviously more comfortable in the higher register.
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>The orchestra and choir are musically flourished, although their pronouncing of the Russian words is obscure.
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>P.S It is also nice to have Zednick as the Scribbler!