Came for Anna Netrebko, stayed for Valery Gergiev I found out about this DVD, from an extra on the DVD, "Anna Netrebko, the Woman, the Voice." Netrebko was just 23 when she starred in this production, and she could not have been more beautiful. Her voice matched her beauty in every way, as did her piquant acting - just the way real life should be. Like most people, the only thing I knew about the opera was the overture, one of the all time great pot-boilers. I never tire of hearing it. The opera itself is very interesting with uniquely Russian (I can say that because apparently Glinka started it all,) combinations of voices, three basses singing with one soprano, a weirdly pitched dramatic tenor as the Bard, and a very strange trouser role of the Persian prince. The opera's about four hours long, on two disks. But the real special find on this DVD are the extras, an 18 minute documentary of the making of the opera and its history, and then an hour documentary about Valery Gergiev's life and connections to music. That one hour is worth the entire DVD. To see and hear that kind of talent, intensity, humanity, how it was impacted by the history and politics of Russia, for anyone who loves music, it is a MUST HAVE! One little side note, in the 18 minute documentary about the opera, Gergiev mentions that they recreated the sets and costumes from the 1891 production, (which was the 50th anniversary production of the work,) and that it was very light. He added, "many opera productions are really dark, so it doesn't much matter what the singers look like, but this one, being so light, we knew we had to find a Lyudmila who looked the part." They did.
Learning to love opera I admit to be a recent convert to opera, thanks mainly to subtitles that allow one to follow the story. A friend loaned me his copy of L'Elisir D'Amore, I liked it so much I bought my own copy and bought Rusal and Lyudmila to see more of Netrebko. Although we don't see or hear much of her in the opera since she spends most of it as a kidnap victim or in a coma, I thoroughly enjoyed this magical opera and the bonus interview with Gergiev. The costumes are lavish, the Kirov ballet in the enchanter's castle a delight. All in all, I'm nore than glad I risked my hard earned dollars to buy this DVD.
Worth having as a DVD. This is a rare `historical' performance of Mikhail Glinka's fairytale opera, and is invaluable in several respects. The sets and costumes followed almost exactly a 1910 production, and provide audience with a glimpse of what operas were like in their heydays. The sorcerer Chernomer is a real joy to watch in this production. The storyline is akin to Mozart's Die Zauberflote. Obviously casting is important in such fairytales. As Valery Gergiev himself puts it in the interview excerpt on the `bonus' track, he has casted the heroine Lyudmila with the young Anna Netrebko (then not yet 24) as one of the most risky move in this production. The less good news of this recording is the long opening ballad by the `big-voiced' tenor who sang the Bard Bayan. The voice is big but a bit flat, and monochromatic. Then the good news start to break as Netrebko's performance proves to be a win for Gergiev and the audience. Devastatingly beautiful, fresh of voice and with vivacious personality, this is a dream Lyudmila in many respects. I would not go to criticise her coloratura in the first aria in Act 1 - it is clearly adequate, if not great. Ms Netrebko's voice in this recording was gorgeous, girlish, pure and silvery with a ringing top, without any of the darkened mushiness in the recent recording of her Russian Album, again with Gergiev. Her second scene and aria demonstrates her prowess in ensembles, and really over-scored for a 23 year-old lyrical soprano. The other members of the cast are even, Vladimir Ognovenko's Ruslan being a dark-hued bass baritone that warmed up after the first two arias, even if he sounds a bit too old and his acting isn't that riveting. Konstantin Pluzhnikov as the Finn had a couple of scenes with Ruslan that are both convincingly and entertainingly sung and acted with an otherwise boring text. I have a strong feeling that Ognovenko's performance here was actually being `saved' by Pluzhnikov. Galina Gorchadova appropriately sings the more mature Gorislava, but the vocal star of this performance is Larissa Diadkova in the breeches role of Prince Ratmir. I have yet to hear a contralto with such rich tone and dramatic expression as Diadkova. And her portrayal of the poetic prince Ratmir is so visually convincing that I nearly mistook her for a counter-tenor in the initial scene. It would have been perfect had Gorchadova's Gorislava been slightly shorter. There were two ballet scenes in the opera, with wonderful choregraphy and superlative performances by the Kirov Ballet. Without the all-time first-rate Bolshoi version available on DVD, this Kirov version is certainly worth your money and time.
Great music, beautiful staging. I've played the Overture to this opera too many times (though never as fast as Gergiev's tempo) but I have never heard the whole opera. With 5 acts it's definitely not for beginners and requires some stamina to get through, but it pays off in the end (at the premiere, I believe even the Tsar's family left after the 4th act). The music is excellent and very exotic interspersed with Russian-Ukrainian themes as well as Persian.The music sounds more modern than 1840's and you can tell how this opera influenced Russian composers up to Stravinksy. The costumes and sets are great and the singing is excellent. The DVD extras are most interesting and the sound and camerawork are suprisingly good for a 10 year old Russian production.
Learning to Enjoy Russian Opera With Valery Gergiev conducting and Anna Netrebko in her youth (20) as part of the cast, I decided this was the best time for me to get a taste of Glinka's Russian Opera, and get used to listening to words sung in Russian. This was a great place to start - simple story, beautiful singing , props and staging.I knew none of the rest of the cast - but they can sing.A little long in places...yes - but what opera is not?? The Russian audience is appreciative, but oh so polite. Here's the bonus-A documentary (about 50 minutes long) -CATCHING UP WITH MUSIC - introducing Valery Gergiev an amazing conductor, and the ways of Opera in Russia. Anna Netrebko was only 20 years old at the time of the performance.Gergiev took the risk having her perform at so young an age - and it paid off... Worth buying - definitely if it's time to explore Russian Opera. The subtitles help in understanding the story...and in time I could 'hear' the words sung in Russian. (I am so used Operas sung in Italian,French and German). It also convinced me to buy Ann'a CD - Russian Album (with libretto) with Gergiev conducting.
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Tailipoe
Trevor
