Mussorgsky, Modeste

Mussorgsky - Boris Godunov

MUSSORGSKY: Pictures at an Exhibition / Boris Godunov/ Night on Bare Mountain (Stokowski Transcriptions) - Acoustic Reality Experience [7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio Disc] [Blu-ray]

THIS BLU-RAY SURROUND MUSIC DISC DELIVERS AN AMAZING ACOUSTIC REALITY EXPERIENCE THROUGH ANY BLU-RAY (PS3) PLAYER WITH AN HDMI OR OPTICAL (core only 5.1 and 6.1) OUTPUT CONNECTED OR ASSEMBLED WITH DTS-HD MASTER AUDIO OR DTS (core only 5.1 and 6.1) CAPABLE PLAYBACK SYSTEM THE FULL RANGE 7.1 (6.1;5.1) SURROUND SPEAKER SET-UP IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR FULL PERCEPTION OF ACOUSTIC REALITY AND LOW FREQUENCY CHANNEL (LFE) THAT IS VERY CRITICAL FOR THIS RECORD. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS RECORD WAS ORIGINALLY PRODUCED FOR 5.1 AND PRESENTED FOR 7.1 SURROUND SOUND REPRODUCTION TO PROVIDE YOU WITH UNIQUE ACOUSTIC REALITY EXPERIENCE.

This disc is Audio Only.

Mussorgsky - Boris Godunov / Nesterenko, Arkhipova, Piavko, Yaroslavtsev, Sokolov, Khaikin, Bolshoi Opera

Chicago Symphony Orchestra - Historic Telecasts with George Szell (Mussorgsky / Beethoven / Berlioz / Mozart)

Featuring original footage of performances originally broadcast in 1961, this program of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra conducted by 20th-century heavyweight maestro George Szell is a pleasure to watch in more ways than one. Acting as a kind of time capsule, the program, consisting mostly of popular pieces by Beethoven, Berlioz, Mussorgsky, and Mozart, reminds us of an era when classical concerts were beamed into homes as regular Sunday-evening fare. Guest cellist Erica Morini commands a searing and stately performance through the Mozart Violin Concerto, but the star of the night here, of course, is Szell himself, and this release gives enthusiasts the opportunity at last to experience the conducting legend in as intimate a setting as is currently available. While the clarity of the picture often falls victim to the technology of the time--in some segments the black-and-white video could be described as flat-out blurry--the sound overall is surprisingly good. Rest assured, however, that any shortcomings in the quality of the 40-year old videotape is more than compensated by the chance to watch Szell in the twilight of his career conducting with such passion and virtuosity. --Karl Wachter

Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto & Mussorgsky Pictures at an Exhibition / Ormandy, Perlman, Philadelphia Orchestra [Region 2]

Mussorgsky - Boris Godunov / Matti Salminen, Philip Langridge, Eric Halfvarson, Par Lindkog, Albert Schagidullin, Anatoli Kotxerga, Brian Asawa, Barcelona Opera

Mussorgsky: Khovanshchina

Mussorgsky - Boris Godunov / Nesterenko, Piavko, Arkhipova, Yaroslavtsev, Kalinina, Sokolov, Eisen, Khaikin, Bolshoi Opera

Universally acknowledged as the greatest of all Russian operas, this is a faithful and often dazzling production of the standard Rimsky-Korsakov version taped ³live² at the Bolshoi in 1978. As Boris, the renowned Yevgeni Nesterenko is as justifiably identified with the role in his generation as Chaliapin, London and Kipness were in theirs. Nesterenko gives a remarkably vivid, human portrait of the tormented half-crazed Tsar, and is supported by a first rate ensemble in a richly designed and costumed production that represents opera at its grandest. Particularly outstanding are Vladislav Piavko as the Pretender, Valery Yaroslavtsev as Pimen, Irina Arkhipova as Marina (a role generally associated with Vishnevskaya), Galina Kalinina as Xenia, and Aleksei Maslennikov as the Simpleton Because of its complex structure and excessive length, Boris is seldom performed without cuts, chief among these is Marina¹s Boudoir scene whose omission here is hardly obtrusive. Of greater importance, however, is the logical reverse order of the final two scenes. In Mussorgsky¹s original version, Boris¹s death preceded the ³revolutionary scene² which ends the opera. In the Rimsky-Korsakov version, the death of Boris finishes the epic with a shattering impact leaving the viewer overwhelmed. Boris Khaikin conducts the most complete version of this masterwork currently available on DVD. The sound recording is good, and viewers may also be amused as the camera discreetly tours the Bolshoi Theatre during the few recorded minutes of intermission. This rare performance of Boris Godunov is the finest and only full length version of this opera on DVD. It captures Yevgeni Nesterenko at the high point of his brilliant career. It is a total Russian production of stunning depth and magnitude. - Richard Hornack Opera News

Mussorgsky - Khovanshchina / Nesterenko, Vedernikov, Arkhipova, Simonov, Bolshoi Opera

Khovanschina is an opera in 5 acts by Mussorgsky, completed and orchestrated by Rimsky-Korsakov. Libretto by the composer and Vladimir Stasov. First performed St. Petersburg, 21 Feb. 1886. Khovanschina is one of Russian opera's infrequently performed masterpieces, a work which has been gaining steadily in popularity in recent years. "The Khovansky Uprising" (as the title is often translated) is a sprawling tale of the struggle for power in Russia at the beginning of the reign of Peter The Great. This performance, taped "live" at the Bolshoi Opera in 1979, stars the great Russian bass Yevgeni Nesterenko as Dosifei, the Old Believer at religious and psychological war with the new order, led by Prince Ivan Khovansky. The manipulative Khovansky is powerfully portrayed here by Alexander Vedernikov, another of the world's great basses, little known outside of the Soviet Union. Marfa, one of Dosifei's followers and a fortune teller, is sung by the legendary mezzo-soprano Irina Arkhipova in a performance of great authority and dignity. Russian opera at the Bolshoi is the genuine article, and a remainder of the cast is equally impressive, from the mistrusting Prince Galitsyn of Evgeny Raikov to the clever, informing Shaklovity of Vladislav Romanovsky

Herbert Von Karajan - His Legacy for Home Video: Modest Mussorgsky - Pictures at an Exhibition