Mussorgsky, Modeste

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 PLAYSTATION 3 (LPCM OUTPUT) OR BLU-RAY PLAYER WITH DTS-HD MASTER AUDIO OUTPUT CONNECTED THROUGH 1.3 HDMI CABLE WITH DTS-HD MASTER AUDIO CAPABLE RECIVER. 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

Mussorgsky - Boris Godunov / Nesterenko, Sinyavskaya, Piavko, Kudryashov, Vedernikov, Eizen, Lazarev, Bolshoi Opera

Boris Godunov is the quintessential Russian opera and brings to the stage one of the most curious episodes in the history of 16th-century Russia. After Mussorgsky's death in 1881, the work was revised by Rimsky-Korsakov whose version is sung in this performance. The great moments come across potently: the coronation scene with its splendid processions and cries of "Glory!" contrasted with Boris's misgivings; the comedy of the scene with the country innkeeper and her wandering monk guests; the clock scene; the revolution scene in the Kromy Forest, which ends with a village idiot's lament for strife-torn Russia; and Boris's death. Boris Godunov stands as the greatest operatic product of the Russian school. With Evgeny Nesterenko as Boris Godunov, Nelya Lebedeva as Xenia, and the Chorus and Orchestra of the Bolshoi Theatre. Subtitles: English / French / German / Italian / Portuguese / Spanish / Japanese.

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 / Abbado, Ghiaurov, Atlantov, Vienna State Opera

Mussorgsky died before finishing this epic treatment of the 17th-century clash between Russian conservatives (the boyars and the Orthodox "Old Believers") and the progressive, Westernizing reformers led by Peter the Great. Among the composers who have reworked and completed the material, Shostakovich and Stravinsky are the most convincing, and their work is used in Claudio Abbado's interpretation. His orchestra and singers rank with the world's best.

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

This program is a live recording of Alfred Kirchner's production of Mussorgsky's "Khovanshchina" from the Vienna State Opera. Conducted by Claudio Abbado and featuring top vocalists from Russia and the Eastern Bloc in all the leading roles, this production was hailed as a triumph. Arguably Mussorgsky's greatest work, "Khovanshchina" is an opera of immense power and humanity set in the time when Peter the Great assumed power in Russia.

Mussorgsky/Stokowski: Pictures at an Exhibition; A Night on Bear Mountain & Serebrier: Symphony No. 3 'Symphonie Mystique'

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

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