Thread: Russian Opera

In varous degrees I have a familiarity and love for 'western classical' music; German, English, French, Italian; but to a far lesser extent Russian. I have no idea why (subject for a future thread?) I seem to have an affinity with Russia. I am constantly drawn to that vast arrangement of nations though sadly I have never been there.

Good music is also too vast for one to be knowledgable about every one of its genres. So picking them off one by one I am going to make 2010 the year I focus on Russian composers, their music and their operas.

Any pointers would be appreciated, as long as it is uniquely Russian in character and sentiment. I haven't a single Russian opera DVD I am ashamed to say.

Three that I like very much.

Mussorgsky's 'Khovanschina' and 'Boris Godunov', Rimsky-Korsakov's operas, 'Life for the Tsar' (or 'Ivan Susanin', the Soviet edition of that opera) and 'Ruslan & Ludmila' by Glinka, there's Tchaikovsky's operas, of course, and many others. I suggest you start with Mussorgsky - Boris Godunov (original 1872 edition) and Korsakov - The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh. Both conducted by Gergiev and released on Philips.

I'm just beginning to explore Russian opera myself. I definitely second the recommendation of Mussorgsky's Boris Godunov. To this I would add Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin and Shostakovitch's The Nose which may just be the most audacious thing he ever composed... and certainly is Russian enough... set to Gogol's Kafkaesque tale.

Originally Posted by jhar26

Three that I like very much.

Can you tell us a bit about each one, Gaston? I've never heard a Prokofiev opera but love his orchestral and ballet music.

Originally Posted by mamascarlatti

Can you tell us a bit about each one, Gaston? I've never heard a Prokofiev opera but love his orchestral and ballet music.

The prokofiev is a comedy. It's very Rossini-like, a story about forbidden love and mistaken identities and it is indeed very amusing. It's even set in Seville! Both visually and musically this is a winner. The acting is excellent and the production is lively and colourful. I don't think that 20th century opera gets any more accessible than this.

Both the Glinka and Rimsky-Korsakov operas are fairy tales. They are less about drama - their main goal (especially in the case of "Sadko") is to entertain I feel. Not that drama is absent of course, I mean comparitively speaking. "Ruslan" is an almost four hour long work and the very young (only 23 years old) Anna Netrebko is the "star attraction." Her role is relatively small, but she gets to sing some elaborate arias that remind me - perhaps surprisingly in the context of Russian opera, of Bellini. But overall both these operas are definitely and uniquelly Russian in character. Not all of the singers in these operas (particularly in the case of "Sadko") are 100% convincing, but strange as this may sound - it hardly matters. There's lots of gorgeous music in both and visually they are stunning - effortlessly drawing you into their fantasy worlds. Apart from the fact that these operas must be very expensive to stage, it's hard to understand why they aren't better known in the west. Sure, it's not Verdi or Wagner, but they are very attractive and valuable works. Warmly recommended for those who want to try some very different, but instantly likable operas.

Originally Posted by jhar26

Sure, it's not Verdi or Wagner, but they are very attractive and valuable works. Warmly recommended for those who want to try some very different, but instantly likable operas.

Gaston, I went ahead and ordered all these and they are queued up - Thanks for the recommendations.

But before that, prompted probably by falling in love with prince Andrei when I read War and Peace in my twenties, I ordered this.



I've watched all of "Peace" and so far have thoroughly enjoyed it. It's a completely straightforward production in faithful period costume, visually attractive with fine young singers who sing well but really look the part.

And the music is magnificent, very dramatic. I thoroughly recommend it.

Originally Posted by mamascarlatti

Gaston, I went ahead and ordered all these and they are queued up - Thanks for the recommendations.

No problem. I hope you'll enjoy them.

Russian music is very likely my favorite music. Theres a certain flavor there that enchants me.






Also I imagine that Taneyev's Oresteia is excellent based on the comments of Rimsky-Korsakov, and I also have a recording of the overture which is great. Unfortunately the opera is seldom performed and never been filmed.

Shostakovich is one of my favourites, if you're looking for 20th century Russian opera. Though his works were often criticesed by the communist regime and he had ro re-work some of them. Fascinating history! The relationships between politics and music are always so interesting!

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Opera rules my world

Well, I'm certainly not going to shun the greatest!.....So, please let me mention Tchaikovsky You could spend the year on him alone.

thanks very

"The Nose" was performed by The Metropolitan Opera yesterday. This was broadcast on the radio but I actually wish I could have seen the performance.

There was a DG recording of the complete Oresteia by Taneyev, with the forces of the Belarussian opera in Minsk back in the 70s before the existence of CDs, but this has never been reissued in this format at far as I know. I'd really like to hear it, and recently heard the Chandos recording of the overture,along with his 4th symphony, and was struck by the overture.
I was already familiar with the symphony, which deserves to be heard more often.

Originally Posted by nickgray

Mussorgsky's 'Khovanschina' and 'Boris Godunov', Rimsky-Korsakov's operas, 'Life for the Tsar' (or 'Ivan Susanin', the Soviet edition of that opera) and 'Ruslan & Ludmila' by Glinka, there's Tchaikovsky's operas, of course, and many others. I suggest you start with Mussorgsky - Boris Godunov (original 1872 edition) and Korsakov - The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh. Both conducted by Gergiev and released on Philips.

Start with Boris Godunov? It's a very difficult opera, especially in its Mussorgsky orchestration in 1872 - which is not the original version, it is Mussorgsky's second version (more accessible in its Rimsky re-write).

I'd rather suggest to the original poster that he starts with something lighter like Eugene Onegin.