Russian Opera Special

Kent Nagano conducts the Orchestre de Paris and the Chorus of the Mariinsky Theatre in a performance of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s operaThe Golden Cockerel, based on the novel “The House of the Weathercock” by Puschkin. The opera was completed in 1907 and premiered in 1909 in Moscow, after the composer's death. Staged by Ennosuke Ichikawa and directed by Thomas Grimm. Main soloists in this production are Albert Schagidullin (King Dodôn), Ilya Levinsky (Prince Guidôn), Andrei Breus (Prince Afrôn) and Ilya Bannik (General Polkân). Recorded in the Théatre Musicale de Paris in December 2002.

Valery Gergiev conducts the Choir and Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theatre in a performance of Tchaikovsky’s Mazeppa. This historical opera’s powerful story about political intrigue and a tragic love affair is based upon the poem Poltava by Pushkin. Mazeppa, a Ukrainian Cossack, is trying to keep his country out of the hands of Tsar Peter I of Russia. In his struggle he needs all the help he can get. The soloists are Nikolai Pitilin, Sergei Aleksashkin, Larissa Diadkova, Irina Loskutova, Viktor Lusiuk, Viacheslav Luhanin, Vladimir Zhivopistsev, Nikolai Gassiev. The opera was recorded at the Mariinsky Theatre, in 1996.

Valery Gergiev conducts the Choir and Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theatre in a performance of Borodin’s Prince Igor. Set in 1185, the opera tells the story of Prince Igor, ruler of the Russian city of Putivl, and his son, who want to subjugate the heathen Mongolian tribe of the Polovtsians. It is a spectacle of war, intrigue, and love illustrated by impressive stage decor, choir and mass scenes of Russian and Oriental folklore including the famous Polovtsian Dances. The soloists are Nikolai Putilin, Galina Gorchakova, Jevgeny Akimov, Sergey Aleksashkin, Vladimir Vaneev and Olga Borodina. The production was recorded at the Kirov Opera, in 1998.