Search - Mussorgsky, Pernet :: Boris Godunov

Ansermet and Boris Godunov: A great "live" recording.

silvio lamberti | Buenos Aires Argentina | 11/29/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"One of the most important and thrilling recordings of Mussorgsky's Broris Godunov (revised by Rimsky-Korsakoff, 1896 and 1908) with an immense conductor -Ernest Ansermet- measuring every musical phrase and breathing, singing and acting with his singers (basses André Pernet in the title role and Jean Claverie as Pimen; tenor Francis Armel, René Bonneval and Hugues Cuenod as False Dimitry, Prince Shuissky and The Innocent; mezzo Renée Gilly as Marina).
All the parts -orchestral, choral and soloists- have been carefully worked and deeply understood by the interpreters. Ansermet's compenetration with this music is one of the highlights of his imperishable art. A classic.
The french singing does not compare unfavorably with the original russian. Excelent sound very well remastered, considering the date of actual performance recording (1948). Great musical achievment.
About CDs presentation the historical notice is good. Singers' biographies can be improved, although the complete cast is not reviewed. There is no orchestra indicated (Suisse Romande? I think it is), neither chorus (Chorus Suisse Romande? From the Grand Theatre de Geneve?), theatre (Grand Theatre de Geneve?) nor exact date of actual performance."

Ansermet At His Peak

William R. Tucker | Tucson, Arizona United States | 05/19/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Ernest Ansermet was noted as a superb interpretor of the French and Russian orchestral repertoires, but here he turns to opera. The performance brings us first-rate artists in all the roles and the thrill of a live performance is exhilerating to the listener. There are background noises, but these are canceled by the sheer splendor of the singing and the orchestral playing. The French translation is well-suited to the drama and to the Gallic conception we have here."