Search - Rimsky-Korsakov, Manolov, Sofia Natl Opera & Orc :: Golden Cockerel

Giving the Tsar the magic bird

Craig Matteson | Ann Arbor, MI | 07/07/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"It is wonderful to have such a good recording of the complete opera. I first became interested in this opera while learning about Diaghilev and the Ballet Russe. And a few years back I saw a show in London at the Barbican on Diaghilev and the Ballet Russe that had original costumes, some sets, and prelimary drawings and sketches for their productions. Some of them were for their 1914 presentation of this opera with dance by Fokine.Yes, dance! They turned the opera into a ballet-opera! Well, this disk won't show you any dance, but you can hear the wonderful music and become familiar with what was so attractive to early twentieth century musicians, painters, and dancers of the avante-guard. This thoroughly tonal opera still had much that appealed to then very modern artists.The only thing this recording could have used that would make me rate it higher is a full libretto. We are provided a helpful synopsis of the story, but I still like to follow along."

The Golden Swansong

Kris De Ruysscher | Brussels, Belgium | 05/07/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"No pun intended... it was indeed the last opera Rimsky-Korsakov wrote. He never saw it performed due to the Tsar who clearly saw it as a parody on his weak rule. Where Kashchei the immortal was an opera that looked forward in ways of harmony and drama, this Golden Cockerel summarises Rimsky's whole comositional life, from his Kutchka-days, via his reconversion through self-learning, to his undisputed position at the St Petersburg conservatoire. If proof was needed, here it's found: Stravinsky got his mustard from Korsakov. The unorthodox harmonies, the lyric vocal writing, the exotic scales, the rhythmic development, all of this is so fresh and relevant to today's standards it's not difficult to understand why. For Russian-music buffs, this is a must have; for opera lovers seeking something other that the iron repertoire, it will be a delight to discover; to musiclovers united, it's a testament of a pantheist composer responsable for getting XXth Century Music on their final rails."

The only complete recording of a masterpiece

Osvaldo Colarusso | Curitiba, Paraná Brazil | 03/15/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"We have no choice. This is the only available complete record of this splendid opera. Is by far better than the old Russian one directed by two conductors (???). I can't understand how one opera of such importance can be so neglected by the great labels . Neither Tchakarov or Gergiev , two specialists in this repertoire , recorded Korsakow's last opera. We know that briefly we will have a new DVD in French conducted by Kent Nagano. May be it will be a good solution to a better knowledge of this masterpiece.
This Bulgarian recording isn't perfect but not bad at all. The tempi are always on the slow side. The singers are good but the conducting has no special enthusiasm and conviction, specially in the second act. The sound is very strange with a exaggerate reverberation .The orchestra and the chorus are excellent, always with a flawless musicality.
We have no choice. This CD is the only possibility we have to enjoy this fantastic music . And it isn't bad .Could it be better? A more enthusiast conductor could make the difference. But what really counts is that The Golden Cockerel is a masterpiece, and this recording is capable to show you all the qualities of Korsakow's last opera."