Search - Borodin, Alexander Melik-Pashayev, Bolshoi Theater :: Prince Igor (Original 1951 recording)

Excellent!

Sergey Sh. | Moscow Russia | 02/28/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This excellent recording won Grand Prix Du Disc in 1953 and has no rivals till now as I think.
Pirogov, Reizen, Ivanov, Lemeshev all are at top of their vocal and artistic form. Inspired conducting by Melik-Pashsaev is among his best achievments on record.
Excellent sound quality (for 1950s). The third act is omitted and the forth act is presented partially in accordance with old tradition of this opera performance."

Wholly authentic historical recording

Ralph Moore | Bishop's Stortford, UK | 01/24/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I wrote "historical" in my title as two previous Amazon.com "reviewers" have hopelessly skewed the browser's perception of this set by posting badly-spelled moans about what is perfectly acceptable early mono sound. It is indeed a bit fuzzy and blaring at climaxes but the voices and, to a somewhat lesser extent, the orchestra and chorus emerge clearly enough. If you want a set in modern(ish) stereo complete with Act 3 and the whole of Act 4 in the reconstructed version, I suggest the 1969 Bolshoi recording conducted by Mark Ermler.



Most people, however, will know what they are getting here and be happy with it: a wholly authentic performance by some sterling Russian singers directed by the vastly experienced and idiomatic Melik-Pashayev. Heading the cast is the distinguished baritone Andrei Ivanov, whose beautiful voice sounds uncannily like that of Pavel Lisitsian, without quite that peerless singer's distinction or distinctiveness. There are also two great basses in Mark Reizen and Alexander Pirogov, the former reminding me why he is my favourite Russian bass with his amplitude and nobility of tone, the latter close to retirement, a little rocky and wholly cavalier about pitch, but very characterful and clearly having a high old time as the roué Galitsky. A fine cast is completed by famous soprano Evgenyia Smolenskaya, whose bell-like sound animates Yaroslavna, ample-voiced contralto Vera Borisenko and of course Sergei Lemeshev, singing as sensitively and sweetly as ever as Vladimir. The chorus and orchestra are clearly immersed in this music; they sing and play with gusto and commitment.



As long as you don't expect excellent sound and don't mind the traditional cuts, you won't be disappointed."