Dmitri Hvorostovsky - Songs and Dances of Death

Dmitri Hvorostovsky (Artist), Sergei Rachmaninov (Composer), Alexander Borodin (Composer), Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (Composer), Anton Rubinstein (Composer), Valery Gergiev (Conductor), St. Petersburg Kirov Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: St. Petersburg Kirov Orchestra
• Conductor: Valery Gergiev
• Composer: Sergei Rachmaninov, Alexander Borodin, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Anton Rubinstein
• Audio CD (March 15, 1994)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Philips
• ASIN: B00000418A
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #71,991 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Sadko: 'Gorat kamennyj'; 'Gorat prekrasnyj'

2. Kashei The Immortal: 'Gluhaja noch'

3. Snow Maiden: 'Na t'oplam sinem more'

4. The Tsar's Bride: 'S uma nejdot krasvitsa!'

5. Prince Igor: 'Ni sna, ni otdyha izmuchennaj dushe'

6. The Demon: 'Ne plach dit'a'

7. The Demon: 'Na vazdushnam akeane'

8. The Demon: 'Ja tot, katoramu vnimala'

9. The Demon - Nero: ''Paju tebe, Boh Gimenej!'

10. Aleko: 'Ves' tabar spit'

11. Songs And Dances Of Death: Lulluaby

12. Songs And Dances Of Death: Serenade

13. Songs And Dances Of Death: 'Trepak'

14. Songs And Dances Of Death: The Field Marshal

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording

Mussorgsky's four songs known collectively as Songs and Dances of Death make up 20 minutes of the most intense storytelling in 19th-century song. At first, Hvorostovsky's voice seems almost too beautiful, his sound almost too youthful to fill out these narratives, but his concentration and breath control are so sensational that we realize what he's up to. He's spinning us seductively into the spooky world of these songs, where Death converses in turn with the mother of a dying child, a young girl, an old peasant, and dying soldiers; Hvorostovsky nicely changes his tone for each song. The rest of the CD is equally fine, with two arias from Anton Rubinstein's The Demon particularly compelling. Quite an adventure! --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Breathtaking!, November 23, 1999

By 

"tenor_in_training" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dmitri Hvorostovsky - Songs and Dances of Death (Audio CD)

This is my favorite Dmitri Hvorostovsky CD. Not only he included the famous Russian opera arias for baritone, but he also added the magnificent "Songs and Dances of Death" by Modeste Mussorgsky brilliantly arranged for orchestra by Dmitri Shostakovich. Originally, Mussorgsky composed this terrifying masterpiece for different voices singing each piece, i.e. one for bass, one for tenor, one for contralto. Shostakovich decided to arrange it for orchestra for the Prima Donna of Bolshoi and his good friend Galina Vishnevskaya. He also made the pieces grimmer, so to speak, with his booming rhythmic percussion and "ticking clock" strings. In her book, Galina Vishnevskaya contrasts Shostakovich's terror of death to Mussorgsky's faithful acceptance of it.

Hearing Dmitri sing "Songs and Dances" in his baritone key is somewhat of a revelation. Not having the benefit of soprano's flying vocal pyrotechnics, Dmitri chose to put all the terror he could muster in his singing. On "Trepak" he resorts to folk song's vivacity and in "Field Marchall" he sings the voice of Death with suffocating anger towards the living. The "Serenade" sparkles with warm seductive sound and "Lullaby" sounds as it is sang by two different voices. It is indeed spine-chilling.

The rest of the album is just as impressive. The Rimsky-Korsakov and Borodin selections are a part of Russian traditional baritone repertoire; Hvoristovsky approaches them with utmost seriousness and dedication. The Rubinstein and Rachmaninov arias are rare, the ones from "Demon" and "Aleko" used to be sang by basses or bass/baritones, for example Nicolai Ghiaurov and George London. But Dmitri is able to hit the low notes just fine, thereby fending off some critic's preposterous remarks about his lower range. Actually he manages to sound like a lyric basso, which is quite an accomplishment. And the breath control on "Na Vozdushnom Okeane" is nothing short of remarkable. Valery Gergiev brings his trademark intensity and imaginative reading to the music and the Kirov Orchestra is in top shape. Somehow I think that transposing the Mussorgsky selections for the baritone was his idea. Btw, Dmitri's singing idol, the great Fyodor Chaliapin recorded only "Trepak" out of the whole song cycle. Thus Dmitri's is, in a sense, finishing what Chaliapin had started. As always, the Philips sound is wonderful and spacious. The booklet is informative, but a serious listener may want to do some more research. Personally I longed for Cyrillic texts, but the translations are pretty accurate, so that those unfamiliar with Russian could get an overall understanding, which is absolutely essential for this fascinating material.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dmitri at his darkest and most compelling, October 12, 2001

By 

DJ McGovern "Derek McGovern" (Busan, South Korea) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dmitri Hvorostovsky - Songs and Dances of Death (Audio CD)

I couldn't agree more with Robert Levine and Stephen Ettinger's most informative reviews. Prior to purchasing this CD, I had read elsewhere that Hvorostovsky's upper register was in trouble on this album. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. Having now heard the album I can happily report that Dmitri's upper, middle AND lower registers are perfectly equalized, and I strongly urge any doubting critics to retire gracefully. For this is a magnificent album from one of the most exciting baritones of the last 25 years. It ranks alongside Hvorostovsky's CD of the Sviridov song cycle, Russia Cast Adrift, as a celebration of sheer individualism in singing. Both albums display the hallmarks of this wonderful singer - the dark and intensely concentrated sound, the extraordinary breath control and superb attention to the phrasing. Just 31 when he recorded the present CD, Hvorostovsky brings such insight to his singing that he puts most of his contemporaries to shame. This album demonstrates everything that great singing should be: dazzling vocalism combined with innate feeling for the words.

Always at his best in the Russian repertoire, Hvorostovsky has chosen this programme wisely. He covers a wide range of moods, starting out with the joyous Venetian's Song from Rimsky-Korsakov's Sadko, and moving through some highly melodic works from Borodin and Rubinstein before arriving at Rachmaninov's darkly compelling Ves' Tabar Spit from the opera Aleko. For the latter he employs a more sombre style than the lustier approach favoured by, say, Ghiaurov, but this sets the scene well for the Songs and Dances of Death that follow.

These are the showpieces of the album, and I have never heard them more memorably performed. The variety of colours in Hvorostovsky's voice are a revelation, but what makes these songs stand out is the way he manages to convey so many different characters and moods. I loved the humour of his drunken peasant in the Trepak, and at the same time was thrilled by the terrifying power of his Field Marshall in the final song. These are truly astonishing performances.

As always, Hvorostovsky is provided with great support from conductor Valery Gergiev, and the sound quality is remarkably warm and vibrant. An unforgettable release and a must-have for anyone who loves great singing.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Russia's Best!, October 29, 2002

By 

Yamilet Hennebery (Miami, Fl United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dmitri Hvorostovsky - Songs and Dances of Death (Audio CD)

This is by far the most breathtaking interpretation of the Songs and Dances of Death by Mussorgsky you will ever hear! I have seen Hvorostovsky in concert twice and always yearn for more. His voice is just as incredible live. Every single aria on this disc is a jewell. You can feel the pathos and the agony of the Demon, the heartwrenching jelousy of Aleko, and the joyous abandonment of the singer in Nero. Hvorostovsky's voice is just as outstanding as Ghiurov's in his prime.
The choice of repertoire and Dmitri's interpretation makes this CD a must for those wishing to explore Russian opera. His impressive range allows him to sing at ease in both the baritone and bass tessitura. He will no doubt make an exciting Scarpia and an unforgettable Mephistophele (both Gounod's and Boito's)someday. I hope he considers these roles in the future!