Glinka: Ruslan And Lyudmila [Box set]

Mikhail Glinka (Composer), Valery Gergiev (Conductor), St. Petersburg Kirov Orchestra (Orchestra), Galina Gorchakova (Performer), Anna Netrebko (Performer), Gennady Bezzubenkov (Performer), Irina Bogachova (Performer), Konstantin Pluzhnikov (Performer), Larissa Diadkova (Performer), Mikhail Kit (Performer), Vladimir Ognovenko (Performer), Yuri Marusin (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Galina Gorchakova, Anna Netrebko, Gennady Bezzubenkov, Irina Bogachova, Konstantin Pluzhnikov, et al.
• Orchestra: St. Petersburg Kirov Orchestra
• Conductor: Valery Gergiev
• Composer: Mikhail Glinka
• Audio CD (January 28, 1997)
• Number of Discs: 3
• Format: Box set
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: Philips
• ASIN: B0000041FZ
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #148,628 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Ruslan and Lyudmila, opera in 5 acts, G. xiv: Overture

2. Ruslan and Lyudmila, opera in 5 acts, G. xiv: Act One - No. 1 Introduction: Dela davno minuvsikh

3. Ruslan and Lyudmila, opera in 5 acts, G. xiv: Act One - Est' pustynnyi kraj

4. Ruslan and Lyudmila, opera in 5 acts, G. xiv: Act One - No. 2 Lyudmila's Cavatina: Grustno mne, roditel' dorogoi!

5. Ruslan and Lyudmila, opera in 5 acts, G. xiv: Act One - No. 3 Finale: Chada rodimye!

6. Ruslan and Lyudmila, opera in 5 acts, G. xiv: Act One - Chto sluchilos?

See all 11 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Ruslan and Lyudmila, opera in 5 acts, G. xiv: Act Two - No. 8 Aria: O pole, pole!

2. Ruslan and Lyudmila, opera in 5 acts, G. xiv: Act Two - Dai, Perun, bulatnyi mech

3. Ruslan and Lyudmila, opera in 5 acts, G. xiv: Act Two - No. 9 Scene with The Head: Kto zdes' bluzhdaet

4. Ruslan and Lyudmila, opera in 5 acts, G. xiv: Act Two - No. 10 Finale: The Tale of the Head: Nas bylo dvoe, brat moi i ya

5. Ruslan and Lyudmila, opera in 5 acts, G. xiv: Act Three: No. 11 Entr'acte

6. Ruslan and Lyudmila, opera in 5 acts, G. xiv: Act Three: No. 12 Persian Chorus: Lozhitsya v pole mrak

See all 11 tracks on this disc

Disc: 3

1. Ruslan and Lyudmila, opera in 5 acts, G. xiv: Act Four - No. 17 Entr'acte

2. Ruslan and Lyudmila, opera in 5 acts, G. xiv: Act Four - No. 18 Scene and Aria: Vdali ot milogow

3. Ruslan and Lyudmila, opera in 5 acts, G. xiv: Act Four - Akh ty dolya, dolyushka

4. Ruslan and Lyudmila, opera in 5 acts, G. xiv: Act Four - No. 19 March of Chernomor

5. Ruslan and Lyudmila, opera in 5 acts, G. xiv: Act Four - No. 20 Oriental Dances - 1. Turkish Dance (Allegretto)

6. Ruslan and Lyudmila, opera in 5 acts, G. xiv: Act Four - No. 20 Oriental Dances - 2. Arabian Dance (Allegro con spirito)

See all 16 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Gergiev & the Kirov give Ruslan & Ludmilla great justice. But Kondrashin & company's vintage recording takes center stage, December 1, 1999

By 

David Anthony Hollingsworth (Washington, DC USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Glinka: Ruslan And Lyudmila (Audio CD)

After Mikhail Ivanovich Glinka enjoyed the success of his first opera "A Life for the Tsar" (1836), he set his sights on his next operatic project, "Ruslan and Ludmilla" (based on Alexander Pushkin's mock-epic story). The score, which Glinka started in 1838, was finished by 1842. The premiere took place on November 27th of that year and unlike the premiere of "A Life for the Tsar", Ruslan and Ludmilla" generated more of a mixed response from the audience and the critics alike. While some praised Glinka's use of Russian and Caucasian folk music and his vivid and imaginative orchestration, others criticized the work for its lack of drama.

Yet on the other hand, "Ruslan and Ludmilla" became a very important work for the next generation of composers. Tchaikovsky called the work "the tsar of operas" whereas Mily Alexeyevich Balakirev and his group (the Russian Five or Moguchaya Kuchka) used the opera in advocating the essence of nationalism in writing Russian music. Balakirev effectively pointed out the orientalism in "Ruslan and Ludmilla" in furthering the cause against western cosmopolitanism. In fact, "Ruslan and Ludmilla" was Balakirev's bible of sorts and generations of composers after the 1880s understood the importance of Glinka's work for the sake of Russian art thanks largely to Balakirev (although "A Life for the Tsar" was the first to use Russian folksongs).

Curiously, compared to "A Life for the Tsar", "Ruslan and Ludmilla" fared less well in recordings, even though performances of these operas are few & far in between. The 1952 recording featuring Kyrill Kondrashin and the Bolshoi was among the earliest recording of the score (Samuel Samosud recorded it earlier, in 1937, and it is considered by many to be finest version ever, even with cuts made during that performance). This gem of the work had to had to wait until 1983 for another recording, that of Yuri Simonov and the Bolshoi (again, with minor cuts). A twelve year gap separates that from the 1995 Kirov production with Gergiev on the podium. And it is this maestro who, like Kondrashin earlier, remains totally faithful to the full edition of the score.

As for the performance, Gergiev and the Kirov Orchestra and Chorus come up huge, with plenty of excitement & absolute vividness. Only Kondrashin and the Bolshoi places a bit more of an élan in that vintage recording while Simonov's take is memorable to say the least. The singers overall are spectacular in this Philips recording. Anna Netrebko is probably the best Ludmilla currently on record while Vladimir Ognovienko (in Ruslan) gives the character more of a purpose (in finding the abducted Ludmilla). Irina Bogachova (as Naina) and Galina Gorchakova (as Gorislava) sing with warmth and intimacy with such professionalism and admiration for Glinka's fantastical score (as with the rest of the cast).

But the legendary though largely forgotten singers in the Kondrashin/Bolshoi recording scores even higher. The steller cast of great singers, which includes Ivan Petrov (Ruslan), Vera Firsova (Ludmilla), Georgi Nelepp (Finn), Aleksei Krivchenya (Farlaff) Yevgenya Verbitskaya (Ratmir), and Sergey Lemeshev (Bayan), sang with a marginally greater sense of panache & artistry than the current version here. That recording was re-issued briefly by Voce della Luna label (VL 2006-3) under Jem Music Corporation from the original Melodiya recording) and it's to me the most special of the recordings ever made.

That said, the Philips album, with great sound and presentation, is highly recommended. But for me, the Kondrashin/Bolshoi recording takes first place.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect Ruslan!, December 30, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Glinka: Ruslan And Lyudmila (Audio CD)

As a country, we have been truly unfortunate when the proletariat such as moskvich came to power in 1917 and has effectively wiped out the intelligencia. Had it not been for people like this, the two theaters could enjoy a fruitful working relationship, utilizing the talent of Mariinskiy (Kirov) and the experience of Bolshoi. Truly a shame.
The recording at hand has much overlooked bass Vladimir Ognovenko as Ruslan and the talented and beautiful Anna Netrebko as Lyudmila. Ognovenko's bass at first would seem too sonorous for the role of youthful Ruslan, but he manages a fiery rendition of "Dai Perun mne mech bulatnyi" cabaletta where he shows that a bass can be cast in parts other than "dads, bads, and priests". This Ruslan also has the best Farlaf (cowardly knight) on record - Gennadiy Bezzubenkov. Ratmir is sang by Larissa Diadkova, whom Opera News rightfully calls The Enchantress. Even the supporting roles are done by great singers, e .g. Michail Kit as Vladimir, Lyudmila's father.
I would like to recommend folks who are relatively new to Russian opera to read a translation of Alexander Pushkin's poem prior to listening to the recording. You'll find the most fascinating aspect of it - Chernomor, the evil wizard is played by... the orchestra. Enjoy!

Vasiliy Nikolaevich Nikitskiy

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Very Spirited Performance, February 5, 2004

By 

D. A Wend (Arlington Heights, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Glinka: Ruslan And Lyudmila (Audio CD)

Like many people, I am familiar with the overture to Ruslan and Lyudmila but have never heard the opera. Mikhail Glinka's reputation as the father of Russian opera rests on just two works: A Life for the Tsar and Ruslan. Of the two, Ruslan is Glinka's masterpiece, but it was not recognized for what it was at its premiere in 1842. The lukewarm greeting poisoned Glinka's mind against writing another opera and it is said that he left Russian in disgust for Germany never to return. The orchestration is very colorful and vividly creates the mood of the story. Glinka included parts for piano, harp, tambourine, glockenspiel and glass harmonica.

Glinka poured all of his genius into this charming magic-opera, based on a mock epic by Pushkin. What makes the opera fun are the fantastic elements in the story with no less than three magicians trying to turn events in their favor. The story is a bit convoluted but here goes a synopsis: Lyudmila is about to be married to Ruslan when the sorcerer Chernomer abducts her. Ruslan, and two other former suitors Ratmir and Farlaf, set out to rescue her. A good sorcerer named Finn helps Ruslan and Farlaf, a cowardly knight, happens upon the sorceress Naina who agrees to help him defeat Ruslan. Ruslan himself has an adventure confronting an enormous head that is the brother of Chernomer that is guarding a sword that was predicted to be the weapon that would kill Chernomer. Ruslan kills the head and takes the sword. Naina attempt to Ratmir and Ruslan to her magic castle to kill them but she is thwarted by Finn who breaks her spell. Ratmir and Ruslan join forces to save Lyudmila. When Ruslan confronts Chernomer, Lyudmila, is put under a magic sleeping spell. Ruslan has no difficulty dispatching the wizard with the sword but the spell cannot be broken. The sleeping Lyudmila is adducted, yet again, by Farlaf, who is, likewise, unable to break the spell. Finn comes to the rescue by giving Ratmir a magic ring that wakens Lyudmila when it touches her. The opera ends with general rejoicing.

This recording of the opera by Valery Gergiev and the Kirov is a live performance, which lends some additional excitement to the action. The audience is quiet except for applause between the scenes and at the end of the acts. This is a dream cast with Anna Netrebko as Lyudmila, Vladamir Ognovienko as Ruslan, Galina Gorchakova as Gorislava, the lover of Ratmir, Larissa Diadkova as Ratmir and Konstantin Pluzhnikov as Finn. The Kirov Orchestra is simply superb in their energetic playing and beautiful phrasing. This is definitely an opera to have.