Glinka: Ruslan and Lyudmila [Import]

Yevgeny Nesterenko (Artist), Valery Yaroslavtsev (Artist), Bela Rudenko (Artist), Tamara Sinyavskaya (Artist), Boris Morozov (Artist), Mikhail Glinka (Composer), Yuri Simonov (Conductor), Bolshoi Opera (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Bolshoi Opera
• Conductor: Yuri Simonov
• Composer: Mikhail Glinka
• Audio CD (July 16, 1996)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 3
• Format: Import
• Label: Melodiya
• ASIN: B000001HCK
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #487,346 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Ruslan And Lyudmila: Overture

2. Ruslan And Lyudmila: Act 1: 1.Introduction: Deeds Of Bygone Days - (Ratmir, Ruslan, Svetozar, Farlaf, Lyudmila)

3. Ruslan And Lyudmila: Act 1: 2.Cavatina: O Dear Father, I Am Sad - (Lyudmila)

4. Ruslan And Lyudmila: 3. Finale Of Act 1: My Dearest Children - (Svetozar, Ruslan, Ratmir, Farlaf, Lyudmila)

5. Ruslan And Lyudmila: Finale Of Act 1: What Has Happened? - (Ruslan, Ratmir, Farlaf, Svetozar)

6. Ruslan And Lyudmila: Act 2: 4. Entr'act

See all 9 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Ruslan And Lyudmila: Act 2: 8.Aria - O Field, O Field - (Ruslan)

2. Ruslan And Lyudmila: Act 2: 9.Scene With The Head - Who Wanders Here? - (Ruslan)

3. Ruslan And Lyudmila: Finale Act 2: Tale Of The Head - (Ruslan)

4. Ruslan And Lyudmila: Act 3: 12. Persian Chorus - Night Is Falling On The Fields

5. Ruslan And Lyudmila: Act 3: 13.Cavatina - What Sweet Sound Floated Towards Me? - (Gorislava)

6. Ruslan And Lyudmila: Act3: 14.Aria 1 - Night's Shadows Replace The Day's Baking Heat - (Ratmir)

See all 9 tracks on this disc

Disc: 3

1. Ruslan And Lyudmila: Act 4: 17.Entr'acte

2. Ruslan And Lyudmila: Act 4: 18 Scene And Aria - Imprisoned Far From My Beloved (Lyudmila)

3. Ruslan And Lyudmila: Act 4: 19. Chernomor's March

4. Ruslan And Lyudmila: Act 4: 20.Oriental Dances

5. Ruslan And Lyudmila: Act 4: 21.Chorus - The Uninvited Guest Will Be Killed

6. Ruslan And Lyudmila: 22.Finale Of Act 4 - Victory, Victory, Lyudmila - (Ruslan, Gorislava, Ratmir)

See all 13 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Best Ruslan today, February 27, 2000

By 

"moskvich" (Moscow) - See all my reviews

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

Simonov worked with the singers much better then Gergiev and the recording sounds like a real effort by a real company. Rudenko is not relaxed at first and the cavatina is tense, but the rest of the performance is very good. Nesterenko is the best bass of his generation and he is the first singer since Reizen to have powerfull F# ang G. He is the most dramaticly involved singer in the cast. Sinyavskaya is a powerfull dark mezzo and she is an expert in singing "boys" in such operas as Ruslan and Susanin. Boris Morozov sings a fine rondo and he is very good in the duet with galina Borisova. Arkhipov, Maslennikov and Yaroslavtsev also make good contributions. The Chorus is perfect (unlike the Gergiev version).

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Comparative Review of the "Ruslan" recordings, February 24, 2002

By 

"sgchapchal" (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews

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

I own several sets of this work ie: Samosud/Bolshoi-1938, Kondrashin/Bolshoi-1950's, Simonov/Bolshoi-1979, Gergiev/Kirov-1994, and the highlights arrangement by Kolobov and the Novaya Theatre. I find strengths in ALL of them. For those that would rather have Stereo Sound it does eliminate the Samosud and the Kondrashin sets. These two are very strong featuring singers of the periods which I have had a chance to hear in many other operatic sets. The performances are highly dramatic and intense in all four sets + 1. Between the choice of Gergiev and Simonov either would be ideal sets. The tradition of operatic performing has been maintained by Gergiev for the Kirov, whose known existance needs to be exposed and promoted for today. Unfortunately the Bolshoi almost vanished in the 90's, especially when Alexander Lazarev left. The singers of any Bolshoi/Kirov period are very strong. An example would be Maxim Mikhailov singing both Svetosar and the voice of the Head in the field. It is absolutely incredible to hear the talant. There is also Evgenya Verbitskaya as Ratmir. One has to hear Yuri Marusin as the Bayan. Today the Bolshoi is coming back with more activity, but this does not displace Gergiev's efforts. An introduction to this work will probably be Gergiev's excellent set, given deletes/availability. The Simonov set was offered by Chant du Monde(early 90's) and again BMG/Melodiya(late 90's). The singers in this Simonov set are very strong and captivating, as well he is incredible. For Rudenko-Nesterenko try to find Mark Ermler's "A Life for the Tsar" not available on CD, but truly a fine performance of Glinka's other opera.

5 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars moskvich, sorry hon- you're wrong, April 23, 2000

By 

[e-mail] (Seattle) - See all my reviews

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

This is a nice version of the opera...but comparing this with the Gergiev version is like comparing coca-cola to champagne. See the problem is Moskvich is from Moscow- where the Bolshoi is. Gergiev is from the Kirov in St. Petersburg, which since the fall of Communism has surpassed Moscow's Bolshoi in every way.Well- back to the recordings. The cast and CHORUS on the Gergiev version is hands down superior as is the conducting. The sound quality is also much better. Amazon.com is right. I learned long ago- in opera you get what you pay for (most of the time). I would definitely pay much more for the Gergiev version than this one... In that case it's because since the Gergiev version came out, this version has not left their shelves.

Moskvich is the first person I've ever heard say this version is better...all the critics, guides, everyone I've ever talked to, and myself recognize hands down- Kirov over Bolshoi!That's the problem, the Kirov is successfully putting Russian opera (the greatest opera in the world - after Mozart) back on the map- the Bolshoi failed miserably.