Mussorgsky: Khovanschina

Stoyan Popov (Performer), Modest Mussorgsky (Composer), Atanas Margaritov (Conductor), Alexandrina Milcheva-Nonova (Performer), Sofia National Opera Orchestra (Orchestra), Maria Dimchevska (Performer), Nadya Dobriyanova (Performer), Lyubomir Bodourov (Performer), Werther Vrachovski (Performer), Todor Kostov (Performer), Verter Vrachovsky (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Stoyan Popov, Alexandrina Milcheva-Nonova, Maria Dimchevska, Nadya Dobriyanova, Lyubomir Bodourov, et al.
• Orchestra: Sofia National Opera Orchestra
• Conductor: Atanas Margaritov
• Composer: Modest Mussorgsky
• Audio CD (December 23, 1997)
• Number of Discs: 3
• Label: Capriccio
• ASIN: B000001WUP
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #555,054 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Khovanshchina, opera in 5 acts, edited by Shostakovich: Act 1. Introduction. Dawn over the Moskva River

2. Khovanshchina, opera in 5 acts, edited by Shostakovich: Act 1. Scene 1. Podojdu, podojdu...pod Ivangorod

3. Khovanshchina, opera in 5 acts, edited by Shostakovich: Act 1. Scene 2. Gusja tocit. Cernilisce-to, gospodi

4. Khovanshchina, opera in 5 acts, edited by Shostakovich: Act 1. Scene 3. ...Bol'soj idet...

5. Khovanshchina, opera in 5 acts, edited by Shostakovich: Act 1. Scene 4. ...Ostav'te, pustite menja...

6. Khovanshchina, opera in 5 acts, edited by Shostakovich: Act 1. Scene 5. I v nej, v luce cudesnom...

See all 7 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Khovanshchina, opera in 5 acts, edited by Shostakovich: Act 2. Scene 1. Svet moj, bratec Vasen'ka...

2. Khovanshchina, opera in 5 acts, edited by Shostakovich: Act 2. Scene 2. K vam, knajze, rovno by v zasadu popadaes...

3. Khovanshchina, opera in 5 acts, edited by Shostakovich: Act 2. Scene 3. Vot v cem resen'e...

4. Khovanshchina, opera in 5 acts, edited by Shostakovich: Act 2. Scene 4. Knjas'ja, smiri vas gnev...

5. Khovanshchina, opera in 5 acts, edited by Shostakovich: Act 2. Scene 5. Knjaze, knjaze! Ne veli kaznit veli milovat!...

6. Khovanshchina, opera in 5 acts, edited by Shostakovich: Act 2. Scene 6.

See all 13 tracks on this disc

Disc: 3

1. Khovanshchina, opera in 5 acts, edited by Shostakovich: Act 4. Scene 1. Vozle recki, na luzocke noceval ja...

2. Khovanshchina, opera in 5 acts, edited by Shostakovich: Act 4. Scene 2. Ty zacem? Osmelilsja vojti?

3. Khovanshchina, opera in 5 acts, edited by Shostakovich: Act 4. Scene 3. Dance of the Persian slaves

4. Khovanshchina, opera in 5 acts, edited by Shostakovich: Act 4. Scene 4. Ty zacem - K tebe, knajz...

5. Khovanshchina, opera in 5 acts, edited by Shostakovich: Act 4. Scene 5. Gljan'-ko! Vezut...

6. Khovanshchina, opera in 5 acts, edited by Shostakovich: Act 4. Scene 6. Sversiloja resenie sud'by...

See all 13 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Moderate Priced Recording of Unfinished Masterpiece, July 18, 2002

By 

Christopher Forbes "weirdears" (Brooklyn,, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mussorgsky: Khovanschina (Audio CD)

Khovanshchina is a frustrating and beautiful opera. The work was left unfinished at Mussorgsky's death, with very little orchestration completed. Rimsky-Korsakov finished the opera, adding his polished instrumentation to the vocal score and "correcting" Mussorgsky's harmony. In the late 20th century it became fashionable to revive Mussorgsky's original Boris Godanov and one wishes that we could do the same with Khovanshchina. Mussorgsky's original ideas are much bolder than Rimsky-Korsakov's sweetened revisions. Unfortunately, other than the Shostakovitch version, which I think has yet to make it to CD, this is the only version available.

Khovanshchina mines the same territory as Boris Godanov. The melodic lines are delivered in a dramatic oratory style as opposed to the more graceful arias of the Italians, and yet Mussorgsky always has a feeling for melody, even in his arioso. What Khovanchina does not have is a strong complex central character like Boris. The plot is as episodic as Boris, and the choral writing is wonderful. The chorus becomes the representation of the Russian people in the same way as the chorus in Boris does, but without a strong foil, the libretto stutters a bit. Some scenes are marvelous and the music is universally strong, but the drama falters.

The performances on this Capricio disk are quite good, though noone is a "name" performer. The Kirov version is superior to this, but costs about twice as much. My one big complaint with the CD is that the libretto is not included, something that is often the case with Capriccio CDs. This is a big problem in Khovanshchina, since the story defies synopsis. I luckily have a libretto from an old LP of the opera, but I think that the lack of a libretto is a detraction for newcomers to this opera. However, the price makes this an attractive option indeed.

Reommended with reservations.