Customer Reviews

Mussorgsky: The Nursery: Sunless; Songs and Dances of Death

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I was told about Christoff's 1950s recordings by a musician friend. I had heard a little bit about him, and was already
familiar with some of the Mussorgsky songs in another recording,
so figured I couldn't miss. To say that I was flabbergasted would be putting it lightly. The man was not only a superb singer - what control! what versatility! - he was a consummate actor. After all, they say he was the best Boris Godunov since Chaliapin - I believe it. But, to particulars: On the first half of this disc he is accompanied by a terrific pianist (whose name temporarily escapes me)and on the other half by the Orchestre de la Radiodiffusion Francaise, who are a tad ragged (as they often were) and undermiked at times but fine powerful accompaniment. If all you know of Mussorgsky is the Pictures - and you have a taste for the unusual - you owe it to yourself to pick this up. Your life will never be quite the same again, I guarantee it!

The previous reviewer was pretty much spot on. Christoff is genuinely magnificent in these recordings, power and beauty coexist in his voice, and the deep emotion he expresses is made more powerful by being tempered by control. The accompaniment serves to showcase this voice and is more than adequate to this task. It is perhaps not always "Herbert Von Karajan" smooth, but this is probably no disadvantage, you could argue that this is in keeping with this selection of Mussorgsky's wonderful"rough hewn" folk flavoured music. As the previous reviewer indicated, this will appeal to fans of the unusual as it is in itself something remarkably different to almost anything I've heard before. I can say however that out of the 1000 + recordings I own, it is very probably the one I am most glad I purchased, and certainly one of my very favourites. Unfortunately I am probably preaching to the choir, as if you are reading this review you probably already enjoy Mussorgsky, or are at least familiar or interested in his work. You may also be a fan of Schubert's song cycles and Lieder.If that is the case then you should certainly enjoy this C.D. The sad point is that this recording should also appeal to people who as yet still believe that they have no interest in "Classical" music, and may never come across this recording. I would certainly recommend this to Tom Waits fans for a start, especially those who enjoyed his recent album "Alice",and also afficionados of Folk music, World music or the art of songwriting.
I know it's a cliche, but I'd have to give this 6 stars out of 5

I remember this recording from my early adulthood. I am so glad this is available again. Fantastic music, sung by the best bass ever!

This recording is wonderful, and it's enough said about it here. I'd like to point your attention to another amazing performance of these vocal cycles by another great bass from USSR Eugene Nesterenko accompanied by Vladimir Krainev on piano (really good one) recorded in the 1970s and issued by the Russian label Melodya on CD for the first time in 2008. While I guess it could be difficult to get this recording living outside of Russia (although amazon.co.uk has it), I highly recommend you to find it. I cannot tell which one I prefer the best. Maybe Nesterenko in the end. Yes. His singing is more direct and natural and as much powerful as Christoff's. I have a feeling that Christoff decorates his singing a bit to make it more emotional, it looks like he uses some tricks for that. You cannot find that in Nesterenko. Yes, he is acting too, but it looks so natural and honest. Check his "Song of the flea" and "Savishna" on youtube and you'll probably understand why I prefer his play.
But it is worth to get this CD anyway at least for the Nursery cycle which Nesterenko did not record. So it seems to be the best performance of this particular cycle ever recorded.

Boris Christoff's voice must surely be one of the most immediately recognizable in the history of song, and no one, I think, has been better suited to Mussorgsky's darkly colored songs (with one possible exception). In fact, Christoff recorded (virtually) all of them. I have not heard the complete set, but if this "best of" selection, carefully remastered, of the most famous songs is anything to go by I am sorely tempted.

The most controversial interpretation here must surely be the rendition of the cycle The Nursery. It is not that Christoff fails to be wonderfully sensitive, variegated and, well, alluring, but his was definitely a big voice, suited for portraying kings, emperors and devils, and there is a certain trace of the bizarre in his attempt to portray a little boy and his nanny. Still, this interpretation must be heard for its thoughtfulness, imagination and wonderful voice. I cannot imagine any complaints about Christoff's versions of the other two major cycles, the bleakly horrifying Sunless (truly horrifying in this version, at least) and the magnificently morbid, stirring Songs and Dances of Death. And of course Christoff, one of the ultimate interpreters of Mephistopheles, is incomparable in the famous, darkly humorous Song of the flea. Oh yes, it is exaggerated, but nevertheless completely perfect.

Throughout Christoff is sensitively accompanied. Alex André Labinsky provides idiomatic piano playing and the Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Francaise under Georges Tzipine is never less than satisfying even if they also lack the last touch of color and textural variety - though there is plenty of wikckedness and menace. Texts and translations are included and the sound is decent, even though the recordings (made in 1955 and 1957) are hardly up to today's standards. Still, this is an unmissable disc (unless you already have the three disc set, I guess); urgently recommended.

The absolute LAST thing that's wanted in Mussorgsky is "Herbert von Karajan" smooth! Slava Bogu! [Thank God] we are spared this! I can't
imagine anything that would have been less suitable for this music! I can
otherwise only second what the others have said. Get it while it's hot!

I was not aware that this was a Mono recording when I ordered it but the sound quality was terrible the instant I started playing it , I gave it away. This is the second tme in the last few weeks that I have bought a Mono recording from Amazon, on neither occaision was this fact vouchsafed.