Rimsky-Korsakov: Snow Maiden-Complete Opera Stoyan Angelov Alexandrina Milcheva,

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Rimsky-Korsakov:

Snow Maiden

Complete Opera

Stoyan Angelov

 Alexandrina Milcheva,

 Elena Zemenkova,

Stefka Evstatieva,

Avram Andreev

3CD-BOX

mit Booklet

The Snow Maiden by Rimsky-Korsakov is a very rarely heard opera. It's popular in Russia, but it hasn't found an official repertoire in the rest of the world. I'm pretty sure that this could be a quite successful opera if people worldwide have heard about it. It's a fairly colorful opera, filled with lush orchestrations (and motifs) and some pretty good arias. This particular recording from Capriccio Records isn't all that great. Conductor Stoyan Angelov gives a very good reading on the score, but everything else seems very average. The Bulgarian Radio Symphony Orchestra makes no mistakes, but I wish they gave some more emotion in their performance. Same goes for the choir. On the bright side, though, I have no problem with Angelov and his soloists. The sopranos and tenors, especially, give very impressive performances. So basically, this would have been a great recording if it weren't for the average orchestra and choir, subpar sound quality, and the lack of a darn libretto. Still, it gives me great pleasure to listen to a Rimsky-Korsakov opera. I just hope this will be world-famous sometime in the future.

Tracks :

Disc: 1

1. Prologue: Scene Of The Spring Fairy With The Birds: 'Der Winter Weicht, Die Hahne Werden Laut...' - Lyubomir Dyakovski

2. Prologue: Recitative And Aria Of The Spring Fairy. Recitative: 'Zur Rechten Zeit...' - Alexandrina Milcheva

3. Prologue: Aria: 'Wie Anders Grussen Mich...' - Alexandrina Milcheva

4. Prologue: Recitative Of The Spring Fairy: 'Gespielinnen: Ihr Weiss Gestreiften Elstern' - Alexandrina Milcheva

5. Prologue: Song And Dance Of The Birds: 'Kamen Die Vogel' - Alexandrina Milcheva/Bulgarian Radio Sym Chor/Stoyan Angelov

6. Prologue: Scene Of The Spring Fairy With King Frost: 'Ach Es Schneit' - Alexandrina Milcheva/Bulgarian Radio Sym Chor/Stoyan Angelov

7. Prologue: Song Of King Frost: 'Alle Hauser Vom First Bis Zum Dach...' - Nicola Ghiuselev

8. Prologue: Recitative: 'Du Hast Hier Lang Genug Geweilt...' - Alexandrina Milcheva/Nicola Ghiuselev

9. Prologue: Scene Of The Snow Maiden, King Frost, Spring Fairy: 'Hallo. Ach Du Mein Armes Wildes... - Elena Zemenkova/Alexandrina Milcheva/Nicola Ghiuselev

10. Prologue: Aria Of The Snow Maiden: 'Nach Beeren Mit Den Anderen Madchen...'/Recitative: 'Den... - Elena Zemenkova/Alexandrina Milcheva/Nicola Ghiuselev

11. Prologue: Arietta Of The Snow Maiden: 'Viel Tausend Mal Vernehm Ich...' - Elena Zemenkova

12. Prologue: Trio: 'Horst Du? Vergehen!'/Appearance Of The Forest Sprite: 'Soll Geschehen...' - Elena Zemenkova/Alexandrina Milcheva/Nicola Ghiuselev

13. Prologue: Chor. Carnival Procession: 'Noch Vor Tag Hat Den Lenz...' - Bulgarian Radio Sym Chor/Stoyan Angelov

14. Prologue: Carnival Puppet And Chorus: 'Der Sommer Flieht...' - Bulgarian Radio Sym Chor/Stoyan Angelov

15. Prologue: Final Scene: 'Haltet! Wie Ist's Moglich...' - Vessela Zorova/Lyubomir Dyakovski/Elena Zemenkova/Bulgarian Radio Sym Chor/Stoyan Angelov

16. Act One: Intro - Bulgarian Radio Sym Orch/Stoyan Angelov

17. Act One: Scene: 'Dass Ich Verweilen Darf...' - Elena Zemenkova/Stefka Mineva/Lyubomir Dyakovski

18. Act One: Lel's First Song: 'Kind Des Waldes...' - Stefka Mineva

19. Act One: Lel's Second Song: 'Durch Den Wald Ein Rauschen Zieht...' - Stefka Mineva

20. Act One: 'Lehl, Unser Lehl...' - Bulgarian Radio Sym Chor/Stoyan Angelov/Elena Zemenkova

Disc: 2

1. Act One: Arietta Of Snow Maiden: 'Ach Das Tut Weh...' - Elena Zemenkova

2. Act One: Scene And Arietta Of Kupava: 'Schneeflockchen Steht Hier Ganz Allein...'/'Ach Nein, Er... - Stefka Evstatieva

3. Act One: Wedding Ritual: 'Gespielinnen...' - Stefka Evstatieva/Lyubomir Videnov/Bulgarian Radio Sym Chor/Stoyan Angelov

4. Act One: Scene Of Kupava With Snow Maiden And Misgir: 'Lasst Frohe Weisen...'/'Man Schleppt... - Stefka Evstatieva/Lyubomir Videnov/Lyubomir Dyakovski/Vessela Zorova/Stefka Mineva

5. Act One: Finale: 'Gespielinnen Und Freunde...' - Stefka Evstatieva/Stefka Mineva/Lyubomir Videnov/Bulgarian Radio Sym Chor/Stoyan Angelov

6. Act Two: Intro - Bulgarian Radio Sym Orch/Stoyan Angelov

7. Act Two: Chor. Song Of The Blind Psalterists: 'Kunftiges Kundend Hell Tonen...' - Bulgarian Radio Sym Chor/Stoyan Angelov

8. Act Two: Scene Of The Tsar With Bermyata: 'O Vielgeliebter Zar...'/'Flehentlich Bittet...' - Avram Andreev/Bulgarian Radio Sym Chor/Stoyan Angelov

9. Act Two: Duet: 'Vaterchen, Edler Zar...' - Avram Andreev/Stefka Evstatieva

10. Act Two: Public Proclamation: 'Habet Acht, Hohe Herren...' - Bulgarian Radio Sym Chor/Stoyan Angelov

11. Act Two: Ceremonial Procession Of Tsar Berendey - Bulgarian Radio Sym Orch/Stoyan Angelov

12. Act Two: Hymn Of The Berendeyans, Kupava, Lel, First And Second Criers, Chor - Stefka Evstatieva/Stefka Mineva/Bulgarian Radio Sym Chor/Stoyan Angelov

13. Act Two: 'Seid Bedankt!...' - Stefka Evstatieva/Avram Andreev/Lyubomir Videnov/Bulgarian Radio Sym Chor/Stoyan Angelov

14. Act Two: Cavatina Of The Tsar: 'Allmachtig Ist Natur...' - Avram Andreev

15. Act Two: Scene: 'Mein Kind, Du Bist Zur...'/'O Grosser Zar...' - Elena Zemenkova/Avram Andreev/Stefka Mineva/Bulgarian Radio Sym Chor/Stoyan Angelov

16. Act Two: Final Chorus: 'Allmachtiger, Allweiser...' - Bulgarian Radio Sym Chor/Stoyan Angelov

Disc: 3

1. Act Three: Scene In The Forest Clearing. Dance And Song Of The Beaver: 'Hei! Auf Dem Feld... - Elena Zemenkova/Stefka Mineva/Lyubomir Dyakovski/Avram Andreev/Bulgarian Radio Sym Chor...

2. Act Three: Cavatina Of The Tsar: 'Der Frohe Tag Entschwindet...' - Avram Andreev

3. Act Three: Recitative: 'Noch Eine Lustbarkeit...' - Avram Andreev

4. Act Three: Dance Of The Tumblers - Bulgarian Radio Sym Chor/Stoyan Angelov

5. Act Three: Lel's Third Song: 'Zu Dem Donner Eine Wolke...' - Stefka Mineva

6. Act Three: Recitative: 'Ich Danke Dir...'/'O Vater Zar' - Bulgarian Radio Sym Chor/Stoyan Angelov

7. Act Three: Scene: 'Geliebter Lehl, Hat's Dir Nicht...' - Elena Zemenkova/Lyubomir Videnov

8. Act Three: Andantino: 'Fern In Blauer Meeresfluth...'/'Gemach...' - Lyubomir Videnov/Elena Zemenkova/Lyubomir Dyakovski

9. Act Three: Transformation Of The Forest Sprite: 'Die Ganze Nacht Sollst...' - Lyubomir Dyakovski/Lyubomir Videnov

10. Act Three: Scene of Lel With Kupava And Snow Maiden: 'Vergeblich Such' Ich Sie...' - Stefka Mineva/Stefka Evstatieva/Elena Zemenkova

11. Act Four: Intro - Bulgarian Radio Sym Orch/Stoyan Angelov

12. Act Four: Scene: 'Mein Mutterlein...' - Elena Zemenkova/Alexandrina Milcheva

13. Act Four: Flower Chor: 'Weisses, Keusches Maienglockchen...' - Alexandrina Milcheva/Bulgarian Radio Sym Chor/Stoyan Angelov

14. Act Four: Scene: 'Ach Mutter, Mutter Was Geschieht...' - Elena Zemenkova/Alexandrina Milcheva

15. Act Four: Duet Of Snow Maiden With Misgir: 'Halt An, Halt An, O Schneeflockchen' - Elena Zemenkova/Lyubomir Videnov

16. Act Four: Finale: 'Zum Schatt'gen Baum Geleite Mich...' - Elena Zemenkova/Lyubomir Videnov/Avram Andreev/Bulgarian Radio Sym Chor/Stoyan Angelov

17. Act Four: Hymn Of Praise To The Sun-god Yarilo: 'Lebensspendender Jarilo...' - Bulgarian Radio Sym Chor/Stoyan Angelov

This is a far, far more than merely serviceable performance of one of Rimsky-Korsakov's own favorite compositions, but it isn't perfect; some of the singing is on the questionable side, and while the orchestral playing is good, one could imagine a little more opulence and sheen certain places. But never mind - as long as this is the only viable performance available I won't hesitate to call it an essential acquisition (I don't actually know whether it actually is - I see that the Fedoseyev and Lazarev performances might be available as well, and I've heard neither but good things about the Fedoseyev). Snow Maiden is anyway a thrilling, enchantingly atmospheric - utterly magical - fairy-tale opera that demands to be heard by anyone with the most remote interest in romantic opera. Of course, Rimsky-Korsakov often gets away through his peerless mastery of orchestration, but in most of this opera the musical material is itself very strong (for a perfect example of orchestral ingenuity and melodic skill - and beautiful choral writing - sample that most magical of numbers, the Evocation of the birds).

The 3,5 hours work was premiered in 1882 and is composed to a text by the composer himself, based on a comedy by Ostrovsky concerning the Snow Maiden, daughter of King Frost and the Spring Fairy, who longs for love but will melt if she experiences it. Without going through the various themes and motions, it is a touching but simple story ending, of course, with her disappearance but the return of the sun and spring. More importantly, Rimsky-Korsakov supplied astonishingly wonderful music for it, and his mastery of orchestration doesn't imply that the orchestration is overloaded - in fact, it often achieves a chamber like feel, transparent and moving and with much delectable writing for solo instruments. The drama might not be very taut, and one might obviously debate whether the rhapsodic character of fairy-tales makes for very effective operatic dramas (the third act is definitely most dramatically effective), but I don't think I care; with music as fine as this, I only wish that the scenes and whole work were drawn out even longer.

The recorded sound is quite decent, but tends to favor the soloists (which might not be completely optimal, since anyone listening to this opera would want to crank up the volume to revel in the orchestral detail). The singing is generally fine, but with somewhat exaggerated vibrato at times, and many voices have a certain hardness to them - probably at least in part because of the recorded sound. The title role is taken by Elena Zemenkova, and she has a bright, very beautiful and steady voice and a technique to match (wonderful coloratura), The most impressive singer here, however, is probably Ghiuselev as King Frost - it is a really magnificent performance of a big, authoritative, noble-sounding and moving voice. Alexandrina Milcheva as the Spring Fairy is very good as well, with a beautiful voice with real character, and so is Videnov as Misgir - warm and vibrant and very much alive. Not all the other roles are equally successful - there is some wobbling and at certain points somewhat questionable intonation, even, but also a lot of fine, moving singing.

I am, in the end, a little uncertain about the star rating for this one. The singing and instrumental performances are not five-star quality overall, although easily four stars - much of the solo singing is really good and so is the orchestra, e.g. the many instrumental soloists. On the other hand, I usually interpret five stars to mean `essential acquisition', and this recording is probably an essential acquisition, depending a little on the availability and quality of the Fedoseyev set, insofar as it is the only easily available issue of this wonderful music. In any case, I do hope readers are going to pick up some version or other of this opera; it is a magical experience.

Zustand : Neu

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