BaL 17.05.14 - Mussorgsky: Songs and Dances of Death

[Nick Armstrong]

Oh dear. The May 'BAL's really aren't my cup of tea. Wonder what's scheduled for the 24th?

[frankwm]

That's it: I'm surprised it only fetched £40

Ha Ha Ha..
My mint (and original) set cost £5.50 + £3 p/p from eBay in 2004

The set should be (relatively) scarce as the booklet charge was almost = to an extra LP.

ALP 2310 (1967 reissue of the 'best items') is anyway sonically superior - and 'Death' doesn't get split-up between sides..

[umslopogaas]

I hasten to add that my set didnt cost anything like £40, though it might have been a bit more than £8.50. I've no intention of selling the LPs, even though the CDs are easier to play: its just that, like most collectors, I keep a beady eye on ebay and the like to see what people are prepared to pay for items I own. The answer is often nothing (no bids) but sometimes very surprisingly large sums.

I had forgotten that in those days you had to pay extra for the booklet; looks like I was lucky to have one included!

[visualnickmos]

Oh dear. The May 'BAL's really aren't my cup of tea. Wonder what's scheduled for the 24th?

I'm with you there Calibs, old chap. However the Tchaikovsky BaL did re-open my eyes (ears, surely!) to the piece, and I found myself re-listening. Between you and me, I did find an "el cheapo" Demidenko (to add to my existing several versions) on Amz France, and have already listened to it four times. It's a marvellous recording and performance. BBC SO/Lazaev. But as for the rest of May - bofffff!

[CallMePaul]

I have always found Boris Christoff too operatic in this repertoire, but from the comments above I fear I am in a small minority. In any event, the most easily available version from him is an orchestral version from Rimsky-Korsakov and Glazunov, who have mutilated much of Musorgsky's (and Borodin's) highly original work and turned it into something much more conventional than either composer intended.
Musorgsky's way with the Russian language in many way's anticipates Hugo Wolf's settings of German texts, and I have always felt that a great Lieder singer would be ideal for Musorgsky - someone like Christian Gerhaher or Christine Schaefer perhaps. Frau Schaefer's Winterreise, which was a BAL first choice a few years ago, shows that she is outstanding in darker Lieder and I would love to think she might take some Russian coaching and try this and also Sunless (Byez solntsa in Russian). Come on Christine, give us something special for your 50th birthday this year!

[umslopogaas]

CallMePaul, I agree, that Christoff is operatic, but there are many ways to sing these songs, and the operatic approach has to be acknowledged, if not liked. I have heard several ways of singing them, and they all 'work': its really just a question of what works for you at this particular moment. I like Christoff's style and I find the sound of his voice incomparable. But each to his own, his isnt the only way.

[verismissimo]

I also have Christoff - with the French National Radio Orchestra under Georges Tzipine. I wonder if he recorded them with piano? Also I have Bernard Kruysen with Noel Lee (which I doubt has made it to CD).

Well they couldn't be more contrasted. Christoff sings them as Boris. Completely operatic. Whereas Kruysen sings them as Lieder, akin to Schubert's Erlkonig. What a pity he's not in the lists. It did make it to CD, but is scarcely available.

[akiralx]

So if Christoff is considered and kicked out at the first hurdle there are going to be some irate listeners...

[Tony Halstead]

What an absolutely dreadful choir currently 'singing' Mussorgsky's Folk Songs. it sounds like a football crowd.

[verismissimo]

So much more in these songs than one imagined. Who knew?

[Nick Armstrong]

Who knew?

Having listened, I still don't...

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

MUSSORGSKY: Songs and Dances of Death, Sunless and four songs
Eugene Nesterenko (bass), Vladimir Krainev (piano)
MELODIYA MELCD1001401 (CD)


MUSSORGSKY: Songs and Dances of Death
Galina Vishnevskaya (soprano), Gorki State Philharmonic Orchestra / Mstislav Rostropovitch (conductor)
MELODIYA 74321532372 (currently unavailable)

[umslopogaas]

I had visitors and wasnt able to listen: did Christoff get a mention?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I had visitors and wasnt able to listen: did Christoff get a mention?

Yes - ultimately discarded, IIRC, because of the Rimsky/Glazunov arrangement (it's more than an "orchestration") of the work that he recorded.

[umslopogaas]

Thanks fhg. I'd buy Christoff singing any version, just for the sound of his voice.