Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk

[mahlerei]

I've long admired the Rostropovich/Vishnevskaya recording of this masterpiece but now feel like hearing sn alternative. What do boarders think of Chung, Metzmacher et al? Incidentally, Mark Wigglesworth is conducting it at ENO next month; that could be rather special.

[BBMmk2]

This is something that I do not know yet. Hasn't Gergiev recorded, Kirov, possibly?

[mahlerei]

This is something that I do not know yet. Hasn't Gergiev recorded, Kirov, possibly?

Hi BBM

Don't think so. He has done a terrific recording of The Nose, though.

[BBMmk2]

Hi BBM

Don't think so. He has done a terrific recording of The Nose, though.

That5's probably what I am thinking. Must investigate! :)

Any other takers?

[Petrushka]

I'm ashamed to say that the Rostropovich/Vishnevskaya recording has been sitting totally unplayed on my shelves since I had it in 2003. Perhaps it's the thought of trying to follow two and a half hours of Russian libretto that is putting me off.

It's probably the most central opus in Shostakovich's output given the consequences for the rest of his work so I feel doubly ashamed.

[Anna]

The 2004 Richard Jones production, ROH, Pappano with Katarina Dalayman was on R3 wasn't it? I thought that a terrific one (I've a copy, probably illegal!) I also have the Rostroprovich and another ROH Pappano with Eva-Maria Westbrook. It's one of the few operas I actually like. You should give it a whirl BBM - and dust off your copy Petrushka.
Edit: If it's the EMI Classics edition Pet then the libretto is in English/French/German in the accompanying book.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

You should give it a whirl BBM - and dust off your copy Petrushka.

- and so should I: it's been yonks since I last listened to it. I don't generally like Chung's work, so have avoided his recording; I do, however, greatly admire Metzmacher, and didn't know he'd recorded the opera: shall investigate - Slava and Galina are at the top of their game, but it's a work that's bigger than any individual performance.

I saw the ENO production in the early '80s - and I have a (probably unplayable now) videotape of the television broadcast of that somewhere. Superb work.

[rauschwerk]

I'm ashamed to say that the Rostropovich/Vishnevskaya recording has been sitting totally unplayed on my shelves since I had it in 2003. Perhaps it's the thought of trying to follow two and a half hours of Russian libretto that is putting me off.

It's probably the most central opus in Shostakovich's output given the consequences for the rest of his work so I feel doubly ashamed.

I saw the ENO production and admired it a great deal. I owned CDs of the Chung version and after hearing it a few times got rid of it. I didn't feel ashamed in the least.

[umslopogaas]

My 2010 Penguin Guide praises the Opus Arte DVD version conducted by Mariss Jansons, as well as the Rostropovich recording.

I have the Rostropovich recording on LP, worth owning just for the cover photo of Galina Vishnevskaya sitting next to a samovar with a look in her eye that suggests more than a cup of tea. I also have an LP of Katerina Ismailova, the composer's 1963 revision of the score, according to the booklet. The conductor is Gennady Provatorov. I dont know if it ever made it to CD.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Katerina Ismailova, the composer's 1963 revision of the score, according to the booklet. The conductor is Gennady Provatorov. I dont know if it ever made it to CD.

I don't know if that particular version ever reached CD, but there are two (?at least?) other versions of the revision around:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B013GW5GMA

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B013GW5GMA

[Richard Tarleton]

This is something that I do not know yet. Hasn't Gergiev recorded, Kirov, possibly?

They did a terrific concert performance during their June 1999 Barbican season.

[mahlerei]

They did a terrific concert performance during their June 1999 Barbican season.

Richard

Thanks for that. I imagine a Gergiev/Mariinsky recording will follow at some point.

Petrushka

The ENO libretto should be more comfortable to read. Not only is the EMI CD libretto beyond me now it's also come away from the spine.

[Petrushka]

The ENO libretto should be more comfortable to read. Not only is the EMI CD libretto beyond me now it's also come away from the spine.

Thanks for the steer towards the ENO libretto.

Anna, yes it is the EMI Classics version I have and I've just taken another look at the booklet. The print is probably a tad too small to cope with nowadays with any comfort so will investigate the ENO book and finally give the set a long overdue airing.

[Stanley Stewart]

I am fortunate in having three productions of Lady M of Mtsensk on DVD which also have the advantage of subtitles:Netherlands Opera (2006) with the Concertgebouw/ Mariss Jansons and the ROH production, Antonio Pappano, in the same year, both productions have the bonus of Eva Maria Westbroek as Katerina Ismailova.

Must now rummage for my off-air video/now DVD, of the ENO 1987 production staged by the Power House management with David Pountney's flair for inventiveness and expressionism matched by the energy of Mark Elder in the orchestra pit. Josephine Barstow tackled Katerina, singing the role with power, conveying every facet of the character, hateful yet tragic. I still recall the high voltage of her performance at the Coliseum which I classify as that 'little something extra'. However, a search must be postponed until my bungalow renovations have been completed - a state of chassis here! - but I've enjoyed the diversion of a taster of Elaine Padmore's ROH production.

[Pulcinella]

Have got tickets for the Saturday 17 October (early start) performance, so need to do my homework by listening to my recording (EMI) and reading the libretto (in translation!).