Tchaikovsky: The Queen of Spades
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Music CD Cover
Performer: Alexei IvanovPerformer: Pavel Lisitsian
Composer: Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky
Conductor: Alexander Melik-Pashaev
Performer: Yevgenia Verbitskaya
Orchestra: Bolshoi Theater Orchestra
Orchestra: Orchestra of the Bolshoi Theater
Performer: Georgei Nelepp
Edition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 2002-02-26
Music Label: Preiser Records
Soundtracks:
Music CD 1
- Introduction - Orchestra Of The Bolshoi Theater
- Act I, Scene One. In The Letni Garden - Chorus: 'Burn, Burn Bright'
- Act I, Scene One. In The Letni Garden - Scene And Herman's Arioso: 'How Did The Game End Last Night?' - Georgi Nelepp
- Act I, Scene One. In The Letni Garden - Chorus: 'Finally God Has Sent Us A Sunny Little Day!'
- Act I, Scene One. In The Letni Garden - Quintet And Scene: 'I Am Frightened!'
- Act I, Scene One. In The Letni Garden - Scene And Tomsky's Ballad: 'What A Witch That Countess Is!'
- Act I, Scene One. In The Letni Garden - Final Scene: 'Se Non E Vero, E Ben Trovato
- Scene Two. In Lisa's Room - Duet Lisa And Pauline: 'Evening Already...'
- Scene Two. In Lisa's Room - Scene, Lisa's Romance and Russian Song: 'Bewitching! Enchanting!'
- Scene Two. In Lisa's Room - Scene And Governess' Arioso: 'Mesdemoiselles, What's This Noise
- Scene Two. In Lisa's Room - Final Scene: It's Time Now To Be Breaking Up'
- Act II, Scene One. The Masquerade Ball - Entr'acte And Chorus: 'Happily And Merrily On This Day'
- Act II, Scene One. The Masquerade Ball - Scene: 'The Master Asks His Dear Guests To Come And See'
- Act II, Scene One. The Masquerade Ball - Yeletsky's Aria: 'Stay For One Momment!' - Pavel Lisitsian
- Act II, Scene One. The Masquerade Ball - Scene: 'I Would Like To See Her Right Now'
- Act II, Scene One. The Masquerade Ball - Interlude And Chorus: 'Under The Thick Shade Near The Calm Brook'
- Act II, Scene One. The Masquerade Ball - Duet Chloe And Daphnis: 'My Darling Little Friend'
- Act II, Scene One. The Masquerade Ball - Final Scene: 'Who, Ardently And Passionately Loving!'
- Scene Two. In The Countess's Bedroom - Scene And Chorus: 'Everything Is As She Told Me...'
- Scene Two. In The Countess's Bedroom - The Countess: 'That's Enough Talk From You!'
- Scene Two. In The Countess's Bedroom - Final Scene: 'Don't Be Frightened!'
- Act III, Scene One. Herman's Room In The Barracks' - Entr'acte And Scene: 'I Do Not Believe That You Wanted The Countess's Death'
- Act III, Scene One. Herman's Room In The Barracks' - Scene: 'I Am Frightened!'
- Scene Two. Night. The Zimnaya Kanavka In St. Petersburg - Scene And Lisa's Arioso: 'Midnight Is Already Nearing'
- Scene Two. Night. The Zimnaya Kanavka In St. Petersburg - Scene And Duet Lisa And Herman: 'But If The Clock Strikes Out In Reply To Me' - Georgi Nelepp
- Scene Three. In A Gambling House - Chorus And Scene: 'We Will Drink And Be Merry!'
- Scene Three. In A Gambling House - Tomsky's Song: 'If Darling Girls Could Fly Like Birds'
- Scene Three. In A Gambling House - Final Scene: 'To Business, Gentleman, To Cards!'
Free Music Notes for Tchaikovsky: The Queen of Spades
Free Music Review: The Greatest Gherman of all Time
Hit: 5 Stars
This recording is spectacular, first of all, for the wealth of vocal riches from the Bolshoi, and for the magnificent and dramatic leadership of Alexander Melik-Pashayev, chief conductor of the Bolshoi from 1952 until he was forced out and replaced in 1963 by the lesser talent of Evgeny Svetlanov. Like the great Nikolai Golovanov whom he replaced, Melik-Pashayev died suddenly and prematurely - as did numerous other gifted Russian artists - as a consequence of the traumatic mistreatment and abuse they received at the hands of the Soviets.
Along with Melik-Pashayev, the other stellar member of this ensemble is Georgi Nelepp, the Bolshoi's leading tenor. He possessed a first magnitude voice of supernaturally beautiful tone and great power - a singer with immense psychological depth and a tragic and erotic quality to his singing that made him not only the greatest Gherman and Sadko of all time, but one of the greatest tenors in recorded history.
According to the sublime Galina Vishnevskaya, Prima Donna and unapproachable Queen of the Bolshoi during that era, Nelepp had transferred from the Kirov to the the Bolshoi. She reports that he had apparently ruined a number of people by denouncing them to the Communist Party. This accusation is not universally accepted by all who knew Nelepp, although there is very little information available about him unfortunately, as is the case with many great artists of the Soviet period. However, the story of Nelepp's treachery was revealed to Vishnevskaya as a warning by Nikhandr Khanayev, another leading Bolshoi tenor.
She also witnessed a shocking public confrontation involving Nelepp during which a tired and worn out old woman spat in his face in front of the Bolshoi company, accusing him of ruining her family by betraying them to the Communists.
Vishnevskaya also tells us, in her brilliant autobiography, Galina: A Russian Story, that Nelepp had an unusual hobby for a Soviet-era man, embroidering towels and men's shirts. She claims that he was the greatest Gherman she had ever heard - perfect for the role, and I agree. This recording preserves the warmth, beauty and dramatic potency of his voice. Especially in the letter scene, Nelepp draws a frightening portrait of a tormented man in the grip of mental illness - Melik-Pashayev's conducting of this scene is tragic and terrifying beyond belief.
Alexei Ivanov's Tomsky adds another spectacular voice to this recording. His ballad, in which he tells the story of the old Countess's early gambling addiction, is sung with superior musicality and beauty of intonation.
The other supreme artist in this recording is Pavel Lisitsian, whose magnificent baritone alone would make this recording worthwhile. With his unique and immediately recognizable voice, he sings the role of Prince Yeletsky with burnished warmth and grace.
Many people don't realize that the Count St. Germaine, to whom the Countess traded her questionable virtue for the secret of winning at cards, was a legendary character during the 18th century and later. He was reported to be an alchemist and magician of sorts who lived for centuries, appearing in various parts of Europe. His name was surrounded with mysterious tales - his secrets of eternal life and other magical forms of knowledge made him a permanent character in occult literature. St. Germaine eventually even became one of the so-called legendary Ascended Masters of the Theosophical tradition, so embedded was he in the mystical lore of the last few centuries.
Gergiev gives us additional beautiful interpretations of Pique Dame - both the DVD and the recording have excellent casts and conducting. But as great as some of his singers are, they can't approach the talent of this earlier Bolshoi cast, nor is the conducting as exciting as Melik-Pashayev's.
In spite of Vishnevskaya in the role of Liza, her husband Rostropovich's Pique Dame is insipid and uninspired, plodding as usual.
The cast of this thrilling performance is representative of the enormous wealth of talent at the Bolshoi during this period. This gorgeous 1952 recording, with its spiritual authenticity and dramatic power, has my highest recommendation.
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