Prokofiev: Betrothal in a Monastery

Amazon.com
This is a strange piece. Written in 1940, the music shows that Prokofiev was under heavy political pressure to produce a popular, entertaining work. The libretto, though no doubt amusing in Russian, is extremely complicated for the uninitiated. Based on a Sheridan comedy of mistaken identities, mismatches, and misunderstandings, it seems colored by Prokofiev's own recent abandonment of his wife for a much younger woman, with whom he collaborated in adapting the text. This recording compounds the confusion by providing no libretto; the synopsis is detailed but hard to follow. However, much of the music is very beautiful, from lyrical, ecstatic arias and ensembles to truly comic, parodistic scenes, and it succeeds in creating real people, not caricatures. As always, the orchestration is masterful, the rhythm pungent and original. The singing is superb throughout, vocally ravishing, and full of variety, character, and expression; orchestra and chorus are first rate. --Edith Eisler

Prokofiev: Betrothal in a Monastery,Vladimir Redkin,Vladislav Verestnikov,Mikhail Krutikov,Sergey Prokofiev,Alexander Lazarev,Vladimir Andropov,Galina Borissova,Marina Shutova,Bolshoi Theater Orchestra,Lyudmila Sergienko,Alexei Maslennikov,Arkady Mishenkin,Melodiya,Classical,Classical Music,Opera,Opera / Operetta / Oratorio,Russian 20th/21st Century Opera

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Average customer rating: Get the DVD Mellow? Prokofiev

Prokofiev: Bethrothal In A Monastery Manufacturer: Philips ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Prokofiev | Prokofiev, Sergei | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Russian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Similar Items: Prokofiev: Semyon Kotko Rimsky-Korsakov: The Tsar's Bride Prokofiev: Love for Three Oranges Rimsky-Korsakov: Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh Modest Moussorgsky: Khovanshchina ASIN: B0000069CR Release Date: 1998-04-14

Tracks:

1. Betrothal In A Monastery: Prelude
2. Betrothal In A Monastery: Act One - Tableau 1 - Scene 1 (Don Jerome) (Mendoza)
3. Betrothal In A Monastery: Act One - Tableau 1 - Scene 2 (Don Jerome) (Mendoza)
4. Betrothal In A Monastery: Act One - Tableau 1 - Scene 3 (Mendoza) (Don Jerome)
5. Betrothal In A Monastery: Act One - Tableau 1 - Scene 4
6. Betrothal In A Monastery: Act One - Tableau 1 - Scene 5 (Don Jerome)
7. Betrothal In A Monastery: Act One - Tableau 1 - Scene 6
8. Betrothal In A Monastery: Act One - Tableau 1 - Scene 7 (Don Jerome)
9. Betrothal In A Monastery: Act One - Tableau 1 - Scene 8
10. Betrothal In A Monastery: Act Two - Tableau 2 - Scene 1 (Duenna)
11. Betrothal In A Monastery: Act Two - Tableau 2 - Scene 2 (Don Jerome)
12. Betrothal In A Monastery: Act Two - Tableau 2 - Scene 3 (Don Jerome)
13. Betrothal In A Monastery: Act Two - Tableau 2 - Scene 4 (Don Jerome) (Duenna)
14. Betrothal In A Monastery: Act Two - Tableau 2 - Scene 5 (Don Jerome)
15. Betrothal In A Monastery: Act Two - Tableau 2 - Scene 6 (Duenna)
16. Betrothal In A Monastery: Act One - Tableau 3 - Scene 1 (Mendoza)
17. Betrothal In A Monastery: Act One - Tableau 3 - Scene 2
18. Betrothal In A Monastery: Act One - Tableau 3 - Scene 3
19. Betrothal In A Monastery: Act One - Tableau 3 - Scene 4
20. Betrothal In A Monastery: Act One - Tableau 3 - Scene 5 (Mendoza) (Don Carlos)
21. Betrothal In A Monastery: Act One - Tableau 3 - Scene 6 (Don Carlos)

Tracks:

1. Betrothal In A Monastery: Act Two - Tableau 4 - Scene 1 (Don Jerome) (Mendoza)
2. Betrothal In A Monastery: Act Two - Tableau 4 - Scene 2 (Mendoza) (Duenna)
3. Betrothal In A Monastery: Act Two - Tableau 4 - Scene 3 (Duenna) (Mendoza)
4. Betrothal In A Monastery: Act Two - Tableau 4 - Scene 4 (Don Jerome) (Mendoza)
5. Betrothal In A Monastery: Act Three - Tableau 5 - Scene 1
6. Betrothal In A Monastery: Act Three - Tableau 5 - Scene 2 (Mendoza)
7. Betrothal In A Monastery: Act Three - Tableau 5 - Scene 3 (Mendoza)
8. Betrothal In A Monastery: Act Three - Tableau 5 - Scene 4 (Mendoza)
9. Betrothal In A Monastery: Act Three - Tableau 5 - Scene 5 (Mendoza)
10. Betrothal In A Monastery: Act Three - Tableau 6 - Scene 1 (Don Jerome)
11. Betrothal In A Monastery: Act Three - Tableau 6 - Scene 2 (Don Jerome)
12. Betrothal In A Monastery: Act Three - Tableau 6 - Scene 3 (Don Jerome)
13. Betrothal In A Monastery: Act Three - Tableau 6 - Scene 4 (Don Jerome)
14. Betrothal In A Monastery: Act Three - Tableau 7 - Scene 1
15. Betrothal In A Monastery: Act Three - Tableau 7 - Scene 2
16. Betrothal In A Monastery: Act Three - Tableau 7 - Scene 3

Tracks:

1. Betrothal In A Monastery: Act Four - Tableau 8 - Scene 1 (Chartreuse, Benedictine, Monks, Elustaf)
2. Betrothal In A Monastery: Act Four - Tableau 8 - Scene 2 (Elsustaf, Benedictine, Chartreuse, Augustin)
3. Betrothal In A Monastery: Act Four - Tableau 8 - Scene 3 (Elustaf, 2 Lay-Brothers, Augustin, Chartreuse, Benedictine, Monks, Clara)
4. Betrothal In A Monastery: Act Four - Tableau 8 - Scene 4 (Louisa, Ferdinand, Mendoza, Antonio, Augustin, Benedict, Monks, Clara)
5. Betrothal In A Monastery: Act Four - Tableau 8 - Scene 5 (Antonio, Clara, Ferdinand, Elustaf, Benedictine, Augustin, Chartreuse, Monks)
6. Betrothal In A Monastery: Act Four - Tableau 9 - Tableau 9 - Scene 1 (Don Jerome, Lopez)
7. Betrothal In A Monastery: Act Four - Tableau 9 - Scene 2 (Don Jerome, Mendoza, Lopez)
8. Betrothal In A Monastery: Act Four - Tableau 9 - Scene 3 Don Jerome, Antonio, Mendoza, Lopez, Louisa, Duenna)
9. Betrothal In A Monastery: Act Four - Tableau 9 - Scene 4 (Don Jerome, Ferdinand, Mendoza, Duenna, Louisa, Clara, Antonio, Ferdinand)
10. Betrothal In A Monastery: Act Four - Tableau 9 - Scene 5 Don Jerome, Louisa, Antonio, Ferdinand, Clara, Chorus)

Amazon.com essential recording

Prokofiev's setting of Sheridan's convoluted comic play The Duenna takes a host of familiar characters and situations--young lovers attempting to circumvent a disapproving parent, an older woman who wants to wed, requited and unrequited affection, requited and unrequited greed, mistaken identities--and tosses them together with a poke at the Church, a huge cast (23 named characters), and some of Prokofiev's coolest theater music. It's fun, if overlong. Few of the roles call for more than character singing, and most of the cast obliges with just that. The Kirov Orchestra shines, while conductor Valery Gergiev maintains a firm hand over the proceedings. The libretto, curiously, is rendered in the original Cyrillic and English; a phonetic version of the Russian would have been much more helpful for the majority of Western opera lovers, who are less than fluent in Cyrillic. --Sarah Bryan Miller

Customer Reviews:

Get the DVD.......2005-10-29

This is a 5 star opera and performance, but the DVD is $20 cheaper and much better. The sets and costumes are gorgeous; no skimpy, kooky mod-squad quirks. The music has much more lovely melody than we sometimes get from the earlier Prokofiev. The comic plot from Sheridan is complex, but more lucid and logical than is sometimes the case in this genre. The multiple deceptions which lead to the comic conclusion unfold with delicious irony. This is a rare gem of an opera; a comedy which bears comparison with Mozart's MARRIAGE OF FIGARO, Berlioz' BEATRICE AND BENEDICT, and Verdi's FALSTAFF.

Mellow? Prokofiev.......2002-02-17

In my opinion this is a "strange" opera (strange comparing to other Prokofiev operas). It has elements of ROSSINI, a little Verdi, a little of Puccini, Strauss AND, of course a lot of Prokofiev in it. It IS modern in style but has its roots in the Italian bel canto/buffa 1800 (Rossini)tradtion.

I dont know if I dear to reccomend this to opera-newcombers, looking for some ROMANTIC period russian opera music/singing (Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninovs "The Bells", Rimsky-Korsakov, Mussorgsky etc) BUT if you are looking for VERY good music, singing, and GREAT conducting... and SOMETIMES a more "mellow" Prokofiev... this set is for you.

This has not the schezoid music you could find in, as an example, "The Fiery Angel" or some theme moments you find in "Love for three oranges" (well it has some themes but not that famous as in "the oranges") but it has a lot of good music, singing and those discs has a nice sound and that should be enough for music lovers in general (Prokofiev lovers should def. NOT be out of of this masterpiece but dont expect anything spectacular... more than straight, forward moving good music, conducting and singing, specially good Prokofiev-style music at the first disc).

For Philips.. I should advice you do a libretto in western style written russian, so you could follow this in english, german, french and so on. I understand if you like russians to enjoy and follow this libretto too, but I think TWO versions of this libretto would be in order. Othervise this libretto is filled with information in english, french, german, so dont worry about that (songtexta/libretto too comes but its probably hard to follow for must of us even if english is our language because of russian kryllic version choosed by Philips).

To rate this disc and not give it five star would be, in my opinion, nearly insane but as I wrote before... dont expect any "Tosca" arias or typical good Prokofiev ballet music in this... or russian romantic... or not completly modern style either. Its a mixed bag having its roots in Italian buffa/bel canto AND some modernism parts in music and is by that very special, fun, intresting... true art from one of the greatest composers ever.

This is a good, quite FUN solid opera with fantastic singing, music and conducting and if that is what you want, this set is highly recommended.

Average customer rating: An eye-opening Prokofiev survey (try to buy it used)

Sergei Prokofiev, Enfant Terrible (1891-1953): A 50th Anniversary Celebration Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music General | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Sonatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Ballets & Dances | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Sonatas | Forms & Genres | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Contemporary | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Piano | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Cello | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Violin | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Cleveland Orchestra | ( C ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music London Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music National Philharmonic Orchestra London | ( N ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Russian National Orchestra | ( R ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music Modern & 20th Century | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Prokofiev | Prokofiev, Sergei | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Cantatas | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Russian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Cantatas | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music ASIN: B000084H93 Release Date: 2003-04-08

Customer Reviews:

An eye-opening Prokofiev survey (try to buy it used).......2006-03-26

I can't see paying full price for a two-CD compensdium, even one as lavish as this package, when all the itmes are samples for promoting Universal's catalog (expect a good representation by Ashkenazy, Rostropovich, Previn, and Gergiev). But the selection is good enough and often rare eough to warrant a buy if the price is low.

As I listened straight through, I was surprised at how unacquainted I actually was with the wide extent of Prokofiev's style. From the very early "Dreams," which could be mistaken for Glazunov through the unfamiliar operas (Betrothal in a Monastery Garden, Semyon Kotko) to the final, sadly diminished works like the Seventh Sym. and the cello concerto, the composer covered every major Russian style of the century. I didn't find any new masterful performances--not that a short excerpt is a good enough trial--but everything here is well performced. Any listener should find something unexpected and intriguing in this two-and-a-half-hour traversal.

Average customer rating: One of Prokofiev's Comedies

Prokofiev: Betrothal in a Monastery Manufacturer: Melodiya ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Prokofiev | Prokofiev, Sergei | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Russian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music ASIN: B00000DFKM Release Date: 1998-10-13

Tracks:

1. Betrothal In A Monastery: Introduction
2. Betrothal In A Monastery: Scene 1 - It's Impossible. Simply Unbelievable...
3. Betrothal In A Monastery: Scene 2 - Ugly. Crooked Back.
4. Betrothal In A Monastery: Scene 3 - Unimportant! A Trivial Matter!
5. Betrothal In A Monastery: Scene 4 - The Moon Is Shining In At Your Window.
6. Betrothal In A Monastery: Scene 5 - Stop That Noise. The Devil Take You!
7. Betrothal In A Monastery: Scene 6 - Dance Of The Maskers
8. Betrothal In A Monastery: Scene 7 - Marry Her Faster, Give Her To Mendoza Quicker.
9. Betrothal In A Monastery: Scene 8 - Go Friends, Go! Friends, Don't Make Any Noise!
10. Betrothal In A Monastery: Scene 1 - Do You Think He'll Do It, Nursie?
11. Betrothal In A Monastery: Scene 2 - Perfect Senor, You Will Sing A Nightly Serenade.
12. Betrothal In A Monastery: Scene 3 - This Is The Way You Take Account Of My Age?
13. Betrothal In A Monastery: Scene 4 - Give Him Up!
14. Betrothal In A Monastery: Scene 5 - If You Had A Daughter, Believe Me, It's A Curse.
15. Betrothal In A Monastery: Scene 6 - The First Act Has Gone Off Without A Hitch
16. Betrothal In A Monastery: Scene 1 - Buy Your Fish At Senor Mendoza's Barge!
17. Betrothal In A Monastery: Scene 2 - Rosina, Rosina, I've Run Away From My Mother-In-Law.
18. Betrothal In A Monastery: Scene 3 - Ferdinand Is The Only One I Love.
19. Betrothal In A Monastery: Scene 4 - So You Mean Ferdinand's Been Up To No Good?
20. Betrothal In A Monastery: Scene 5 - A Beard? A Beard Is Not So Bad.
21. Betrothal In A Monastery: Scene 6 - No, No, There's No Greater Happiness Than Serving You, Senroa.
22. Betrothal In A Monastery: Scene 1 - Well Well, You've Run Away From Your Papa!
23. Betrothal In A Monastery: Scene 2 - My Lovely...

Tracks:

1. Betrothal In A Monastery: Scene 3 - When The Maiden Was Still Young...
2. Betrothal In A Monastery: Scene 4 - What's The Matter?
3. Betrothal In A Monastery: Scene 1 - Oh, Time Seems To Drag.
4. Betrothal In A Monastery: Scene 2 - Well, Come In, Come In.
5. Betrothal In A Monastery: Scene 3 - Shall We Peep Secretly Through The Key-Hole?
6. Betrothal In A Monastery: Scene 4 & 5 - They're Coming This Way.
7. Betrothal In A Monastery: Scene 1 - You're Not Playing In Key.
8. Betrothal In A Monastery: Scene 2 - Sincere Greetings, Senor.
9. Betrothal In A Monastery: Scene 3 & 4 - Please, Let Us Continue.
10. Betrothal In A Monastery: Music-Making. Minuet
11. Betrothal In A Monastery: Scene 1 - And Now I Am A Nun.
12. Betrothal In A Monastery: Scene 1 - My Dream, My Love...
13. Betrothal In A Monastery: Scene 2 - No-One Told Me Before
14. Betrothal In A Monastery: Scene 3 - So This Is It.
15. Betrothal In A Monastery: Scene 1 - The Bottle Is The Sun Of Our Life.
16. Betrothal In A Monastery: Scene 2 - To The Lovely Nuns Of The Covent Of Saint Ursula!
17. Betrothal In A Monastery: Scene 3 - A Gentleman Has Arrived.
18. Betrothal In A Monastery: Scene 4 - Flee Antonio!
19. Betrothal In A Monastery: Scene 5 - Come To The Point, Ferdinand.
20. Betrothal In A Monastery: Scenes 1 & 2 - I Don't Understand At All.
21. Betrothal In A Monastery: Scene 3 - But What Is This? Why Are You Here?
22. Betrothal In A Monastery: Finale. Scenes 4 & 5 - My Son! At Last!

Amazon.com

This is a strange piece. Written in 1940, the music shows that Prokofiev was under heavy political pressure to produce a popular, entertaining work. The libretto, though no doubt amusing in Russian, is extremely complicated for the uninitiated. Based on a Sheridan comedy of mistaken identities, mismatches, and misunderstandings, it seems colored by Prokofiev's own recent abandonment of his wife for a much younger woman, with whom he collaborated in adapting the text. This recording compounds the confusion by providing no libretto; the synopsis is detailed but hard to follow. However, much of the music is very beautiful, from lyrical, ecstatic arias and ensembles to truly comic, parodistic scenes, and it succeeds in creating real people, not caricatures. As always, the orchestration is masterful, the rhythm pungent and original. The singing is superb throughout, vocally ravishing, and full of variety, character, and expression; orchestra and chorus are first rate. --Edith Eisler

Customer Reviews:

One of Prokofiev's Comedies.......2002-02-27

This work is great and the story is light. Based on the novel the Duenna this story unfolds differently from his other operas. The match making and relationships are comparable to standard Italian operas that don't often get performed. I always choose to listen to this version over the Gergiev, but that is my stylistic preferance. Lazarev is brisk with the tempi and the soloists seem to feel so right for this music. The singers found in the Kirov set are very good as well, but I just instinctively approach this performance. I do hope that the old late 50's Stanislavsky/Abdulaev version makes it back into the catalogue(Chant du Monde-early 90's). It also has merits to add.

Average customer rating:

Mischa Lefkowitz Performs Virtuoso Violin Manufacturer: Cambria Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Bartók, Béla | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Bloch | Bloch, Ernest | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Shchedrin, Rodion K. | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Shostakovich | Shostakovich, Dmitri | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Debussy | Debussy, Claude | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Prokofiev | Prokofiev, Sergei | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Violin | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Russian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music ASIN: B000003XNT Release Date: 1993-08-23

Average customer rating:

Prokofiev: Betrothal in a Monastery Manufacturer: Berlin Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Prokofiev | Prokofiev, Sergei | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Russian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music ASIN: B0000035P1 Release Date: 2005-10-01

Tracks:

1. Einleitung - Rundfunk-Sinfonie-Orchester/Herbert Kegel
2. Das Ware Ja Phantastisch - Gunter Kurth/Reiner Suss
3. Wenn In Der Nacht Der Mond - Eberhard Buchner/Elisabeth Breul
4. Keinen Gibt Es, Den Ich So Von Herzen Liebe - Maria Croonen
5. Meinen Bart? Meinen Bart Find' Ich Sehr Reizvoll! - Reiner Suss/Konrad Rupf/Elisabeth Breul/Frauenchor
6. Mein Fraulein, Wollet Ihr - Reiner Suss/Annelies Burmeister/Gunter Kurth
7. Hier Muss Sie Sein - Wolfgang Hellmich/Maria Croonen/Nonnen
8. Im Krug Den Sonnenschein Woll'n Wir Stets Preisen - Werner Haseleu/Hermann Christian Polster/Horst Hiestermann/Fred Teschler/Hans-Dieter Knorrn...
9. Sag, Ist Froh Nun Dein Herz? - Eberhard Buchner/Elisabeth Breul/Konrad Rupf/Reiner Suss
10. Wir Bitten Dich, Verzeih' Uns - Elisabeth Breul/Maria Croonen/Eberhard Buchner/Wolfgang Hellmich/Gunter Kurth/Rundfunkchor....

Average customer rating:

Prokofiev:Les Fiancailles Au Covent (Betrothal in a Monastery) Manufacturer: Le Chant Du Monde ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music | Cantatas | Romances Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music ASIN: B000RLTXKU

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