Shostakovich: The Nose/The Gamblers

Amazon.com essential recording
Dmitri Shostakovich began to come of age as a composer during the heady period of artistic experimentation following the Revolution, before Stalinist cultural control policies nearly strangled his career. The Nose, his first full-fledged opera, is a remarkable document from that era of creative ferment when the composer joined forces with the likes of the director Meyerhold. Although a success at its 1930 premiere, the opera was essentially banned until the 1970s. This recording is a remastered version of a production from 1975 that was overseen by the composer himself, and, under the guidance of conductor Gennady Rozhdestvensky, taps into an extraordinary, palpable ensemble spirit that is essential to this version of Gogol's absurdist story about the nature of conformity and social control. Stylistically, The Nose involves a montage of traits and sources, displaying jagged Stravinskian rhythmic energy, sardonic neoclassical counterpoint, marches, waltzes, and expressionist, angst-fueled, Wozzeck-inspired orchestral commentary--all of which are rendered with fevered energy by the Moscow Chamber Theatre Orchestra. The vocal equivalent of character acting from this enormous cast, which brings to life the opera's 80-plus characters, is abundant. As the protagonist who awakens to find his nose missing, baritone Eduard Akimov portrays both boisterous vulgarity--listen to his erotic dream sequence--and existential terror. This performance makes a compelling case for the importance within 20th-century opera of this often overlooked work. Shostakovich also composed a second Gogol-based opera, the one-act The Gamblers, which was left unfinished. Rozhdestvensky prepared a performing edition of this Brecht-flavored satire, the 1978 premiere of which is included in this set, and the result introduces a delightfully rich, acid-tinged score that fans of the composer--or of music drama in general--will not want to miss. The only vexation here is the lack of librettos in the CD booklet. --Thomas May

Shostakovich: The Nose/The Gamblers,Dmitry Shostakovich,Gennady Rozhdestvensky,Melodiya,Classical,Classical Music,Opera,Opera / Operetta / Oratorio,Russian 20th/21st Century Opera

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Shostakovich: The Nose/The Gamblers Manufacturer: Melodiya ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Russian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music All Works by Shostakovich | Shostakovich, Dmitri | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music ASIN: B00000DFKN Release Date: 1998-10-13

Tracks:

1. The Gamblers: Instrumental Introduction
2. The Gamblers: Do Come In, Do Come In...
3. The Gamblers: I'm Listening Friend, Go On.
4. The Gamblers: What A Sight!
5. The Gamblers: Have You Come Far?
6. The Gamblers: Where Is Your Master From?
7. The Gamblers: Wily Fellows, These.
8. The Gamblers: Perhaps Kazan Is Better
9. The Gamblers: Listen, Did They Give You Much?
10. The Gamblers: I'm Sorry, The Room's Not Nice...
11. The Gamblers: But, Gentlemen, Come Come, Don't Lets's Argue...
12. The Gamblers: Well Well, This Sturgeon Is Good.
13. The Gamblers: Jack Of Clubs, Diamonds...
14. The Gamblers: And So We Shake On The Deal.
15. The Gamblers: Do Tell Us...
16. The Gamblers: Do You Remember, Shvokhnev?
17. The Gamblers: In A Town ...
18. The Gamblers: We Have Our Methods.
19. The Gamblers: There Was Another One Which Went Quite Well.
20. The Gamblers: Wily Fellows, These.
21. The Nose: Act I: No. 1: Introduction
22. The Nose: Act I: No. 2: Scene 1. Ivan Yakovlevich's Barber Shop
23. The Nose: Act I: No. 3: Scene 2. A Quay
24. The Nose: No. 4 Musical Interlude
25. The Nose: Act I: No. 5: Scene 3. Kovalyov's Bedroom
26. The Nose: Act I: No. 6: Gallop
27. The Nose: Act I: No. 7: Scene 4. Kazan Cathedral

Tracks:

1. The Nose: Act II: No.8 Introduction
2. The Nose: Act II: No. 9: Scene 5. Small Ads Department Of A Newspaper.
3. The Nose: Act II: Largo: I Have No Idea How This Misfortune Occurred. (Kovalyov)
4. The Nose: No, I Can't Place Such An Ad In The Newspaper. (Clerk, Kovalyov, Servants And Footmen)
5. The Nose: Act II: No. 10: Musical Interlude
6. The Nose: Act II: No. 11: Scene 6. Kovalyov's House - (Valet Ivan)
7. The Nose: Act II: God, Good God! Why This Calamity? (Kovalyov)
8. The Nose: Act III: No. 12: Scene 7. A posting-inn on the outskirts of St. Petersburg
9. The Nose: Act III: No. 13: Scene 8. The drawing-rooms of Kovalyov and Pelagia Podtochina
10. The Nose: Act III: It really is my nose! There's the spot ...
11. The Nose: Act III: Hey, Ivan! Ivan!
12. The Nose: Hey, what a face, Ha, ha, ha!
13. The Nose: Act III: Ah? Write to her! Good, I'm writing.
14. The Nose: Act III: No. 14: Intermezzo
15. The Nose: Act III: No. 15: Scene9. Kovalyov's house.
16. The Nose: Act III: No. 16: Scene 10. Nevsky Prospekt

Amazon.com essential recording

Dmitri Shostakovich began to come of age as a composer during the heady period of artistic experimentation following the Revolution, before Stalinist cultural control policies nearly strangled his career. The Nose, his first full-fledged opera, is a remarkable document from that era of creative ferment when the composer joined forces with the likes of the director Meyerhold. Although a success at its 1930 premiere, the opera was essentially banned until the 1970s. This recording is a remastered version of a production from 1975 that was overseen by the composer himself, and, under the guidance of conductor Gennady Rozhdestvensky, taps into an extraordinary, palpable ensemble spirit that is essential to this version of Gogol's absurdist story about the nature of conformity and social control. Stylistically, The Nose involves a montage of traits and sources, displaying jagged Stravinskian rhythmic energy, sardonic neoclassical counterpoint, marches, waltzes, and expressionist, angst-fueled, Wozzeck-inspired orchestral commentary--all of which are rendered with fevered energy by the Moscow Chamber Theatre Orchestra. The vocal equivalent of character acting from this enormous cast, which brings to life the opera's 80-plus characters, is abundant. As the protagonist who awakens to find his nose missing, baritone Eduard Akimov portrays both boisterous vulgarity--listen to his erotic dream sequence--and existential terror. This performance makes a compelling case for the importance within 20th-century opera of this often overlooked work. Shostakovich also composed a second Gogol-based opera, the one-act The Gamblers, which was left unfinished. Rozhdestvensky prepared a performing edition of this Brecht-flavored satire, the 1978 premiere of which is included in this set, and the result introduces a delightfully rich, acid-tinged score that fans of the composer--or of music drama in general--will not want to miss. The only vexation here is the lack of librettos in the CD booklet. --Thomas May

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