RIMSKY-KORSAKOV The Tale of Tsar Saltan

Listen

Artists
Recording details
Reviews

Valery Gergiev conductor
Mariinsky Orchestra and Chorus

Edward Tsanga Tsar Saltan
Irina Churilova Tsaritsa Militrisa
Mikhail Vekua Tsarevich Guidon
Albina Shagimuratova The Swan-Princess
Varvara Solovyova Tkachikha
Tatiana Kravtsova Povarikha
Elena Vitman Barbarikha
Total Duration 150m

Catalogue Number MAR0597
UPC 822231859796
All Regions (BD) / Region 0 (DVD)

Alexander Petrov Stage Director
Vladimir Firer Set & Costume Designer
Vladimir Lukasevich Lighting Designer
Anna Matison Video Director
Fedor Naumov Audio Producer & Engineer

Filmed at the Mariinsky Theatre, St Petersburg, July 2015
Sung in Russian
Subtitles in English, French, German, Spanish, Russian and Japanese

Booklet notes in English / en Francais / auf Deutsch / на русском языке
The Classical Review’s Top Ten Recordings of 2017
‘Valery Gergiev conducts a stellar cast led by warm-voiced dramatic soprano Irina Churilova as Tsaritsa Militrisa.’

**** ‘If enchantment and sumptuousness are grounds for choosing an opera to view, one will not be disappointed in this production of The Tale of Tsar Saltan. A grand level of operatic entertainment!’
Concerto Net

‘Some good singing, especially from Irina Churilova as the Tsarina and Albina Shagimuratova as the Swan-Princess.’
The Guardian

‘Truly fantastic.’
Classical Source

Production reviews

‘A rare old-fashioned Russian treat for the eyes and the ears’
British Theatre Guide

£20.00 £24.99

Valery Gergiev, Mariinsky Opera

Originally composed to celebrate Pushkin’s centenary, the full title of the work - The Tale of Tsar Saltan, of His Son the Renowned and Mighty Bogatyr Prince Gvidon Saltanovich, and of the Beautiful Princess-Swan - is indicative of the fantastical content of the opera. It is an old-fashioned Russian treat for the eyes and the ears from the country’s most long-standing musical institution. Filled with colourful music that is typical of Rimsky-Korsakov’s style, it is the origin of the instantly recognisable Flight of the Bumblebee, which arrives when the magic Swan-Princess changes Prince Gvidon Saltanovich into an insect.

Rarely staged and not often captured on film, this release is part of Valery Gergiev’s mission to showcase the breadth and depth that Russian music has to over, capturing Rimsky-Korsakov’s exciting, adventurous and magical work for posterity.

This production features a cast of the Mariinsky’s finest singers, including Irina Churilova as Tsaritsa Militrisa, Albina Shagimuratova as The Swan-Princess, and Edward Tsanga, who sadly passed away in early 2017, in the lead role.