MASSENET Don Quichotte

Valery Gergiev conductor
Mariinsky Orchestra
Soloists' Ensemble of the Mariinsky
Academy of Young SingersFerruccio Furlanetto Don Quichotte
Anna Kiknadze Dulcinée
Andrei Serov Sancho Pança
Eleonora Vindau Pedro
Yulia Matochkina Garcias
Carlos D'Onofrio Rodriguez
Dmitry Koleushko Juan
Didier Jouanny Ténébrun, Chef des banditsTotal duration 111m34s
Catalogue Number MAR0523
UPC 822231852322James Mallinson producer
Vladimir Ryabenko editing
Jonathan Stokes & Neil Hutchinson for Classic Sound Ltd mixing & masteringRecorded May 2011 in the Mariinsky Concert Hall, St Petersburg
Sung in French, libretto in French & EnglishIncludes multi-channel 5.0 and stereo mixes.
Notes in English / en Francais / auf Deutsch / на русском языкеDisc of the Week BBC Radio 3 CD Review
Opera Choice of the Month 'Gergiev whips up the score more vigorously than his predecessors… excellent surround sound.' BBC Music Magazine
****½ ‘The certainty of his [Gergiev] vision make this an exceptionally compelling and coherent presentation of the opera. Anna Kiknadze is a youthful, warmly seductive, and high-spirited Dulcinée. The sound of Mariinsky's SACD is well balanced, very clean, and clearly detailed. Overall, this exemplary performance makes the most compelling recorded case for Don Quichotte as an opera that deserves a place in the more standard repertoire' Allmusic.com
**** 'Gergiev's talent lies in his ability to enter a real pulse into this mellifluous music, an intimate necessity that keeps you interested.' Classica
'Sensitive handling of Massenet's delicately perfumed idiom, relishing the atmosphere of his Spanish pastiche.' Sunday Times
'He [Furlanetto] is quite astonishingly moving in it, as is Andrei Serov as Sancho Pança.' The Observer
'[Furlanetto] is a real bass and his dark, round tone is perfect for the role... Gergiev and his chorus and orchestra are on fine form and the recorded sound, in the experienced hands of James Mallinson, is excellent.' Gramophone
The performance led by Valery Gergiev has, in Ferruccio Furlanetto, a Quichotte of undeniable vocal presence and impressive skill... Gergiev paces the work with expert suppleness, orchestral atmosphere and as much of his customary flair.' Opera News
'The opera world has long wanted/needed a good version of Cervantes' celebrated Don Quixote story, [here] the opera is indeed reborn.'
The Philadelphia Enquirer'The drive and energy, the big bold splashes of colour generated by Valery Gergiev and his orchestra immediately grab your attention.' Fanfare
'‘The cast is uniformly strong, with Ferruccio Furlanetto, today's leading Quichotte, in fine form. Gergiev leads a dynamic performance, and the brilliant Spanish sections are particularly effective’ Classical CD Review.com
£10.99 £17.99
Don Quichotte, Massenet's comedie-heroique, is a tale of heroism, adventure and unrequited love. The action relates more closely to the play Le Chevalier de la longue figure by Jacques de Lorrain, than the great novel by Miguel de Cervantes.
Italian bass Ferruccio Furlanetto is one of the most sought-after interpreters of French, Italian and Russian repertoire. Here he joins Valery Gergiev and the Mariinsky Orchestra for a sumptuous recording of Massenet's final great opera.
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