MASSENET Don Quichotte

Total duration 111m34s

Catalogue Number MAR0523
UPC 822231852322

James Mallinson producer
Vladimir Ryabenko editing
Jonathan Stokes & Neil Hutchinson for Classic Sound Ltd mixing & mastering

Recorded May 2011 in the Mariinsky Concert Hall, St Petersburg
Sung in French, libretto in French & English

Includes multi-channel 5.0 and stereo mixes.
Notes in English / en Francais / auf Deutsch / на русском языке

Disc 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