Rimsky-Korsakov: The Golden Cockerel
(Paris, 2002)

Cast: Albert Schagidullin (King Dodon), Olga Trifonova (Queen of Shemakha), Barry Banks (Astrologer), Ilya Bannik (General Polkan), Yuri Maria Saenz (The Cockerel), Chorus of the Mariinsky Theater, Orchestre de Paris, Kent Nagano (conductor), Isao Takashimi (director), Setsu Asakura (designer), Tomio Mohri (costumes), Thomas Grimm (video director)

Recorded at Théâtre Musical de Paris - Châtelet in December 2002

Issued on DVD by TDK Mediarts in 2004 [DV-OPLCO, PAL/all regions (DVUS-OPLCO NTSC/all regions), menus in English, optional subtitles in English, German, French, Spanish, Italian]

Technical details:
Aspect ratio 16:9
Sound LPCM, AC3 5.1, DTS 5.1

Running time: 104 minutes

Sung in Russian
This audio/video spectacular is a romp. The production uses a unit set spectacularly lighted, brilliantly costumed and consistently choreographed. Nagano maintains the right pace and colors, though both orchestra and chorus could be a bit more incisive at times. Trifonova, Saenz and Banks shine vocally and dramatically; the lower male voices are a bit weak in their nether regions and not easily distinguished from one another in sound, but more than compensate in their acting.

The opera itself is a confection with brilliant music (some of which is finally heard in context) and fairy-tale nonsense as a plot. The performance is as witty and as fantastic as the work. Those seeking deep meaning and insight into character should turn elsewhere; those seeking an evening of delight will find it here.
 
Related website:
TDK Mediactive www.tdk-music.com
 
Michael Richter, 28 October 2004
mrichter@cpl.net
 
See also Michael Richter's Introduction to the DVD, for a list of other reviews see the DVD Project page.