Glinka: Ruslan and Lyudmila (St. Petersburg, 1995)

Cast: Anna Netrebko (Lyudmila), Valdimir Ognovenko (Ruslan), Larissa Diadkova (Ratmir), Gennady Bezzubenkov (Farlaf), Galina Gorchakova (Gorislava), Konstantin Pluzhnikov (Finn), Irina Bogachova (Naina), Yuri Marusin (Bayan); Kirov Orchestra, Opera Chorus and Ballet of St. Petersburg, Valery Gergiev (conductor), Lotfi Mansouri (director), Hans Hulscher (video director)

Recorded at Mariinsky Theater, St. Petersburg, 1995

Issued on DVD by Philips in 2003 [075 096-9, NTSC/regions 1-6, menus and special features in English, optional subtitles (opera only) in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Chinese]

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

Running time: 210 minutes, plus 77 minutes of documentaries

Sung in Russian
We have been awaiting this release for eight years. Previously available only on PAL VHS in limited areas packaged with the CD, Philips had promised US release on VHS, but it never appeared. Fortunately, this performance is finally in hand and was well worth our patience.

The production is rich and colorful; even the simplest scenes are eye-catching and effective. Appropriately for this fable, the costumes are fantastic though the acting is sometimes minimal and formal. Chorus and orchestra are superb despite the fast pace, a few slight muffs in choral entrances excepted. There are only a few quibbles about the soloists, none of which will disturb any reasonable viewer. There is no criticism possible of Netrebko whose vocal and visual beauty is extraordinary. Ognovenko's instrument is a shade high for the role; he is a Heldenbariton where a basso cantante might be preferred. Never mind. There are a few low notes which are suggested rather than sung, but all the 'big' music is conveyed effectively if not always with great beauty of tone. Diadkova's contralto is remarkable for timbre and for uniformity over the scale. Bezzubenkov protrays an even less attractive Farlaf than necessary. From Marusin's entrance, one knows that this whole performance is delivered from strength.

Gergiev presents his usual paradox. The tempi are fast, but the dynamics are reduced in the overall sound. The result is that the longeurs - and there are plenty in this work - seem exceptionally long. That is particularly true in the lengthy and thinly choreographed ballet sequences. Video direction is hit-or-miss, with the choices of long- and medium-shots arbitrary and not as this viewer wished. Picture and (stereo) sound are exemplary.
 
Related website:
Decca and Philips DVD www.deccaclassics.com/music/dvd
 
Michael Richter, 6 December 2003
mrichter@cpl.net
 
See also Michael Richter's Introduction to the DVD, for a list of other reviews see the DVD Project page.