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Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov

Čangalović has a pleasing warm tone as Boris but lacks the true bass weight of Christoff’s ‘gold-brocaded black’ (Michael Oliver’s beautiful description)…The Pimen, Branko Pivnički, is recorded... — Gramophone Magazine, February 2019 More…

Release Date: 17th Aug 2018
Catalogue No: ELQ4826883
Label: Eloquence
Series: Belgrade Opera Series
Length: 2 hours 36 minutes

Mussorgsky: Boris Godounov

Work length2:36:11

$47.30

$64.50

Zlata Sesardich (soprano), Ilya Gligorievich (bass), Melanie Bugarinovich (mezzo-soprano), Stepan Andrashevich (tenor), Miro Changalovich (bass), Branco Pivnichki (bass), Zhika Milosavlievich (tenor), Miro Brajnik (tenor), Biserka Kaluchich (mezzo-soprano), Sofiya Jankovich (soprano), Dragomir Ninkovich (bass), Stepan Vukashevich (tenor), Militza Miladinovich (mezzo-soprano), Sofiya Jankovich (mezzo-soprano), Nikola Janchich (tenor), Dushan Popovich (baritone), Zharko Tzveych (bass), Ivan Murgashki (bass)
Belgrade National Opera Orchestra, Belgrade National Opera Chorus
Kreshimir Baranovich

"Nu, shtozh vy?"

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"Na kovo ty nas pokidaesh"

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"Mityukh, a Mityukh, chevo oryom?"

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"Nishkni! Vstavaite! Dyak dumni govorit...Pravoslavniye!"

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"Slava tebye"

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"Da zdrastvstvuet tsar Boris Feodorovich!"

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"Skorbit dusha!"

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"Yeshcho odno poslyednye skazanye"

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"Bozhe krepky, pravy"

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"Nye syetuy, brat"

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"Zvonyat k zautreni, Blagoslovi"

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"Poymala ya siza seleznya"

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"Shto zh ti prizadumalsa, tovarisch?"

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"Kak vo gorodye bylo vo Kazane"

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"Shto zh ne podtyagivayesh, da i ne potyagivayesh?"

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"Starsi smiryenniye, inoki chestniye"

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"Shto ti na menya tak pristalno smotrish"

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"Gdye ty, zhenikh moy"

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"Kak komar drova rubil"

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"Skazochka pro to i pro syo"

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"Akhty!...Chevo?"

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"Kogda-nibud, i skoro mozhet bit...Dostig ya vishei vlasti"

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"Veliky gosudar!"

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"Konyechno, tsar, silna tvoya derzhava"

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"Ukh! tyazhelo! Day dukh perevedu"

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"V polnoch...v sadu...u fontana"

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"Vashey strasi ya nye vyeryu"

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"Dimitri, tsaryevich, Dimitri!"

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"Lish prestol tsaryei moskovskikh"

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"Vali syuda! Na pyen sadi"

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"Ne sokol letit po podnyebesyu"

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"Trrr, trrr, trrr, trrr...Zhelyezny kolpak"

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"Solntse, luna pomyerknuli"

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"Domine, Domine salvum fac"

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"Mi, Dimitri Ivanovich"

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"Lyeytes, lyeytes, slyozy gorkiye"

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"Shto zh, poidyom na golosa, boyare!"

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"Zhal Shuivskovo nyet knyazya"

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"Ya sozval vas, boyare"

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"Smiryenni inok, v delakh mirskikh ne mudri sudiya"

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"Tsaryevicha skoryei!"

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"Gospodi, Gospodi, vozzri molyu"

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"Zvon! Pogrebal'ny zvon!"

Track length4:30

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About

A first release on CD of Mussorgsky’s epic tragedy recorded by the Belgrade National Opera. With this and six companion issues, Eloquence makes available for the first time on CD the seven complete Russian operas recorded in 1955 by Decca with the company of the Belgrade Opera. Fresh from a successful tour of Boris Godunov in Switzerland the previous year, the Belgrade Opera in 1955 was keen to make an impression on an international public. At the same time, the Decca company perceived a cost-effective but artistically assured opportunity to expand both its small but rapidly growing stereo catalogue (launched the previous year with Ansermet and the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande) and its opera discography with classics of the Russian opera repertoire which it had previously not been possible to record in the original language.

In the event, the stereo versions were held back for the US market and only released in Europe in the 1960s, by which time the Belgrade Opera had acquired an international reputation for excellence thanks both to the mono issues and to its extensive touring schedule, which took in all the major European operatic centres. The Boris on their recording was Miroslav Čangalović, who became known as a latterday Chaliapin in the part, among the most renowned exponents of his generation. In a ‘house’ version of the opera, incorporating portions of the ‘Polish’ third act in Rimsky-Korsakov’s orchestration, Čangalović was joined by other stalwarts of the company such as Melanija Bugarinović, who also won acclaim as Erda at Bayreuth around this time, and Žarko Cvejić as a magnificently sonorous and sinister Varlaam.

The booklet for this newly remastered release prints both a synopsis and an essay giving full historical context to the Belgrade opera recordings.

‘The outstanding principal is Miro Brajnik, possessor of a fine, ringing tenor. His is the most compelling Dmitri on records.’ High Fidelity, March 1957

‘The minor characters are well differentiated and well sung. The chorus is splendid and extremely well recorded. The various planes of sound are brilliantly engineered, creating the illusion of distant pilgrims, passing monks, the immediacy of a big crowd and especially the great bells’ clangour. The Revolutionary scene is magnificent choral recording and here Baranović is splendidly vigorous.’ Opera, October 1958

Artists

Miroslav Čangalović (Boris Godunov), Sofija Janković (Feodor Borisovich), Zlata Sesardić (Xenia Borisovna), Milica Miladinović (Xenia’s Nurse), Stepan Andrashevich (Prince Vasily Ivanovich Shuisky), Dušan Popović (Andrej Shchelkalov), Branko Pivnički (Pimen), Miroslav Brajnik (Pretender), Melanija Bugarinović (Marina Mnishek), Žarko Cvejić (Varlaam), Stepan Vukicević (Missail), Biserka Kalučić (Hostess of the inn), Nikola Jančić (Simpleton), Ilija Gligorijević (Nikitich), Zhika Milosavliević (Khrushchov), Dragomir Ninković (Lewicki), Ivan Murgaški (Czernikowski)

Chorus and Orchestra of the National Theatre, Belgrade, Krešimir Baranović

Reviews

February 2019

Čangalović has a pleasing warm tone as Boris but lacks the true bass weight of Christoff’s ‘gold-brocaded black’ (Michael Oliver’s beautiful description)…The Pimen, Branko Pivnički, is recorded rather closely, giving his scenes a certain intimacy, and the Varlaam of Žarko Cvejić is suitably gruff. Miroslav Brajnik has plenty of heft as Grigory and his – reduced – scene with Melanija Bugarinović’s Wagnerian Marina contains some of the best singing in this set.

December 2018

Though Boris…is missing both the first scene of the Polish act and St Basil’s Cathedral, that at least fits it neatly onto two well-packed CDS…Brajnik’s ardent, proud Pretender could scarecely be bettered…Best of all is the baritone Dušan Popović, visionary in Mussorgsky’s ‘secretary’ arias…There are no librettos, but when the recorded quality, singing and (at least Danon’s) conducting are so good, that is a small price to pay.

Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov

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