The Moscow Chamber Opera Theatre made operatic history in 1974 with their definitive production of The Nose by Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975). It marked the first time this modern masterpiece had been performed in Russia since its 1930 premiere; rehearsals were supervised by the composer himself. In the words of Boris Pokrovsky, who founded the Moscow Chamber Opera Theatre in 1972, “Shostakovich loved us. He loved this production. He loved our young theatre as one loves children for whom one has high hopes. For our theatre, the association with such a great artist and human being became the inspiration for the future life of our company.”

In this 1979 taping of the production, the esteemed conductor Gennady Rozhdestvensky leads soloists, Chorus, and Orchestra of the Moscow Chamber Opera Theater. DVD bonus: Footage of Shostakovich at one of the rehearsals (1975), and Boris Pokrovsky speaking about the genesis and importance of the production. In Russian; subtitles in English, French, Italian, Russian, and Spanish. 111 minutes, Color, stereo, 4:3, All regions

Artists

Eduard Akimov (Platon Kuzmich Kovalyov), Alexander Lomonosov (The Nose), Valery Belykh (Ivan Yakovlevich, a barber), Nina Sasulova (Praskovia Osipovna, the barber's wife), Boris Tarkhov (Local Policeman), Boris Druzhinin (Ivan, Kovalyov's footman), Ashot Sarkisov (Doctor)

Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra

of the Moscow Chamber Opera Theatre, Gennady Rozhdestvensky