Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov: The Golden Cockerel

Dmitry Ulyanov (Tsar Dodon), Nina Minasyan (The Queen of Shemakha), Andrei Popov (The Astrologer), Margarita Nekrasova (Amelfa), Mischa Schelomianski (General Polkan)

Orchestre et Choeurs de l'Opéra National de Lyon, Barrie Kosky, Daniele Rustioni

the music is superbly sung and acted by an all-Russian cast...Meanwhile the brilliance and colour of Rimsky-Korsakov’s unusual harmonies and orchestration register impressively, with Rustioni... — BBC Music Magazine, October 2022, 3 out of 5 stars (Performance) / 4 out of 5 stars (Recording & Sound) More…

Release Date: 12th Aug 2022
Catalogue No: NBD0150V
Label: Naxos

Opera

October 2022

Disc of the Month
International Classical Music Awards

2023

Nominated - Video: Opera

Rimsky Korsakov: Le Coq d'Or

Dmitry Ulyanov, Nina Minasyan, Andrei Popov, Margarita Nekrasova, Mischa Schelomianski, Opéra National de Lyon (opera company)
Daniele Rustioni

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Rimsky-Korsakov’s The Golden Cockerel (Le Coq d’or) is based on a Pushkin folk tale, but the opera’s Orientalism, comedy and sultry elements go far beyond its original influence. The composer saw in the story of a Tsar, punished for his cowardice and despotism, an opportunity to employ satire to condemn Russia’s autocratic ruler, Nicholas II. This new production premiered in May 2021 and was staged by the Australian director, Barrie Kosky, a specialist in Russian opera. Critics hailed the ‘glorious’ singing of Dmitry Ulyanov and the ‘exquisite’ performance of Nina Minasyan calling the event ‘a triumphant evening for all concerned’ (Bachtrack.com).

Daniele Rustioni has been principal conductor of Opéra National de Lyon since September 2017 and from the 2021–22 season has been principal guest conductor of the Munich Opera. His previous Naxos recordings featured the symphonies of Elisabetta Brusa (8573437, 8574263).

Of the stage direction, Bachtrack.com wrote that ‘Barrie Kosky rises to the challenge with dark wit spiced with surreal burlesque.’ It added that the role of Tsar Dodon was ‘Gloriously sung by Dmitry Ulyanov’ and wrote of Andrey Popov, in the role of the Astrologer: ‘It’s a stratospheric tenor role but Andrei Popov coped valiantly with its demands.’

Nina Minasyan as Queen of Shemakha ‘was the vocal star of the performance, negotiating the chromatic contours of the Queen’s Hymn to the Sun with aplomb, her sensual singing nuanced with an exquisite pianissimo and secure top notes; with a voice like that, she could wrap any monarch round her little finger’ (Bachtrack.com).

Reviews

October 2022

the music is superbly sung and acted by an all-Russian cast...Meanwhile the brilliance and colour of Rimsky-Korsakov’s unusual harmonies and orchestration register impressively, with Rustioni and the Lyon forces on consistently impressive form.

October 2022

Dmitry Ulyanov is simply the best Dodon I have ever seen and heard...There may be a glut of recent Cockerel DVDs out there but this is one that cannot be missed.

September 2022

here we have a strong cast... Dmitry Ulyanov makes a success of the unrewarding role of Tsar Dodon...Nina Minasyan has a ravishing voice as the Tsaritsa... The orchestral playing and conducting is good and the live recording very acceptable both in vision and sound.

October 2022

It’s a superb production of Rimsky-Korsakov’s radical squib, where Kosky contrives to place his signature touches at the service of the satire rather than diluting it. In the pit, Daniele Rustioni emphasizes the score’s startling modernity, though not at the expense of its yearning, exotic beauty, in a reading that gains in clarity what it sometimes lacks in theatrical urgency. The singing is excellent.

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Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov: The Golden Cockerel

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