Editorial Reviews

There are numerous reasons to account for the rarity of performances of Glinka's "Ruslan and Ludmila" in the West: the demands of the music on soloists, chorus, and orchestra; the opera's outrageous scenic requirements; and a sprawling, episodic plot that gives scant attention to character development. The opera is loaded, though, with gorgeous music that's recognizably Russian but with a distinctly Italianate flavor and delicacy, deft, and lyrical vocal writing and exotically inventive orchestration. As a whole, this recording, made with the forces of the Bolshoi Theatre in 1978, does an excellent job conveying the opera's strengths, but the listener is left longing to hear this music with consistently first-rate soloists. The orchestra is the strongest element here, playing with assurance and supple responsiveness to conductor Juri Simonov. The familiar overture, taken at breakneck speed, is thrillingly urgent. The chorus sings with fine tone, but has a few ragged moments. The low men's chorus that gives voice to the gigantic live Head in the battlefield is hauntingly effective, and the women's chorus in the harem is sweetly seductive. Among the soloists, the low voices stand out. Bass Evgeny Nesterenko, in the key role of Ruslan, is completely engaging and charismatic, singing with dark, warm tone, and his extended Act II aria is gripping. Bass Boris Morozov brings real weight to Prince Farlaf, but his patter song, modeled after "Largo al factotum," needs more speed and momentum. Tamara Sinjavskaja's powerful contralto has power and resonance in the trouser role of Prince Ratmir. The remaining soloists are never less than adequate, with many bringing strong characterizations to their roles, and all the performances are convincingly idiomatic. The sound is clean, present, and well balanced. The CD should be of strong interest to fans of Russian opera and of Romantic opera in general. Stephen Eddins, All Music Guide

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