Prokofiev's "War and Peace" at the Met

[bhodges]

Here is a good review of Prokofiev's War and Peace in today's New York Times, with a cool photo showing the scene with the burning of Moscow.  (That scene in particular is pretty spectacular.)  I saw it first time around, in 2002, and am going again in January.  The performance I'm attending will be conducted by Gianandrea Noseda, who is taking over for Gergiev for the last four performances.

--Bruce

[T-C]

Bruce, I would gladly be there too, because War & Peace is for me Prokofiev's greatest operatic masterpiece, even if the second part (War) is a bit too long because Prokofiev added as a result of the government requirement quite a lot patriotic music. It is one of my most favorite 20th century operas.

I wonder though, how Sam Ramey will sound as Kutuzov. A few days ago, I watched the new Virgin Classics DVD of Massenet's Manon from the Liceu in Barcelona 2007, where Ramey is singing in the role of Le Comte des Grieux. He has now a very wide wobble that was quite painful to my ears. Luckily, he has almost nothing to sing there... 

[Wendell_E]

I wonder though, how Sam Ramey will sound as Kutuzov. A few days ago, I watched the new Virgin Classics DVD of Massenet's Manon from the Liceu in Barcelona 2007, where Ramey is singing in the role of Le Comte des Grieux. He has now a very wide wobble that was quite painful to my ears. Luckily, he has almost nothing to sing there... 

But what Kutuzov does have to sing is pretty wonderful.  I listened to the webcast of the season premiere, and was a bit worried about Ramey, but he was better than I expected.  I wish I could get up there and see this live.

[bhodges]

I wonder though, how Sam Ramey will sound as Kutuzov. A few days ago, I watched the new Virgin Classics DVD of Massenet's Manon from the Liceu in Barcelona 2007, where Ramey is singing in the role of Le Comte des Grieux. He has now a very wide wobble that was quite painful to my ears. Luckily, he has almost nothing to sing there...

Well, I confess Ramey was the low point of the experience for me.  Although he acts well, and portrays the role quite faithfully, his voice is just not what it was, and it doesn't help that his scene is so long.  The staging of his big scene is pretty static, too, so you're left with just watching him (in an eye patch) sing, for some 20 minutes or so.  I was getting restless.  But otherwise, there is a lot of great music.  At some point I will probably look for a recording, most likely Gergiev's.  (Feel free to suggest others.)

--Bruce

[Tsaraslondon]

  But otherwise, there is a lot of great music.  At some point I will probably look for a recording, most likely Gergiev's.  (Feel free to suggest others.)

--Bruce

I don't know Gergiev's performance, though it's no doubt excellent. But there is a 1960 Bolshoi version, which is well worth seeking out. It is conducted by Alexander Melik-Pasheyev, and stars Vishnevskaya as Natasha, Arkhipova as Helene and Pavel Lisitsian as Napoleon. There are cuts, and so it could not be considered a first choice, but it is a wonderful performance.

[bhodges]

I don't know Gergiev's performance, though it's no doubt excellent. But there is a 1960 Bolshoi version, which is well worth seeking out. It is conducted by Alexander Melik-Pasheyev, and stars Vishnevskaya as Natasha, Arkhipova as Helene and Pavel Lisitsian as Napoleon. There are cuts, and so it could not be considered a first choice, but it is a wonderful performance.

Oh thanks for that!  And I could be fine with cuts as long as I have the complete opera as well.  (It's a piece easily worth multiple versions.)  I didn't realize Vishnevskaya had done that role, and that is no doubt a treat. 

--Bruce

[uffeviking]

Talk about the Met's performance, but I still don't know who the director is. Is this the version done by Francesca Zambello or the one from the Kirov?. OR did the Met come up with their very own version. Whose? 

[bhodges]

Lis, this production debuted in 2002 and is by Andrei Konchalovsky, with set design by George Tsypin ( 0:)), and is a co-production with the Mariinsky Theatre. 

--Bruce

[uffeviking]

Thank you, Bruce.

Then I have yet another one, on LVD, recorded at the Mariinsky Theatre in 1991, directed by Graham Vick and conducted by Valery Gergiev.

[bhodges]

Thank you, Bruce.

Then I have yet another one, on LVD, recorded at the Mariinsky Theatre in 1991, directed by Graham Vick and conducted by Valery Gergiev.

Oh wow, that must be excellent!  I like Vick's work a lot, at least what I've seen at the Met.  His Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk is just fantastic, and the only opera production I've ever seen that uses heavy machinery onstage, including a bulldozer.

--Bruce

[T-C]

At some point I will probably look for a recording, most likely Gergiev's.  (Feel free to suggest others.)

For my taste, the best recording of War & Peace on any format is the Paris Opera 2000 production DVD that was released by TDK.

Visually, this is a stunning production that was directed by Francesca Zambello. Really spectacular. Gary Bertini expertly conducts the Orchestra of the Opera National de Paris. Olga Guryakova is an ideal Natasha. Nathan Gunn has a warm and beautiful baritone and gives a wonderful performance as Andrei Bolkonsky. All other members of the enormous cast are impressive too. The opera is a bit abridged, mainly in the second part, where quite a few patriotic choruses and marches were removed, so the opera is more concise and coherent. This is one of the very best opera DVDs that I have (among a few hundreds...)

But if you insist on a CD recording than:

1. Rostropovich studio recording on Erato. Rostropovich was a close friend with Prokofiev, and while the latter was in bad health he asked Rostropovich to do what he can to publicize the score of War & Peace. Oviously, this 1987 recording was for Rostropovich a fulfillment of a promise he gave. This is an excellent recording, now on mid-price, with only one drawback: the singing of Galina Vishnevskaya as Natasha. She was over sixty when she participated in this recording, and her voice here is only a shadow of what it used to be...

2. Gegiev 1991 recording with the Kirov. This is a live recording which is available on a three full-priced CD Philips set, or two DVD Kultur set. The DVD set is cheaper... As with the Rostropovich CD set, this is a complete recording, lasting around four hours with tempi that are generally fast. Recording quality is good, but not outstanding.

3. Hickox Chandos recording. This was recorded live in 1999 at the Spoleto Festival. A very good recording, in excellent sound quality, although quite a few of the singers in the leading roles are non-Russian with a noticeable unauthentic pronunciation. And this is the most expensive set: four full priced CDs...

4. Melik-Pasheyev 1960 recording that was mentioned by Tsaraslondon. This was the pioneering recording of the opera that was recorded shortly after the first complete performance (in 1957, if I am not mistaken). Outstanding among the singers are the young Galina Vishnevskaya as Natasha and Yevgeny Kibkalo as Andrei. But this is an abridged recording and as far as I know it is now out of print.

To sum up: Get the Paris DVD! (I hope it is still available)

Here are a few pictures from the Zambello 2000 production in Paris:

[uffeviking]

My one hundred and fifty percent endorsement to T.C.'s recommendation!  T.C. did not mention Field Marshal Koutouzov sung powerfully by Anatoli Kotcherga, very impressive. 

[bhodges]

Thanks so much for such comprehensive recommendations, T-C!    And the DVD sounds fantastic, so if you and Lis both like it I'm sure I'll get it.  (I especially like that third photo, with the red, smoke-filled backdrop.) 

As an aside, I do find it notable that DVDs are often much cheaper than their CD counterparts these days.  The Met's Ring Cycle, for example, is less expensive on DVD than the same recordings on CD.  Anyway, thanks for all the information, much appreciated.

--Bruce

[karlhenning]

As an aside, I do find it notable that DVDs are often much cheaper than their CD counterparts these days.

Yes; that's one reason I've opted for War & Peace and Katerina Izmailova on DVD.