Borodin: Prince Igor - Highlights / Kuchar, Et Al

$19.99
Label
Naxos
Release Date
August 16, 2005
Format
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    Featuring ⌄
    • COMPOSER
      BORODIN
    • ORCHESTRA / ENSEMBLE
      Soloists/National Orchestra Of Ukraine/Kuchar
    • PERFORMER
      SOLOISTS/NATIONAL ORCHESTRA OF UKRAINE/KUCHAR
    Product Details ⌄
    Works ⌄

    1. Overture

      Composer: Alexander Borodin

      Ensemble: Ukraine National Radio Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: Theodore Kuchar

    2. Act I: Greshno tait': ya skuki nye lyublyu (I don't like boredom) (Galitzky)

      Composer: Alexander Borodin

      Ensemble: Ukraine National Radio Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Taras Shtonda

      Conductor: Theodore Kuchar

    3. Act II: Dance of the Polovtsian Maidens

      Composer: Alexander Borodin

      Ensemble: Ukraine National Radio Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: Theodore Kuchar

    4. Act II: Merknyet svyet dnevnoy (Daylight is fading) (Konchakovna)

      Composer: Alexander Borodin

      Ensemble: Ukraine National Radio Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Angelina Shvachka

      Conductor: Theodore Kuchar

    5. Act II: Myedlenno dyn' ugasal (Slowly the day was fading) (Vladimir)

      Composer: Alexander Borodin

      Ensemble: Ukraine National Radio Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Dmytro Popov

      Conductor: Theodore Kuchar

    6. Act II: Ni sna, ni ordikha (There is neither sleep, nor rest) (Prince Igor)

      Composer: Alexander Borodin

      Ensemble: Ukraine National Radio Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Mykola Koval

      Conductor: Theodore Kuchar

    7. Act II: Polovtsian Dances - Ulyetay na kril'yahk vyetra (Fly away on the wings of the wind) (version for chorus)

      Composer: Alexander Borodin

      Ensemble: Kiev Chamber Choir, Ukraine National Radio Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: Theodore Kuchar

    8. Act III: Polovtsian March

      Composer: Alexander Borodin

      Ensemble: Ukraine National Radio Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: Theodore Kuchar

    9. In the Steppes of Central Asia

      Composer: Alexander Borodin

      Ensemble: Ukraine National Radio Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: Theodore Kuchar


This disc offers about an hour's worth of choice bits from Borodin's Prince Igor. On one hand, we find the usual selections, including the ever-popular Polovtsian Dances, along with the Overture and Polovtsian March, familiar from various recordings (of which Tjeknavorian on RCA is among the best). But there also are a few numbers that will be unknown to listeners not experienced with the complete work, such as the blustery "I don't like boredom", sung with cocky swagger by bass Taras Shtonda.


The real catch here is the mezzo-soprano aria "Daylight is Fading", which contains one of Borodin's more bewitchingly beautiful melodies sung with heartfelt passion (and what sounds like authentic Arabian vocal styling) by Angelina Shvachka. Tenor Dmytro Popov sounds wonderfully ardent in the love song "Slowly the day was fading", while the poignant "There is neither sleep nor rest" makes fine use of Mykola Koval's rich, burnished baritone.


The Kiev Chamber Choir women make sweetly seductive captive maidens in the favorite Polovtsian Dance No. 2, just as the Polovtsian men sound suitably threatening proclaiming the glory of Khan. Theodore Kuchar leads an alternately gritty and graceful rendition with excellent playing from the Ukraine National Radio Symphony. The somewhat dry recording imparts a slightly hard-edged quality to the voices but otherwise projects substantial depth and dynamic range.
--Victor Carr Jr, ClassicsToday.com