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Opera In English - Janácek: Katya Kabanova / Rizzi, Barker
Chandos

Opera In English - Janácek: Katya Kabanova / Rizzi, Barker

$27.99

Details

Composer
JANACEK TUCKER
Artist
Barker, Hampton, Howell
Format
CD
Label
Chandos
Released
Oct 01, 2007
Catalog #
CHAN 3145(2)
UPC
095115314524

About

Rizzi and his superb Welsh Opera forces now grace the Janacek canon.

This is the fifth Janácek opera in Chandos’s Opera in English series, and with vivid, well separated sound, balancing the voices in front of the orchestra, the first impression is how clear the words are from the singers of the Welsh National Opera production on which the recording is based. This is a very welcome companion to the outstanding English version of The Makropulos Case (4/07) conducted by Sir Charles Mackerras.

Carlo Rizzi, who conducted the live performances for WNO, is a comparably persuasive Janácek interpreter. It is fascinating to compare this version with Mackerras’s Decca recording (12/05) with the Vienna Philharmonic and an excellent, mainly Czech cast, Elisabeth Söderström taking the title-role. If that recording is marginally richer and weightier than the new Chandos, the strings of WNO play with comparable refinement. Rizzi’s interpretation in all three acts is a degree more urgent, with speeds consistently faster, no doubt reflecting his experience of conducting it live.

As in the English Makropulos Case, the principal singer is Cheryl Barker, fresh, clear and powerful, more girlish-sounding than Söderström. Jane Henschel is outstanding as Marfa Kabanova, the rich widow who persecutes her daughter-in-law, wonderfully rich and firm throughout her range. The three tenor roles are exceptionally well taken, even if the contrasts between Robert Brubaker as Boris, Peter Wedd as Kudryash and Peter Hoare as Tichon, husband of Katya and son of Marfa, are not ideally marked. Gwynne Howell as the merchant Dikoi, uncle of Boris, is also excellent.

The old Norman Tucker translation is used with some minor amendments by Rodney Blumer, nom de plume of critic Rodney Milnes, with words admirably clear throughout, adding to the dramatic impact of the piece. Another outstanding issue in the Opera in English series.

-- Edward Greenfield, Gramophone [12/2007]

Tracklist 32 tracks

  1. Disc 1
  2. 1 Introduction 04:19
    Track
    1
    Title
    Introduction
    Duration
    04:19
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Ensemble
    Welsh National Opera Orchestra
    Conductor
    Carlo Rizzi
  3. 2 Act I Scene 1: Marvellous! Really, just admit it (Kudryash, Glasha) 01:35
    Track
    2
    Title
    Act I Scene 1: Marvellous! Really, just admit it (Kudryash, Glasha)
    Duration
    01:35
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Peter Wedd, Kathleen Wilkinson
    Ensemble
    Welsh National Opera Orchestra
    Conductor
    Carlo Rizzi
  4. 3 Act I Scene 1: What d'you think you're hanging around for? (Dikoi, Boris) 00:57
    Track
    3
    Title
    Act I Scene 1: What d'you think you're hanging around for? (Dikoi, Boris)
    Duration
    00:57
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Gwynne Howell, Robert Brubaker
    Ensemble
    Welsh National Opera Orchestra
    Conductor
    Carlo Rizzi
  5. 4 Act I Scene 1: Is your mistress at home? (Dikoi, Glasha, Kudryash, Boris, Feklusha) 03:23
    Track
    4
    Title
    Act I Scene 1: Is your mistress at home? (Dikoi, Glasha, Kudryash, Boris, Feklusha)
    Duration
    03:23
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Gwynne Howell, Kathleen Wilkinson, Peter Wedd, Robert Brubaker, Claire Hampton
    Ensemble
    Welsh National Opera Orchestra
    Conductor
    Carlo Rizzi
  6. 5 Act I Scene 1: All of them so good and pious (Feklusha, Boris, Kudryash) 02:03
    Track
    5
    Title
    Act I Scene 1: All of them so good and pious (Feklusha, Boris, Kudryash)
    Duration
    02:03
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Claire Hampton, Robert Brubaker, Peter Wedd
    Ensemble
    Welsh National Opera Orchestra
    Conductor
    Carlo Rizzi
  7. 6 Act I Scene 1: If you want to obey your mother (Kabanicha, Tichon, Katya, Varvara) 04:31
    Track
    6
    Title
    Act I Scene 1: If you want to obey your mother (Kabanicha, Tichon, Katya, Varvara)
    Duration
    04:31
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Jane Henschel, Peter Hoare, Cheryl Barker, Victoria Simmonds
    Ensemble
    Welsh National Opera Orchestra
    Conductor
    Carlo Rizzi
  8. 7 Act I Scene 1: Intermezzo I 01:04
    Track
    7
    Title
    Act I Scene 1: Intermezzo I
    Duration
    01:04
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Ensemble
    Welsh National Opera Orchestra
    Conductor
    Carlo Rizzi
  9. 8 Act I Scene 2: I'm always wondering (Katya, Varvara) 05:46
    Track
    8
    Title
    Act I Scene 2: I'm always wondering (Katya, Varvara)
    Duration
    05:46
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Cheryl Barker, Victoria Simmonds
    Ensemble
    Welsh National Opera Orchestra
    Conductor
    Carlo Rizzi
  10. 9 Act I Scene 2: Madness? Oh, how I wish I really knew (Katya, Varvara) 02:57
    Track
    9
    Title
    Act I Scene 2: Madness? Oh, how I wish I really knew (Katya, Varvara)
    Duration
    02:57
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Cheryl Barker, Victoria Simmonds
    Ensemble
    Welsh National Opera Orchestra
    Conductor
    Carlo Rizzi
  11. 10 Act I Scene 2: Ah, but you, what can you know of this? (Katya, Varvara, Feklusha, Glasha, Tichon) 01:56
    Track
    10
    Title
    Act I Scene 2: Ah, but you, what can you know of this? (Katya, Varvara, Feklusha, Glasha, Tichon)
    Duration
    01:56
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Cheryl Barker, Victoria Simmonds, Claire Hampton, Kathleen Wilkinson, Peter Hoare
    Ensemble
    Welsh National Opera Orchestra
    Conductor
    Carlo Rizzi
  12. 11 Act I Scene 2: Do you not love me any more? (Katya, Tichon) 04:19
    Track
    11
    Title
    Act I Scene 2: Do you not love me any more? (Katya, Tichon)
    Duration
    04:19
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Cheryl Barker, Peter Hoare
    Ensemble
    Welsh National Opera Orchestra
    Conductor
    Carlo Rizzi
  13. 12 Act I Scene 2: It's time, Tichon (Kabanicha, Tichon, Katya) 03:50
    Track
    12
    Title
    Act I Scene 2: It's time, Tichon (Kabanicha, Tichon, Katya)
    Duration
    03:50
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Jane Henschel, Peter Hoare, Cheryl Barker
    Ensemble
    Welsh National Opera Orchestra
    Conductor
    Carlo Rizzi
  14. 13 Act II Scene 1: There now, you're always boasting (Kabanicha, Katya) 02:05
    Track
    13
    Title
    Act II Scene 1: There now, you're always boasting (Kabanicha, Katya)
    Duration
    02:05
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Jane Henschel, Cheryl Barker
    Ensemble
    Welsh National Opera Orchestra
    Conductor
    Carlo Rizzi
  15. 14 Act II Scene 1: It's so warm indoors (Varvara, Katya, Dikoi, Kabanicha) 03:23
    Track
    14
    Title
    Act II Scene 1: It's so warm indoors (Varvara, Katya, Dikoi, Kabanicha)
    Duration
    03:23
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Victoria Simmonds, Cheryl Barker, Gwynne Howell, Jane Henschel
    Ensemble
    Welsh National Opera Orchestra
    Conductor
    Carlo Rizzi
  16. 15 Act II Scene 1: No, no, no one, yet my heart was beating (Katya) 02:13
    Track
    15
    Title
    Act II Scene 1: No, no, no one, yet my heart was beating (Katya)
    Duration
    02:13
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Cheryl Barker
    Ensemble
    Welsh National Opera Orchestra
    Conductor
    Carlo Rizzi
  17. 16 Act II Scene 1: It's nothing much (Dikoi, Kabanicha) 02:38
    Track
    16
    Title
    Act II Scene 1: It's nothing much (Dikoi, Kabanicha)
    Duration
    02:38
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Gwynne Howell, Jane Henschel
    Ensemble
    Welsh National Opera Orchestra
    Conductor
    Carlo Rizzi
  18. 17 Act II Scene 1: Intermezzo II 00:56
    Track
    17
    Title
    Act II Scene 1: Intermezzo II
    Duration
    00:56
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Ensemble
    Welsh National Opera Orchestra
    Conductor
    Carlo Rizzi
  19. 18 Act II Scene 2: Introduction 01:05
    Track
    18
    Title
    Act II Scene 2: Introduction
    Duration
    01:05
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Ensemble
    Welsh National Opera Orchestra
    Conductor
    Carlo Rizzi
  20. 19 Act II Scene 2: Nobody here yet! (Kudryash, Boris) 03:37
    Track
    19
    Title
    Act II Scene 2: Nobody here yet! (Kudryash, Boris)
    Duration
    03:37
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Peter Wedd, Robert Brubaker
    Ensemble
    Welsh National Opera Orchestra
    Conductor
    Carlo Rizzi
  21. 20 Act II Scene 2: Far away my love is gone across the water (Varvara, Kudryash, Boris) 05:45
    Track
    20
    Title
    Act II Scene 2: Far away my love is gone across the water (Varvara, Kudryash, Boris)
    Duration
    05:45
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Victoria Simmonds, Peter Wedd, Robert Brubaker
    Ensemble
    Welsh National Opera Orchestra
    Conductor
    Carlo Rizzi
  22. 21 Act II Scene 2: Is that you, Katerina Petrovna? (Boris, Katya) 05:26
    Track
    21
    Title
    Act II Scene 2: Is that you, Katerina Petrovna? (Boris, Katya)
    Duration
    05:26
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Robert Brubaker, Cheryl Barker
    Ensemble
    Welsh National Opera Orchestra
    Conductor
    Carlo Rizzi
  23. 22 Act II Scene 2: So you've found each other (Varvara, Boris, Kudryash, Katya) 05:45
    Track
    22
    Title
    Act II Scene 2: So you've found each other (Varvara, Boris, Kudryash, Katya)
    Duration
    05:45
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Victoria Simmonds, Robert Brubaker, Peter Wedd, Cheryl Barker
    Ensemble
    Welsh National Opera Orchestra
    Conductor
    Carlo Rizzi
  24. Disc 2
  25. 1 Act III Scene 1: Raining! There's a storm coming (Kuligin, Kudryash, Dikoi) 04:05
    Track
    1
    Title
    Act III Scene 1: Raining! There's a storm coming (Kuligin, Kudryash, Dikoi)
    Duration
    04:05
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Owen Webb, Peter Wedd, Gwynne Howell
    Ensemble
    Welsh National Opera Orchestra
    Conductor
    Carlo Rizzi
  26. 2 Act III Scene 1: Psst! Psst! Boris, listen to me! (Varvara, Boris) 01:06
    Track
    2
    Title
    Act III Scene 1: Psst! Psst! Boris, listen to me! (Varvara, Boris)
    Duration
    01:06
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Victoria Simmonds, Robert Brubaker
    Ensemble
    Welsh National Opera Orchestra
    Conductor
    Carlo Rizzi
  27. 3 Act III Scene 1: Oh, Varvara! I shall die! (Katya, Zena, Varvara, Chorus, Kudryash, Dikoi, Kabanicha, Tichon) 02:44
    Track
    3
    Title
    Act III Scene 1: Oh, Varvara! I shall die! (Katya, Zena, Varvara, Chorus, Kudryash, Dikoi, Kabanicha, Tichon)
    Duration
    02:44
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Cheryl Barker, Sian Meinir, Victoria Simmonds, Peter Wedd, Gwynne Howell, Jane Henschel, Peter Hoare
    Ensemble
    Welsh National Opera Chorus, Welsh National Opera Orchestra
    Conductor
    Carlo Rizzi
  28. 4 Act III Scene 2: Ah, Glasha! It's awful to think of it (Tichon, Glasha, Varvara, Kudryash) 02:01
    Track
    4
    Title
    Act III Scene 2: Ah, Glasha! It's awful to think of it (Tichon, Glasha, Varvara, Kudryash)
    Duration
    02:01
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Peter Hoare, Kathleen Wilkinson, Victoria Simmonds, Peter Wedd
    Ensemble
    Welsh National Opera Orchestra
    Conductor
    Carlo Rizzi
  29. 5 Act III Scene 2: No! Nobody here (Katya, Kuligin) 05:20
    Track
    5
    Title
    Act III Scene 2: No! Nobody here (Katya, Kuligin)
    Duration
    05:20
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Cheryl Barker, Owen Webb
    Ensemble
    Welsh National Opera Orchestra
    Conductor
    Carlo Rizzi
  30. 6 Act III Scene 2: And yet death won't come to me (Katya, Boris) 04:27
    Track
    6
    Title
    Act III Scene 2: And yet death won't come to me (Katya, Boris)
    Duration
    04:27
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Cheryl Barker, Robert Brubaker
    Ensemble
    Welsh National Opera Orchestra
    Conductor
    Carlo Rizzi
  31. 7 Act III Scene 2: Thanks be to God! (Boris, Katya) 01:50
    Track
    7
    Title
    Act III Scene 2: Thanks be to God! (Boris, Katya)
    Duration
    01:50
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Robert Brubaker, Cheryl Barker
    Ensemble
    Welsh National Opera Orchestra
    Conductor
    Carlo Rizzi
  32. 8 Act III Scene 2: No, not that! (Katya, Boris) 02:42
    Track
    8
    Title
    Act III Scene 2: No, not that! (Katya, Boris)
    Duration
    02:42
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Cheryl Barker, Robert Brubaker
    Ensemble
    Welsh National Opera Orchestra
    Conductor
    Carlo Rizzi
  33. 9 Act III Scene 2: Birds will sing as they fly above me (Katya) 00:49
    Track
    9
    Title
    Act III Scene 2: Birds will sing as they fly above me (Katya)
    Duration
    00:49
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Cheryl Barker
    Ensemble
    Welsh National Opera Orchestra
    Conductor
    Carlo Rizzi
  34. 10 Act III Scene 2: Hey there, a woman has jumped in the river! (Kuligin, Passer-by, Dikoi, Glasha, Tichon, Kabanicha) 01:57
    Track
    10
    Title
    Act III Scene 2: Hey there, a woman has jumped in the river! (Kuligin, Passer-by, Dikoi, Glasha, Tichon, Kabanicha)
    Duration
    01:57
    Composer
    Leoš Janáček
    Performer
    Owen Webb, Philip Lloyd-Holtam, Gwynne Howell, Kathleen Wilkinson, Peter Hoare, Jane Henschel
    Ensemble
    Welsh National Opera Orchestra
    Conductor
    Carlo Rizzi