Irina Arkhipova

1980 Bolshoi production of the Rimsky-Korsakov opera conducted by Yuri Simonov.

This performance, recorded live at the Bolshoi Opera in 1979, stars the great Russian bass Evgeny Nesterenko as Dosifei, the Old Believer at religious and psychological war with the new order, led by Prince Ivan Khovansky. The manipulative Khovansky is powerfully portrayed here by Alexander Vedernikov, another of the world’s greatest basses, little known outside of the Soviet Union. Marfa, one of Dosifei’s followers and a fortune teller, is sung by the legendary mezzo-soprano Irina Arkhipova in a performance of great authority and dignity. Russian opera at the Bolshoi is the genuine article and the remainder of the cast is equally impressive, from the mistrusting Prince Galitsyn of Evgeny Raikov to the clever, informing Shaklovity of Vladislav Romanovsky. The Bolshoi chorus and orchestra is conducted by Yuri Simonov.

The film is dedicated to the great Russian composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky (1840-1893). It tells of the last twenty years of the great master’s life, of his friendship with Baroness von Meck, an outstanding woman of her time, who for many years was Tchaikovsky’s guardian angel. The film also includes retrospections of the composer’s childhood and adolescent years, with Tchaikovsky’s life poetically recounted against the background of fragments from his operas and ballets performed by the best Russian musicians.

Universally acknowledged as the greatest of all Russian operas, this is a faithful and often dazzling production of the standard Rimsky-Korsakov version taped live at the Bolshoi in 1978. As Boris, the renowned Yevgeni Neterenko is as justifiably identified with the role in his generation as Chaliapin, London and Kipness were in theirs. Nesterenko gives a remarkably vivid, human portrait of the tormented half-crazed Tsar, and is supported by a first rate ensemble in a richly designed and costumed production that represents opera at its grandest. Particularly outstanding are Vladislav Piavko as the Pretender, Valery Yaroslavtsev as Pimen, Irina Arkhipova as Marina (a role generally associated with Vishnevskaya), Galina Kalinina as Xenia, and Alexsei Maslennikov as the Simpleton.

The owner of a beautiful voice, Nikolai Bakhin, dreaming of getting into the Bolshoi Theater, takes vocal lessons from the famous singer and teacher Irina Tarnopolskaya. Bakhin is taken to the theater. After an internship at La Scala, success comes to the hero and the first invitation to Italy. Upon learning that Tarnopolskaya was in a car accident, Nikolai interrupts the tour and flies to Moscow...