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SERGE RACHMANINOFF (1873-1943)

Aleko

Opera in one act

Libretto by Vladimir Ivanovich Nemirovich-Danchenko based on the poem The Gypsies by Alexander Pushkin

1

1

Introduction -

1:57

2

2

Chorus. Gypsies: 'As dear as freedom is our happy encampment' -

4:03

3

3

The Old Gypsy's Tale. Old Gypsy: 'The magic power of song' -

4:54

with Gypsies

4

4

Scene and Chorus. Aleko: 'But why did you not immediately hasten after the thankless wretch' -

1:57

with Zemfira, Young Gypsy, Old Gypsy, Gypsies

5

5

Women's Dance -

3:50

6

6

Men's Dance -

4:17

7

7

Chorus. Gypsies: 'The fires have gone out' -

2:25

8

8

Duettino. Young Gypsy: 'Just one more kiss!' -

2:16

with Zemfira

9

9

Cradle Scene. Zemfira: ' 'Old man, fearful man...' ' -

3:41

with Aleko

10

10

Aleko's Cavatina. Aleko: 'The whole camp sleeps' -

5:41

11

11

Intermezzo -

2:05

12

12

Young Gypsy's Romance. Young Gypsy: 'Look how beneath the distant vault of heaven' -

1:36

13

13

Duet and Finale. Zemfira: 'It's time to go, my love, it's time!' -

4:49

with Young Gypsy, Aleko

14

Gypsies: 'What's all this noise? What is that cry?' -

4:07

with Old Gypsy, Zemfira, Old Gypsy Woman, Aleko

15

Gypsies: 'We are gentle and kind-hearted'

3:09

with Old Gypsy, Aleko

                  Repertoire ***      Sound ****

 

Gerhard Persche

“…its beautiful music and Chandos does it justice.” “…It’s a gorgeous, richly atmospheric performance.”     *****
                                                

Graham Strahle
 

“The earliest of Rachmaninov’s one-act operas, in the best production to date.”    *****
                                                    

Steven Ritter
                     

“…The focal aria for Aleko, which has long been the staple of the Russian baritone repertoire, is sung here with anguished passion by Sergey Murzaev.
The duet for his errant lover Zemfira (Svetla Vassileva) and her new squeeze, the Young Gypsy (Evgeny Akimov), brims with lyrical ardour, Vassileva hurling out taunts to the spurned Aleko in the vicious aria that follows. Unlike Rachmaninov’s other two completes operas, Aleko is conceived in separate numbers, but Noseda’s skill here is to maintain control of pacing and to keep both tense and fluid.
Turin’s Teatro Regio chorus adeptly assumes its role as a band of Bessarabian gipies and the BBC Philharmonic plays superbly.”  ****

Geoffrey Norris
 

“Everyone – including the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and the chorus of Turin’s Teatro Regio – gets a chance to bask in the spotlight. But it’s Aleko’s central Cavatine, where he ruminates on his lover’s infidelity, that defines the drama, and Sergey Murzaev seizes his chance, singing with the histrionic grandeur we have come to expect from Russian basses. Svelta Vassileva and Evgeny Akimov are scarcely less vivid as the ill-fated lovers.”
“…it [Aleko] manifestly works on CD, and Noseda can take much of the credit. Having served an early apprenticeship in St Petersburg, he relishes the colour of the music and profiles its fine contours, never resorting to cheap emotionalism.”         ****

Andrew Clark

“…Aleko, a student opera about Gypsy love and death, contains the composer’s authentic spirit. A half-hearted performance won’t do at all. Luckily, Noeseda’s no shrinking violet, and this studio recording with the BBC Philharmonic, five impassioned Russian voices, and the choir of Turin’s Teatro Regio pulsates with passion.”     ***

Geoff Brown
 

Performance ***    Recording ****

John Allison
 

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