Based on Nikolai Gogol's short story “Christmas Eve,” Tchaikovsky's opera—which still retains a tenuous hold in Russia's repertory—is actually an 1887 revision of the composer's 1876 stage work, Kuznets Vakula. Cherevichki, here translated as The Tsarina's Slippers, is a folkloric fantasy about Vakula (Vsevolod Grivnov), a young rustic whose beloved Oxana (Olga Guryakova) promises to marry him if he will go to St. Petersburg to obtain a pair of the tsarina's shoes. Traveling to the imperial court on the back of the Devil (Maxim Mikhailov)—who's romancing Vakula's mother, the witch Solokha (Larissa Diadkova)—Vakula receives the coveted footwear and returns home to claim his bride. The strengths of this 2009 mounting from the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, are the vibrant playing of the orchestra under Alexander Polianichko, the dancing of the members of the Royal Ballet in the court scene of Act III, and the colorful sets and costumes (designed by Mikhail Mokrov and Tatiana Noginova, respectively). Unfortunately, the score, while pleasant, lacks the memorable tunes one expects from Tchaikovsky; the Russian cast is variable; and Francesca Zambello's staging often strives for the most obvious comic effects. Still, backed by sterling sound—DTS 5.1 (DTS-HD 5.1 on the Blu-ray release) and LPCM stereo—and excellent camerawork, this production offers a rare opportunity to experience one of the composer's lesser-known works. Extras include a brief introduction, a “behind-the-scenes” featurette, and a description of the cast and characters. Recommended. (F. Swietek)
Cherevichki
(2009) 155 min. In Russian w/English subtitles. DVD: $29.99, Blu-ray: $39.99. Opus Arte (dist. by Naxos of America). Volume 26, Issue 2
Cherevichki
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