Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov’s final opera is enjoying a renaissance on disc, with this 2016 production from the Palais de la Monnaie in Brussels following closely on the release of the Mariinsky Opera version from St. Petersburg (VL-11/17). Based on a poem by Alexander Pushkin, The Golden Cockerel was written in 1907 but not performed until 1909—after the composer’s death—because Tsar Nicholas II’s censors rightly perceived it as a satire of Russian military ineptitude in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05. The title refers to a magical bird that is given to King Dodon by an astrologer—who claims it will crow at the sign of imminent danger—in return for the monarch’s pledge to fulfill any wish. In response to the cockerel’s warning, Dodon leads an assault on a neighboring kingdom, but his incompetent sons kill one another during the invasion, and he is seduced by the kingdom’s queen. At their wedding, the astrologer demands her for himself but is murdered by Dodon, who is in turn killed by the cockerel. Laurent Pelly’s staging of this remarkable work is highly imaginative, with intriguingly dark sets and outrageous costumes (including that of the cockerel), and the predominantly Slavic cast—including bass Pavlo Hunka (Dodon), soprano Venera Gimadieva (the queen), and high tenor Alexander Kravets (the astrologer)—is outstanding, while Alain Altinoglu beautifully conducts the colorful score. This is superior to the uneven Mariinsky performance, and the equal of Nagano’s fine Paris version (VL-11/04). Presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 and PCM stereo on DVD, and DTS-HD 5.1 and PCM stereo on Blu-ray, this is highly recommended. Editor’s Choice. (F. Swietek)
Le Coq d’Or (The Golden Cockerel)
(2016) 118 min. In Russian w/English subtitles. DVD: $29.99, Blu-ray: $39.99. Bel Air Classiques (dist. by Naxos of America). Volume 33, Issue 4
Le Coq d’Or (The Golden Cockerel)
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