Notes and Editorial Reviews
All of these selections starring the late Bulgarian bass Nicolai Ghiaurov are taken from performances with the Vienna State Opera Orchestra and Chorus, but under a half-dozen different conductors. The remarkable thing about this compilation is that it represents 30 years of a singing career, and while you can hear a vague drying of tone and slight lack of ease on high notes from the 1998 aria from Onegin, Ghiaurov's utterly distinctive, beautiful, rolling bass remained intact. It was dark brown, with a legato as smooth as velvet (perhaps chocolate), easily produced, huge, and capable of tapering back to a seductive, dramatic piano.
Ghiaurov made his debut in 1955 and hit his prime about 10 years later; he remained in
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his prime throughout the '60s, '70s, and '80s. I doubt that a recording exists or anyone can recall a live performance by Ghiaurov in which he didn't sound just fine. Here, his Fiesco is grand if lacking in last-word grief; his King Philip is as mellifluous as it is tragic; a brief aria from Attila is smooth; Banquo's aria is handsome and foreboding; "La calumnia" lacks wit but is otherwise colorful. But it is the Boris excerpts--including the Clock and Death Scenes--that are overwhelming, both colossal and shattering. Ghiaurov was a great singer, and this is a superb collection.
--Robert Levine, ClassicsToday.com Read less
Works on This Recording
1.
Work(s) by Various
Performer:
Nicolai Ghiaurov (Bass)
Conductor:
Seiji Ozawa,
Giuseppe Sinopoli,
Robert Satanowski,
Josef Krips
...
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Vienna State Opera Chorus,
Vienna State Opera Orchestra
Date of Recording: 1969-1998
Venue: Live
2.
Simon Boccanegra: A te l'estremo addio by Giuseppe Verdi
Performer:
Nicolai Ghiaurov (Bass)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Vienna State Opera Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1857; Italy
3.
Simon Boccanegra: Suona ogni labbro il mio nome by Giuseppe Verdi
Performer:
Nicolai Ghiaurov (Bass)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Vienna State Opera Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1857; Italy
4.
Il barbiere di Siviglia: La calunnia è un venticello by Gioachino Rossini
Performer:
Nicolai Ghiaurov (Bass)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Vienna State Opera Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1816; Italy
5.
Eugene Onegin, Op. 24: Prince Gremin's aria by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Performer:
Nicolai Ghiaurov (Bass)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Vienna State Opera Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1877-1878; Russia
6.
Boris Godunov: I have attained the highest power "Boris' Monologue" by Modest Mussorgsky
Performer:
Nicolai Ghiaurov (Bass)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Vienna State Opera Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1868-1873; Russia
7.
Don Carlos: Ella giammai m'amò...Dormirò sol sul manto mio regal by Giuseppe Verdi
Performer:
Nicolai Ghiaurov (Bass)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Vienna State Opera Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1867/1884; Italy
8.
Attila: Mentre gonfiarsi l'anima by Giuseppe Verdi
Performer:
Nicolai Ghiaurov (Bass)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Vienna State Opera Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1846; Italy
9.
Macbeth: Come dal ciel precipita by Giuseppe Verdi
Performer:
Nicolai Ghiaurov (Bass)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Vienna State Opera Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1847/1865; Italy
10.
Boris Godunov: Farewell, my son, I am dying "Death of Boris" by Modest Mussorgsky
Performer:
Nicolai Ghiaurov (Bass)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Vienna State Opera Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1868-1873; Russia
11.
Boris Godunov: Your pardon, my lords by Modest Mussorgsky
Performer:
Nicolai Ghiaurov (Bass)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Vienna State Opera Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1868-1873; Russia
12.
Boris Godunov: Ugh, it's oppressive "Clock Scene" by Modest Mussorgsky
Period: Romantic
Written: 1868-1873; Russia
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