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Sergei Prokofiev - The Story of a Real Man | Melodiya MELCD1002353

Sergei Prokofiev - The Story of a Real Man

Label: Melodiya

Cat No: MELCD1002353

Barcode: 4600317123537

Format: CD

Number of Discs: 2

Genre: Opera

Release Date: 31st July 2015

This product has now been deleted. Information is for reference only.

Contents

Artists

Evgeny Kibkalo
Glafira Deomidova
Georgy Shulpin
Vera Smirnova
Margarita Miglau
Antonina Ivanova
Alexander Suzanov
Vladimir Kurguzov
Georgy Pankov
Vladimir Petrov
Maria Zvezdina
Valery Yaroslavtsev
Mark Reshetin
Artur Eisen
Kira Leonova
Valentina Petrova
Leonid Maslov
Nikolai Zakharov
Vitaly Vlasov
Alexei Maslennikov
Choir and Orchestra of the USSR State Academic Bolshoi Theatre

Conductor

Mark Ermler

Works

Prokofiev, Sergei

Story of a Real Man, op.117

Artists

Evgeny Kibkalo
Glafira Deomidova
Georgy Shulpin
Vera Smirnova
Margarita Miglau
Antonina Ivanova
Alexander Suzanov
Vladimir Kurguzov
Georgy Pankov
Vladimir Petrov
Maria Zvezdina
Valery Yaroslavtsev
Mark Reshetin
Artur Eisen
Kira Leonova
Valentina Petrova
Leonid Maslov
Nikolai Zakharov
Vitaly Vlasov
Alexei Maslennikov
Choir and Orchestra of the USSR State Academic Bolshoi Theatre

Conductor

Mark Ermler

About

Firma Melodiya presents a unique recording of Sergei Prokofiev’s last opera The Story of a Real Man.

This work is arguably the least known one in Prokofiev’s musical theatre legacy. Finished in 1948, it was never staged in the composer’s lifetime (its “private” performance led to the banning of the opera and the composer being accused of formalism). It came under the spotlights only many years later, but none of the productions lasted long.

The opera, so uncommon in terms of plotline and musical drama, seemed incredible even for an innovator like Prokofiev. The composer who had brought to the stage the characters of Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky and Bryusov, was carried away with Boris Polevoy’s novel about pilot Alexei Meresiev (who lost his legs as a result of a severe injury, but at the cost of unbelievable effort and exercising he returned to the battle ranks). The main character is shown crawling from a shot down plane, in a hospital ward and mastering his artificial limbs. The character of Alexei, a winner in his own life drama, a man of enormous fortitude who did something seemingly impossible, was an incentive for the composer’s creative imagination.

The dramatic concept of the opera is built on a frame-like sequence of short scenes set off with moving lyrical episodes. The musical language of the opera predominantly consists of declamation and recitative and is full of songful intonations.

The only recording of The Story of a Real Man that now exists was made by the company of the USSR Bolshoi Theatre in 1961 and conducted by young maestro Mark Ermler. The character of Alexei Meresiev became one of the highest achievements of prominent singer Evgeny Kibkalo. The recording also features other celebrated soloists of the theatre, such as Glafira Deomidova, Margarita Miglau, Kira Leonova, Alexei Maslennikov, Mark Reshetin and Artur Eisen.

Cast:
- Alexei: Evgeny Kibkalo
- Olga: Glafira Deomidova
- Grandpa Mikhailo: Georgy Shulpin
- Vasilisa: Vera Smirnova
- Varya: Margarita Miglau
- Petrovna: Antonina Ivanova
- Seryonka: Alexander Suzanov
- Fedya: Vladimir Kurguzov
- Andrei: Georgy Pankov
- Senior Doctor: Vladimir Petrov
- Zinochka: Maria Zvezdina
- Colonel: Valery Yaroslavtsev
- Vasily Vasilievich: Mark Reshetin
- Commissar: Artur Eisen
- Klavdiya: Kira Leonova
- Alexei’s Mother: Valentina Petrova
- 1st Surgeon: Leonid Maslov
- 2nd Surgeon: Nikolai Zakharov
- Gvozdev: Vitaly Vlasov
- Kukushkin: Alexei Maslennikov

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