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The Radio 3 Boards > The Music Boards > The Opera House > Le coq d'or
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Author Topic: Le coq d'or  (Read 273 times)
Tantris
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« on: 13:58:44, 11-04-2007 »
TTN has an interesting piece tonight - Rimsky-Korsakov's Le coq d'or, with the Sofia National Opera Choir and Orchestra conducted by Dimiter Manolov.

This isn't a piece I know at all - what should I expect, and is it worth staying up for?
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Il Grande Inquisitor
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« Reply #1 on: 14:07:03, 11-04-2007 »
Definitely worth staying up for or recording. I'm fairly certain that this is a recording on the Capriccio label:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rimsky-Korsakov-Golden-Cockerel-Nikolay-Andreyevich/dp/B000001WUC/ref=sr_1_7/202-5913406-5145461?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1176296481&sr=1-7

but it's also available, at a much better price(!) as part of an 8-CD, four opera set -

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rimsky-Korsakov-Complete-Operas-Nikolay-Andreyevich/dp/B0007IK4YM/ref=sr_1_3/202-5913406-5145461?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1176296595&sr=8-3

I think this is a good place to start with Rimsky's operas - a lot of the music will be familiar from the Suite he arranged - although Reiner would recommend the Snow Maiden (we were discussing this in another place last week).  

Some more general info here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Golden_Cockerel
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Soundwave
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« Reply #2 on: 17:10:07, 11-04-2007 »
I saw this interesting opera quite a few years ago.  It's certainly worth seeing,  particularly for the role of the Astrologer that is set for a tenor-altino - very high.  The Queen of Shemakhan is an attractive soprano role - somewhat sexy.
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Il Grande Inquisitor
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« Reply #3 on: 17:13:59, 11-04-2007 »
I saw it at Sadler's Wells about ten years ago, when the Royal Opera were in exile due to the refurbishments. I'd agree about the role of the Astrologer - it was sung then by Jean-Paul Fouchecourt and Paata Burchuladze played Dodon. Parts of it were set in an asylum from where the deluded Dodon dreamt he ruled.
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harpy128
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« Reply #4 on: 17:55:56, 11-04-2007 »
Yes, it's lovely. The Queen (I think) has a beautiful aria. The plot is rather peculiar so it might be worth reading the synopsis before watching.

I saw that Royal Opera production as well, although I couldn't remember who was in it. The woman who sang the part of the cockerel was good too - someone Russian?
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Il Grande Inquisitor
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« Reply #5 on: 18:04:16, 11-04-2007 »
Quote from: harpy128 on 17:55:56, 11-04-2007

I saw that Royal Opera production as well, although I couldn't remember who was in it. The woman who sang the part of the cockerel was good too - someone Russian?

The role of the cockerel was shared between Gillian Webster and Anne Dawson. I've found a few reviews which might jog your memory, harpy!

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3724/is_199901/ai_n8829892

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19981228/ai_n14188464/pg_1
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harpy128
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« Reply #6 on: 18:44:25, 11-04-2007 »
Thanks  IGI - I think we heard Gillian Watson, no Webster; I must have been confused by the fact she was dressed as a Russian peasant  Roll Eyes

I don't think that Spectator critic was the only one who was a bit sniffy at the time. OK, the plot is a bit weak but that can be said of a few other operas.
« Last Edit: 19:38:17, 11-04-2007 by harpy128 » Logged
George Garnett
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« Reply #7 on: 18:53:24, 11-04-2007 »
Quote from: Soundwave on 17:10:07, 11-04-2007
The Queen of Shemakhan is an attractive soprano role - somewhat sexy.

Particularly so as sung and performed by Elena Kelessidi in that ROH production. She was required to drape herself rather seductively over all sorts of implausible things even when she wasn't singing for long periods IIRC and would presumably normally be off stage. (Actually I have a feeling she spent the whole of the first act doing that and she doesn't even sing in it, does she?)  I didn't have any great complaints about this myself but it did seem a lot to ask of a starring role singer when she could have been relaxing with a can of Dr Pepper and a fag in her dressing room.

A taster of the music from the LSO and Dorati on 'Rob Cowan' this morning. Splendid stuff. I'd forgotten quite how gorgeous sounding it actually was.  
« Last Edit: 19:03:21, 11-04-2007 by George Garnett » Logged
Il Grande Inquisitor
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« Reply #8 on: 19:03:12, 11-04-2007 »
Quote from: George Garnett on 18:53:24, 11-04-2007

A taster of it from the LSO and Dorati on 'Rob Cowan' this morning. Splendid stuff. I'd forgotten quite how gorgeous sounding it actually was.  

That Dorati recording of the Suite from the opera is wonderful, George. It's such a great score, with glittering orchestration. Interesting to remember that this was Rimsky's final opera (1909) and was so closely followed by his pupil Stravinsky's Firebird ballet (1910) with which it shares quite a lot, I feel, in terms of its musical language.
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