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Betrothal in a Monastery
Prokofiev, Maslennikov, Lazarev
Betrothal in a Monastery
Genre: Classical
 
  •  Track Listings (23) - Disc #1
  •  Track Listings (22) - Disc #2

This is a strange piece. Written in 1940, the music shows that Prokofiev was under heavy political pressure to produce a popular, entertaining work. The libretto, though no doubt amusing in Russian, is extremely complicate...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Prokofiev, Maslennikov, Lazarev, Bosh
Title: Betrothal in a Monastery
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: Melodiya
Release Date: 10/13/1998
Genre: Classical
Styles: Opera & Classical Vocal, Historical Periods, Modern, 20th, & 21st Century
Number of Discs: 2
SwapaCD Credits: 2
UPC: 743216031825

Synopsis

Amazon.com
This is a strange piece. Written in 1940, the music shows that Prokofiev was under heavy political pressure to produce a popular, entertaining work. The libretto, though no doubt amusing in Russian, is extremely complicated for the uninitiated. Based on a Sheridan comedy of mistaken identities, mismatches, and misunderstandings, it seems colored by Prokofiev's own recent abandonment of his wife for a much younger woman, with whom he collaborated in adapting the text. This recording compounds the confusion by providing no libretto; the synopsis is detailed but hard to follow. However, much of the music is very beautiful, from lyrical, ecstatic arias and ensembles to truly comic, parodistic scenes, and it succeeds in creating real people, not caricatures. As always, the orchestration is masterful, the rhythm pungent and original. The singing is superb throughout, vocally ravishing, and full of variety, character, and expression; orchestra and chorus are first rate. --Edith Eisler
 

CD Reviews

One of Prokofiev's Comedies
sgchapchal | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada | 02/27/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)

"This work is great and the story is light. Based on the novel the Duenna this story unfolds differently from his other operas. The match making and relationships are comparable to standard Italian operas that don't often get performed. I always choose to listen to this version over the Gergiev, but that is my stylistic preferance. Lazarev is brisk with the tempi and the soloists seem to feel so right for this music. The singers found in the Kirov set are very good as well, but I just instinctively approach this performance. I do hope that the old late 50's Stanislavsky/Abdulaev version makes it back into the catalogue(Chant du Monde-early 90's). It also has merits to add."