Dmitri Hvorostovsky - Recital in Prague

Yesterday's recital of the starry baritone, accompanied by Ivari Ilja (the two have released two CDs and can be seen on many videos on YouTube), was without doubt one of the highlights of the very busy season. Hvorostovsky's intelligence of interpretation, depth of feeling, and indeed the sheer beauty of the voice, make him the interpret of this repertoire.

In the beginning it seemed to me that the singer was not in his best of moods - perhaps because of the cold he had, as he said on his Facebook. Not only no indisposition was noticeable, but the atmosphere in the hall was so wonderful that it even warmed up the singer, who seemed much more cheerful by the end. Also I've learnt from a source close to the performers that it was their last concert with this particular content, which might have added to the artists' feelings. The first half of the concert (Tchaikovsky) can be found in this playlist on my YouTube channel and at the bottom of this post, if indeed embedding works.

The program opened with my favourite Why?. Probably because it was the first song, it was a little bit inferior in expressiveness to its counterpart on the aforementioned CD, but that's normal, especially with sensitive performers; during the course of a couple of songs, the recital turned into an event that even Mr.Hvorostovsky can be proud of. The second half featured Medtner's expressive songs (three of them are on the Pushkin CD) and the evening closed with five songs by Rachmaninoff.

The only negative thing I can say is a marginal detail: in the second half of the recital Mr. Hvorostovsky, to my ears, overdid a couple of fortissimi a bit. It was awkward that there was just one encore, yet another art song. One would have thought that such an appreciative audience deserves better, but maybe Mr. Hvorostovsky was tired because of the cold.

Overall however, it was a very strong experience for both those who are familiar with this repertory and those who are not. Hvorostovsky's artistry almost hypnotized the audience. Even knowing these songs almost by heart from CDs, I often found myself completely lost within them, staring jaw-dropped at the singer. One couldn't not smile when he was singing the light Pimpinella or the Serenade Oh, Child. He naturally worked with the people, it almost seemed that he was singing the amorous parts to each woman in the audience. In dramatic or melancholic passages, 100% concentration could be seen in his face. All people I talked to agreed that they could be listening to this till the dawn. Mr. Ilja provided an ideal support. Not only is he an excellent pianist, but also is able to tune-in for the singer and co-ordinate with him - a quality that can't be taken for granted.

This is a playlist featuring the same Tchaikovsky songs at a different recital - this one took place at the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory and was aired in January 2010:



***EDIT***
Photos from the concert, by Alice Bochňáková after the jump

Once Again, All Alone - Videoclip with Dmitri Hvorostovsky

Russian romances (romansy) have nothing to do with "romantic" in the sense of romantic movies. They are art songs, typically on the words of a poem by one of the many great Russian poets. They are often sad or nostalgic, and yet you must keep listening to them from the beginning of a CD to the end. Not excepting Hvorostovsky's newest release of Tchaikovsky's romances, which has a total of 81 minutes.

Mentioning this release, I can not forget to say that it's in my book his best release in this genre. The voice is darker, fuller, his approach mature and Mr. Ilja's playing perfect. Be looking forward to another release that the Delos are planning. I have heard it, as it has been released in Russia, and it's just as good!

Nevertheless, Mr.Hvorostovsky has always been singing this genre, and he's surpassed by none. His very second CD he released in the West, a year after the very successful Tchaikovsky and Verdi Arias (1990), was Russian Romances (1991). It is my second favourite CD of romances (after the newest one, of course). The picture on the cover comes from this videoclip:

I don't know how famous or obscure this video was at the time, but I suppose videoclips by opera singers were not as common then as they are now, let alone would they comprise of hints of eroticism (mild for today's standards). One thing is for certain: it's an excellent video. In its mood and artistic approach, it's entirely loyal to Tchaikovsky's song, and shows how literally timeless these songs are.

Sheet music with Russian text and singable English translation (surprisingly loyal) in .pdf can be found here, on a site dedicated to everything Russian, including Russian music, including art song. All of it is only in Russian, unfortunately.

If you feel like you need a literal translation and transliteration, I've made one for you:

Important notes:

я - ya - I

ы - is like "i" in "bit", but more to the back of your mouth.

е - full pronunciation is "ye", but the "y" part is often ommitted, what is left is some sort of a softening of the preceeding sound.

Notice the vowel reduction in unstressed syllables. Difficult to transcribe :-)

More on Russian pronunciation here.

Notice that the word order is not strict. Where it would not be clear, I've marked the subject in bold.

Original

Transliteration

Literal, almost word-by-word translation

Singable translation from the sheet

1. Снова, как прежде, один,

Snóva, kak prézhde, adyín,

Again, as before, alone,

Ah! Once again all alone,

Снова объят я тоской...

Snóva abyát ya taskóy...

Again I'm embraced by wistfulness

Racked once again by my grief...

Смотрится тополь в окно,

Smótritsya tópol' vaknó,

Staring is a poplar through (in) my window,

See where the poplar stands still,

Весь озаренный луной.

Vyés' azaryénniy lunóy.

It is lit by the moon.

Still with its silvery leaf.

2. Смотрится тополь в окно...

Smótritsya tópol' vaknó...

Staring is a poplar through (in) my window,

Now through my window it stares,

Шепчут о чём-то листы...

Shépchut a chómta listi...

Whispering about something are its leaves...

Softly it murmurs to me...

В звездах горят небеса...

Vzvyózdakh goryát nyebesá...

With stars are on fire the heavens...

Stars stud the heavens with their fire,

Где теперь, милая, ты?

Gdyé tyéper', mílaya, ti?

Where now, my love, are you?

Say, my love, where can you be?

3. Всё, что творится со мной,

Vsyó, shto tvarítsya sa mnóy,

All that has happened to me

All that has happened to me

Я передать не берусь...

Ya peredát' nyeberús'...

I cannot begin to tell.

Cannot begin to be told.

Друг! помолись за меня,

Druk! pamalís' za menyá,

Friend, say a prayer for me,

Friend, say a prayer now for me,

Я за тебя уж молюсь.

Yá za tyebyá uzh malyús'.

I for you am already praying.

Pray, as I pray now for you.

Dmitri Hvorostovsky (!) in Prague (!)

On the 27th of August, Dmitri Hvorostovsky and Ivari Ilja will perform Russian art songs at the festival Dvořák's Prague. Now, in March (!), only approximately 180 out of 1144 seats are left (!), so if you've been considering to visit the most beautiful city on Earth and maybe connect your trip with a cultural event, you should hurry up. If no circumstances beyond our control take place, FrufruJ will be the blonde girl in the fourth row centre (!). See you (t)here!

Tickets can be booked here.

PS: I might have one ticket left... ;-)