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Rimsky-Korsakov: Le Coq D'Or

Rated:
NR
Format: DVD
4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 32 ratings
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July 26, 2011 		—
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$59.91 $5.90
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Product details

  • Aspect Ratio ‏ : ‎ 1.78:1
  • Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
  • MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ NR (Not Rated)
  • Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.52 x 5.31 x 0.59 inches; 4 ounces
  • Media Format ‏ : ‎ NTSC, Classical
  • Release date ‏ : ‎ July 26, 2011
  • Actors ‏ : ‎ Rimsky-Korsakov, Schagidullin, Orchestre de Paris, Nagano
  • Subtitles: ‏ : ‎ English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Chinese
  • Studio ‏ : ‎ Arthaus
  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0054QZ8DY
  • Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 32 ratings

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
4 out of 5
32 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

birdwalker
5.0 out of 5 stars A lesson in opera production
Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2017
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I certainly didn't like this production the first time around. I was expecting a more obvious satire, as R-K intended, of the foolishness of the Russian attack on Japan circa 1907 (?). Thinking it over, and on second viewing, I realized I had been too closed-minded, and now feel this is an exemplary production. Orchestra, conducting and singers are excellent. Barry Banks is an absolute standout as the Astrologer; take a listen to the ones you can find on YouTube and elsewhere and you'll see immediately what I mean. This DVD is a must-purchase for all opera lovers. Just sit back and marvel at how the director solved all sorts of production staging problems -- notably the usually unwieldy chorus -- brilliant. Furthermore, the director has respected both the libretto and the score, my standard for production excellence. No eurotrash ego here: just directorial brilliance.
5 people found this helpful
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H. Snyder
4.0 out of 5 stars Beauty is in the Ear of the Beholder
Reviewed in the United States on February 23, 2013
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Le Coq d'Or, or the Golden Cockerel, was the last opera by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, which he completed in 1907. Based on a story by Pushkin, it tells of a foolish king who brings grief to himself and his people by incompetent prosecution of a war. The golden cockerel of the title is a magical bird that warns of impending peril for the kingdom. The bird's warning could have been for Rimsky himself, because his opera's intentional parallels with the history of the disastrous Russo-Japanese War of 1905 were too plainly evident to the Tsarist censors. Consequently the opera was not performed until after Rimsky's death in 1908, and even then only in a severely edited version.

This production is international in every sense of the word: A Russian opera performed in France by a largely Russian cast, with staging and costumes by a master of the Japanese Kabuki tradition, and music performed by the Orchestre de Paris. The orchestral suite from Le Coq d'Or is widely available and well-loved, and those already familiar with it will get added enjoyment from the opera. The singing is very well done, the music is delightful, and the fabulous and colorful costumes are resplendent.

Video quality is the only reservation I have about this presentation. Most shots are very sharp and clear, befitting a Blu-ray transcription. The narrow shots are invariably sharp, but some of the medium shots and many of the wide shots appear to have been filmed in standard definition rather than HD. This is especially jarring in the numerous instances where a cut is made from a tight shot to a wide shot or vice-versa, and the contrast in resolution is thereby emphasized. The difference is so obvious that I am surprised it was not commented on by more reviewers. Aside from these technical anomalies the video is oftentimes startlingly beautiful.

Rimsky-Korsakov is often considered by modern critics to be second-tier among the Russian composers. He faced such criticism in his lifetime as well, with one Viennese critic saying his very name conjured up visions of "fierce whiskers stained with vodka." Personally, I regard Rimsky as one of my favorite composers, and therefore enjoyed seeing a long-admired piece of music brought to life as it originated, in an opera.
6 people found this helpful
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Fair and balanced critic
4.0 out of 5 stars Honest reviews
Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2017
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I usually read many reviews from previous buyers & several critics before purchasing a DVD/Bu-ray performance. I also preview the item on youtube.com.
Jeffrey Kauffman in his review on the Blu-ray.com site states: "Rimsky-Korsakov's not so subtly veiled political screed The Golden Cockerel, often performed in French (as it is on this Blu-ray) as Le Coq d'Or."
Its is obvious that Mr. Kauffman NEVER VIEWED NOR LISTENED to this performance. It is clearly sung in RUSSIAN, not French. The case title of the Opera is written in French
It appears that- at least in this case- his review was "cooked". I wondered how other reviews by critics are also made-up without actually experiencing the work they are supposedly reviewing.

Based on this documented fact, I would NOT TRUST other of his reviews either.
Integrity & Truth are critical.
8 people found this helpful
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LS
5.0 out of 5 stars beautiful production a knock-out to look at
Reviewed in the United States on May 22, 2013
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One of the most beautiful productions of any opera I've ever seen, probably even better on video than in the theater. The music is top-drawer Rimsky: exotic and exciting. If you are looking for something beyond the basic repetory, you can't go wrong with this.
Remember this is a satire, perhaps a little heavy at times, with little of the usual operatic basics of love, honor, death, etc. It was written in 1907 and denied production by the Csarist government until 1909 as it came too close to the Csarist bungling of the Russo-Japanese War of 1904 which led to the Revolution of 1905. The stupid King Dodon and his advisors were surely modeled on Nicholas II and his advisors and generals. In response to some reviewers who find the Kabuki-style production not to their taste, it seems entirely appropriate given this background.
The singers are all good. The coloratura soprano handles the role with ease, as does the astrologer tenor who has reidicuously high tessitura.
2 people found this helpful
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Mark E. Herriott
5.0 out of 5 stars Enchanting Fairytale
Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2014
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I'm always a little apprehensive of styalized productions of operas, but this one worked. Overall, I found the production to be throughly enchanting. I'm glad that I bought it.
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Hannah Banana
4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful surprise!
Reviewed in the United States on September 8, 2011
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I was quite surprised by this charming little opera that actually has deep meaning (people in power being fools among other messages). I did not know what to expect. I knew it was an opera that was popular in the 30s and maybe 40s (before WW II), but I had never seen a production or even video of it. I bought it, because I like Russian opera, and I love Russian ballet.

What a nice surprise! Very interesting opera! It is fringe repertoire, but I think most people will enjoy it.
14 people found this helpful
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Francisco Benitez Espada
5.0 out of 5 stars Breaking the rules!
Reviewed in the United States on July 1, 2014
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Excellent versión, in all ways. Difficult to explain sensations, better see!
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Robert M. Nied
4.0 out of 5 stars Well done in all respects.
Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2017
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Well done in all respects.
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Martin Pitchon
5.0 out of 5 stars Nagano is great
Reviewed in Canada on March 26, 2023
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Nice stage
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Melimelomane
5.0 out of 5 stars UN PUR ENCHANTEMENT
Reviewed in France on June 16, 2014
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Rimsky-Korsakov écrivait que l'opéra était « au fond le plus enchanteur et le plus enivrant des mensonges. »
Après son chef-d'œuvre : « La légende de la ville invisible de Kitège. » Rimsky-Korsakov s'appuie sur un conte de Pouchkine, révélant les faiblesses et les passions de la nature humaine.
Ce sera « Le coq d'or. » Son dernier opéra.
Un des personnages, l'Astrologue qui ouvre et conclut l'opéra déclare à la fin:" que seul lui et la princesse sont des êtres mortels. Tous les autres protagonistes ne sont que chimères et fantômes et l'intrigue, un simple rêve."
Sur cette trame féérique Rimsky-Korsakov va composer une musique diaphane aux sinuosités orientales qu'éclaire une orchestration toujours plus originale.
Nous retrouvons le compositeur de Schéhérazade, celui qui annonce les débuts de Stravinski.
De l'avis même du librettiste Bielski nous pouvons situer cette action en tout lieu, à toute époque.

LA MISE EN SCÈNE :
L'équipe réunie autour d'Ennosuke Ichikawa a profité pleinement de cette ouverture.
Ennosuke Ichikawa est une grande figure du kabuki, cet art de théâtre populaire, né au Japon au XVI ème siècle. En opposition au NÔ réservé à la noblesse.
Ennosuke est un défenseur du style Edo, le style aragoto, celui dit de la manière forte.

Le décor unique (une simple volée de marches qui se découpe sur un fond de couleur unie), la somptuosité des costumes, la finesse des éclairages, la composition graphique de chaque tableau, la gestuelle d'un hiératisme très expressif conviennent parfaitement à cet opéra fantastique.

Les acteurs de kabuki sont maquillés (et non masqués comme dans le nô). Les maquillages sont très stylisés, et permettent au spectateur de reconnaître au premier coup d'œil les traits principaux du caractère du personnage. Ce maquillage, est composé d'une base blanche de poudre de riz sur laquelle sont ajoutées des lignes qui amplifient les expressions du visage pour produire un effet de sauvagerie ou de puissance surnaturelle des acteurs. (Le roi Dodon et son expression rageuse.)

J'avoue que j'ai été fasciné par la beauté du spectacle qui est souverainement traduite par la qualité du Blue Ray.

L'INTERPRÉTATION :
Kent Nagano et l'orchestre de Paris se régalent et nous régalent ; ils traduisent toutes les finesses de cette partition à l'orchestration riche et flamboyante.

L'ensemble des chanteurs est à louer. L'œuvre est servie par une distribution très homogène.
Nous pouvons toutefois mettre en avant la belle voix de basse du roi Dodon interprété par Albert Schagidullin et le chant cristallin de la Reine de Shemakha incarnée par Olga Trifonova.
A signaler aussi la voix si particulière et typiquement russe (l'Innocent de Boris) de ténor altino de l'Astrologue campé par Barry Banks.

En conclusion UN PUR ENCHANTEMENT des yeux et des oreils
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Satish Kamath
5.0 out of 5 stars Russian story as told by the Japanese - Brilliantly
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 16, 2012
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Two reviewers who were published before me, Mr. Keris Nine and Mr.I. Giles have between them, described this blu-ray release of L'Coq D'Or of Rimsky-Korsakov musically as well as its essence. I would like to add a few more noteworthy points, avoiding most of what those two reviewers have noted since I agree with them.

1. To those who are not familiar with the beautiful orchestral suite which has been in existence for a long time, my advise would be to download this and listen to it till the melodies seep into you. The operatic experience would then be nothing short of fabulous.

2. To those who are familiar with the orchestral suite, I can assure them that they will love this production almost instantly.

3. Many have described this work as having 'oriental influences' in the music. Actually, to my ears, it is as Russian as Rimsky-Korsakov has ever been. To those familiar with Scheherazade, the texture of the music is definitely non-west-European, sets out to describe exotic places and situations, but essentially very very Russian. The base of Korsakov's music in many works lies in the rhythms and textures of the folk and traditional music of Eastern and Central Europe, which seem 'Oriental' in their approach, but harmonized and scored brilliantly in the best traditions of Classical music. Do not forget that Rimsky-Korsakov was a master at Orchestration, and most composers, especially the Eastern European ones have been influenced directly by him, and that includes Stravisky as well, who was his devoted pupil.

4. Minimalism REALLY works here. Yes, the sets border on the minimalist variety, but are made up richly by the fabulous costumes, movements and dances that have been staged.

5. Singing is flawless and I cannot think of even one character in this production who has not done justice to his/her role.

6. Bringing in the Kabuki style of staging and delivery is nothing short of Brilliant, and Nagano conducts the work beautifully. The recording is just fantastic, one of the best I have heard..., both audio as well as visual.

7. This is one of the rare cross-cultural approach to staging of works that deserve to be watched and admired. The richness of Western music and Harmony in combination with the best cultural traditions of Far Eastern staging and delivery... that too, done by experts in the field and acted out as best as possible by the cast... This IS a wholesome experience.

Please note that unlike Puccini in Butterfly as well as Turandot, Rimsky Korsakov did not bother to incorporate music of a vastly different culture to make a point. If one approaches this with even a partially open mind, one should find this blu ray just fabulous.

PS:- I have owned the DVD release of this - and was delighted with the blu-ray. Somehow, the whole work comes even more alive than it did on the DVD....

On the flip side, I wish they had a few bonuses like the 'making' of this extravaganza and/or a few interviews with those involved.

Really worth owning. It really broadens your operatic horizon (as I read elsewhere).
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Tiziano Virgili
4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderfull performance of the masterpiece of Rimsky-Korsakov.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 5, 2013
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Original staging, japanese style, visually charming. The singers are adequate, as well as the orchestra and the direction. My only minor note concerns some small cuts, the most relevant during Dodon's dream. Overall a very good production of a true masterpiece.
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Laneton
4.0 out of 5 stars Un feu d’artifice musical de couleurs
Reviewed in France on September 10, 2012
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Cet opéra est totalement atypique, original, il surprend au premier abord, puis on se laisse conquérir. Pour une fois le Blue-Ray se justifie, car il met pleinement en valeur la richesse des couleurs, des costumes et des lumières de la superbe mise en scène assez spectaculaire du Châtelet, où l’influence japonaise est bien perceptible. Le décor est réduit au minimum, ce sont véritablement les acteurs dans leurs costumes et les jeux de lumière qui fixent l’attention.
Le scénario est inspiré d’un conte populaire russe, dont Pouchkine, bien présent dans les opéras russes, a publié un poème satirique et qui a servi de base à Rimski-Korsakov pour sa dernière oeuvre. On a affaire à une légende très corrosive, burlesque par moments, et même dérangeante, notamment par la caricature du tsar, borné et idiot.
L’orchestration est somptueuse, pleine de couleurs elle aussi, notamment par l’apport de thèmes orientaux, arabes ou exotiques. Cette musique a par moments un côté extravagant et préfigure Stravinski. Des instruments solistes sont dédiés à certains personnages : la trompette au coq, la clarinette à la reine, etc.
La distribution est dominée par 2 personnages : le roi Dodon magnifiquement interprété par une belle basse russe, Albert Schagidullin que nous avions déjà remarqué dans le Roberto Devereux de Munich où il donne la réplique à E. Gruberova. Cela montre son éclectisme. Et puis la reine Shemakha où la soprano colorature doit faire face à des airs extrêmement difficiles, mais très beaux comme l’Hymne au Soleil, elle montre certaines limites dans l’aigu qui paraissent à certains moments gênantes, ainsi que dans les vocalises, c’est ce qui me fait retirer une étoile. Ce n’est cependant pas rédhibitoire. Quant au Coq, il doit avoir une voix métallique puisqu’il est en or, c’est le cas de la soprano qui l’interprète, sa part dans le déroulement de l’action est petite. Le restant de la troupe est excellent et je n’aurai garde d’oublier la qualité de la chorégraphie et des danseurs.
Alors si vous avez envie de sortir des sentiers battus de l’opéra, d’approfondir votre découverte des opéras russes, reflets d’une grande civilisation, souvent méconnus en dehors de 2 ou 3 donnés en occident par les théâtres, ce Coq d’Or méritera votre attention.
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