The Invisible City of Kitezh (Skazanie o Nevidimom Grade Kitezhe i Deve Fevronii) - Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Information about the opera The Invisible City of Kitezh by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, and the best recordings available on CD or DVD, or for download.
Full title: "The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh and the Maiden Fevronia".
Synopsis
The opera tells the story of how the advancing Mongol army enters Great Kitezh, but thanks to the Maiden Fevronia the city miraculously becomes invisible and survives.
Recommended recordings on CD
Gergiev/Ohotnikov/Marusin (Philips 462 225-2)
A good live performance, but there's a lot of stage noise.
Kirov Theater Chorus, Kirov Theater Orchestra, conducted by Valery Gergiev, 1994.
Cast: Nikolai Ohotnikov (Prince Yury Vsevolodovich), Yuri Marusin (Prince Vsevolod Yur'yevich), Galina Gorchakova (Fevroniya), Vladimir Galusin (Grishka Kuter'ma).
Philips 462 225-2
Recommended recordings on DVD
Albrecht/Vaneev/Aksenov (Opus Arte OA 1089 D)
Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, Chorus of De Nederlandse Opera, conducted by Marc Albrecht, 2012.
Cast: Vladimir Vaneev (Prince Yury Vsevolodovich), Maxim Aksenov (Prince Vsevolod Yur'yevich), Svetlana Ignatovich (Fevroniya), John Daszak (Grishka Kuter'ma).
Opus Arte OA 1089 D
Vedernikov/Monogarova/Kazakov (Naxos DVD 2.110277-78)
An excellent performance; Russian soprano Tatiana Monogarova is especially good as the Maiden Fevroniya. Note that the DVD was reissued due to an audio sync problem on the first disc; make sure you get the latest version.
Cagliari Teatro Lirico Orchestra, Cagliari Teatro Lirico Chorus, conducted by Alexander Vedernikov, 2008.
Cast: Tatiana Monogarova (Prince Yury Vsevolodovich), Mikhail Kazakov (Prince Vsevolod Yur'yevich), Vitaly Panfilov (Fevroniya), Mikhail Gubsky (Grishka Kuter'ma).
Naxos DVD 2.110277-78