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Home , A Life for the Tsar, Ivan Susanin, Maxim Mikhailov

111078-80 bk Glinka EU 7/10/2005 11:10am Page 8

8.111078-80 CD 3 5 He thinks about his own family, in his mind bidding them farewell. The Poles rouse themselves, and Susanin Great Recordings ADD Act IV reveals his own plan, mocking them. At this they fall on him and kill him, as he sees the sun rising and realises 1 The scene is a glade in the forest. Sobinin and his that he has succeeded. Sobinin and his followers appear, peasant followers are lost, but he urges them on. and attack the Poles. GLINKA 3 CDs 2 Vanya has reached the gates of the monastery, tired Epilogue out after the difficulties of his journey. Eventually he rouses those within and explains the purpose of his 6 In Antonida, Vanya and Sobinin join mission, telling everyone to come away with him. the celebrations of the Tsar’s coronation. Susanin’s () bravery, they are assured, will be remembered. 3 Elsewhere, in the darkness and snow, the Poles are lost. 7 Bells ring out, and all join in honouring the new Mikhailov • Spiller • Antonova • Nelepp Tsar. 4 Susanin wonders how long it will be before they Chorus and Orchestra of the Bolshoy Theatre, realise that he has deliberately led them astray. Keith Anderson Alexander Melik-Pashayev • Vasili Nebolsin Recorded in 1947 and 1950

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Synopsis CD 2

CD 1 Act III

Great Opera Recordings 1 1 Entr’acte Mikhail Act I 2 In Susanin’s house the orphan boy Vanya, adopted by Susanin, sings, joined by Susanin, who rejoices in GLINKA 2 In the village of Domnin peasants sing in praise of the happiness of the country. Even so, Vanya fears that (1804-1857) their country and in celebration of the coming return of the Poles may abduct the young Tsar, but Susanin Sobinin from the war. reassures him: no one would betray the Tsar. They dream of the day when Vanya may be old enough to Ivan Susanin 3 Antonida, daughter of Ivan Susanin and betrothed join the Russian soldiers. of Sobinin, is happy too at the homecoming of her (A Life for the Tsar) future husband. 3 Villagers, on their way to work, offer their Opera in Four Acts and an Epilogue congratulations to Antonida and Sobinin on their by S.M. Gorodetsky 4 Susanin brings news of another kind: the Polish wedding. army is marching on Moscow. This causes general alarm. 4 Antonida and Sobinin join them, singing together of Ivan Susanin, a peasant from the village of Domnin ...... , their happiness. Antonida, his daughter ...... Natalia Spiller, soprano 5 Sobinin now appears, bringing a measure of Vanya, an orphan adopted by Susanin ...... Yelizaveta Antonova, alto comfort: the Polish army has been repulsed. This means 5 Susanin is content that he has lived to see his Sobinin, a soldier, Antonida’s fiancé ...... Georgi Nelepp, that his marriage can take place. Susanin, however, tells daughter married, and Antonia looks forward to a Commander of the Russian Detachment ...... Alexander Hosson, bass him to wait until a new Tsar is chosen. Sobinin can similar future for Vanya. They are interrupted by the Polish messenger ...... Ivan Skobtsov, tenor answer this: a new Tsar has already been chosen, their appearance of a Polish band, seeking the new Tsar. Commander of the Polish Detachment ...... Fyodor Svetlanov, bass landlord, Romanov. It is agreed that Antonida and Susanin eventually agrees to guide them to him, Sobinin’s wedding should take place. resolving, as he tells Antonida, to lead them astray, Chorus and orchestra of the Bolshoy Theater, Moscow while Vanya must warn the Tsar’s entourage. Acts 1-4 conducted by Alexander Melik-Pashayev Act II Epilogue conducted by Vasili Nebolsin * 6 Village girls sing in celebration of the wedding, 6 At the headquarters of the Polish army a ball is offering traditional comfort to the bride. Recorded in Moscow, 1947 and 1950* being held, and the Poles are confident of victory. 7 Antonida explains that the reason for her tears is the Reissue Producer and Restoration Engineer: Ward Marston 7-9 They dance a Krakowiak and . fate of her father.

0 A messenger enters, bringing news of the Polish 8 Sobinin comes back, with a band of peasants, all defeat and the election of the new Tsar, the young swearing vengeance on the Poles, when they learn what Romanov. The Poles plan to take the young Tsar has happened. Mikhail prisoner, abducting him from the monastery where he now is.

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Vanya, fears that the invading Poles will soon arrive in church singer (he held the position of deacon) both in CD 1 73:21 CD 2 49:41 their search for the new Tsar, who is studying in a concert and on the radio. In 1932 he joined the Bolshoy monastery, but Susanin assures him that none will Theatre, and during the next 24 years sang many of the 1 Overture 8:48 Act 3 49:41 betray the young Romanov. Following the arrival of the principal bass parts. He became strongly identified with Poles, Ivan Susanin is forced to take them to their prey, the rôle of Ivan Susanin, which he performed over four Act 1 37:31 1 Entr’acte 3:01 but instead he leads them into the forest, while Sobinin hundred times. He also appeared in Sergey Eisenstein’s (Orchestra) leads a group of men to warn the Tsar of the dangers film Ivan the Terrible. 2 Introduction: Rodina moya! Russkaya zemlya… awaiting him, thus enabling him to escape capture. Natalia Spiller (1909-1995), who takes the part of [My homeland! The Russian lands…] 8:27 2 Duet: Kak mat’ ubili u malogo ptentsa 8:38 When the Poles learn what Ivan has done they kill him, Antonida, studied at the Kiev Conservatory, and made (Chorus and Soldier) [When they killed the mother of the little bird] but the Tsar, and so Russia, is safe. An epilogue her stage début at Samara in 1934. Within a year she (Vanya, Susanin ) celebrates the coronation of the Tsar as well as the was called to the Bolshoy in Moscow, where she 3 Cavatina and Rondo: Akh, tï, polye, polye tï moyo sacrifice of Ivan Susanin. remained for more than thirty years, singing a broad [Ah, you, my field] 6:34 3 Chorus of peasants: Seychas mï v les idyom 3:29 The four acts of this account of Ivan Susanin were range of lyric-dramatic rôles in both the Russian and (Antonida) [Now we are setting off for the woods] recorded by the forces of the Bolshoy Theatre, Moscow, Western repertoire. She was especially admired as a (Chorus) under the direction of Alexander Melik-Pashayev, in singer by Stalin and sang frequently at the Kremlin. She 4 Chto gadat’ o svad’bye 5:18 1947, six years before the death of Stalin, and therefore was awarded several national prizes before her [Why dream of weddings] 4 Quartet: Antonida! Milïye dyeti! 11:29 used the version deleting all references to the Russian retirement from the stage, after which she taught at the (Susanin, Chorus) [Antonida! Dear children!] monarchy. The Epilogue was recorded three years later, Gnessin Institute in Moscow from 1950 to 1976. (Susanin, Sobinin, Vanya, Antonida) in 1950, with one of the Bolshoy’s staunchest staff Yelizaveta Antonova (1904-?), who sings the part of 5 Scene, trio and chorus: Zdravstvuitye, rodnïye! conductors Vasili Nebolsin, at the helm. Alexander Vanya, was born and studied in St Petersburg. From [Greetings, kinsfolk] 17:11 5 Scene and chorus: Nu vot, ya dozhil, slava bogu Melik-Pashayev (1905-64) joined the Bolshoy Theatre, 1924 to 1929 she was a member of the chorus of the (Sobinin, Susanin, Antonida, Chorus) [Well, I have lived to see this day, thank God] Moscow, in 1931, after studying with Nikolay Bolshoy Theatre. She then turned to singing in concert, (Susanin, Vanya, Antonida, Chorus) 13:24 Tcherepnin and Alexander Gauk and leading the Tblisi and established herself as one of Russia’s foremost Act 2 27:03 Opera. He replaced Nikolay Golovanov as the . She returned to the Bolshoy as a soloist in 6 Wedding chorus (maidens): 3:03 Bolshoy’s chief conductor in 1953, and did much to 1934, and stayed there for twenty years, singing 6 and chorus of Poles: 4:38 Razgulyalisya, razlivalisya vodï vyeshniye extend its repertoire with both new works and predominantly Russian repertoire while also appearing Ley vina! Pey do dna [Spring waters stream and flow] from the western canon. As with his predecessors as Fricka in The Ring and as Leonore in Fidelio. The [Serve the wine! Drink to the bottom!] (Chorus) Samosud and Golovanov, his reign came to an rôle of Sobinin is taken by the tenor Georgi Nelepp (Chorus) unexpected end in 1962, when he was summarily (1904-1957). He studied in Leningrad and made his 7 Romance: Ne o tom skorblyu, podruzhen’ki 4:15 replaced by Evgeny Svetlanov. He died two years later. début as Lensky with the Kirov Opera in 1930. He 7 Krakowiak 5:24 [I am not grieving over that, dear friends] Vasili Nebolsin (1898-1958) studied violin and remained with this company until 1944, when he moved (Orchestra) (Antonida, Chorus) composition in Moscow, and started his career as a to the Bolshoy in Moscow. With his highly expressive conductor in 1918, joining the Bolshoy in this capacity and intense singing he was a popular exponent of many 8 Dances 5:52 8 Finale: Antonida! Chto sluchilos’ 2:22 in 1922. His repertoire included works by Wagner and of the principal tenor rôles in the company’s repertoire, (Orchestra) [Antonida! What has happened?] Bizet as well as by Russian composers, and he also and he also appeared in numerous complete opera (Sobinin, Antonida, Chorus) composed and conducted symphony concerts. He was recordings. Among the smaller parts, the rôle of 9 6:33 awarded the Stalin Prize in 1950. The title rôle of the Sigismund III is taken by Fyodor Svetlanov, the father (Orchestra) opera is taken by Maxim Mikhailov (1893-1971), who of the conductor and sometime music director of the was born into a peasant family and sang in the choir of Bolshoy Opera, Evgeny Svetlanov. 0 Finale: Otkuda? 4:36 his village church. He entered a monastery after [Where are you from?] working as a labourer, and developed a reputation as a David Patmore (Polish Commander, Messenger, Chorus) 8.111078-80 6 3 8.111078-80 111078-80 bk Glinka EU 7/10/2005 11:10am Page 4

CD 3 79:49 7 Finale: Slav’sya, slav’sya, tï Rus’ moya! 3:40 ! Aria: Bednyï kon’ v polye pal 8:39 @ Aria: Chuyut pravdu! 9:24 [Glory, glory to thee, my Rus’!] [The poor horse fell in the field] [They sense the truth!] Act 4 38:00 (Chorus) {Rosen text} {Rosen text} (Vanya, Chorus) (Susanin) 1 Entr’acte 2:52 * Section omitted from original recording Sung by Evgeniya Zbruyeva Sung by (Orchestra) Recorded 18th November 1913 Recorded in London 25th September 1923 Mats. 2921c and 2911c; cats. HMV 023142/1 and 14th July 1924; * Chorus of peasants and Sobinin’s aria: Appendix: Mats. Cc3504-2 and Cc4890-1; cat. HMV DB 758 Snyega nyerushimï v nashey glushi … Extracts from A Life for the Tsar: Chto nam metyel’ Selections from Acts 3 and 4 [The snows in our back quarter are enduring… (1804 -1857) What to us is the snowstorm?] Act 3 {Gorodetsky’s text} Ivan Susanin (A Life for the Tsar) (Sobinin, Chorus ) 8 Duet: Kak mat’ ubili u malogo ptentsa 9:12 [When they killed the mother of the little bird] Mikhail Glinka, the founder of the Russian nationalist nationalist music. Domestic problems, leading 2 Aria: Bednïy kon’ v polye pal 12:25 (Vanya, Susanin) school of opera, was the first Russian composer to have eventually to his separation from his wife in 1841, [The poor horse fell in the field] Sung by I.N. Sokolova and his works accepted outside Russia itself. Berlioz delayed the production of his second opera, Ruslan and (Vanya, Chorus) Recorded 1950; 78rpm CCCP 020053/4 admired his compositions and Liszt used them as the Ludmilla, which finally appeared in 1842. Glinka then basis for several of his piano transcriptions. The son of a returned to travelling: he visited France and Spain in 3 Chorus of Poles: Ustali mï! 3:51 9 Romance: Nye o tom skorblyu, podruzhen’ki 3:16 wealthy landowner, he was educated in St Petersburg, 1844, in 1848, and France once more between [We are tired!] [I am not grieving over that, dear friends] where he took piano lessons from John Field, and also 1852 and 1854. He died while on a visit to Berlin. (Chorus, Susanin) {Rosen text} studied the violin and music theory. In addition his The title of Ivan Susanin was changed to A Life for (Antonida, Chorus) uncle ran an orchestra manned by serfs and this made a the Tsar before the opera’s first performance, with the 4 Aria: Chuyut pravdu! 5:36 Sung by Antonina Nezhdanova great impression upon him. To satisfy his father he Tsar himself accepting Glinka’s dedication in return for [They sense the truth!] Recorded in Russia, 20th April 1913 worked within the Ministry of Communications from this adjustment. The original title was restored when the (Susanin) Mat. 319af; cat. HMV 023149 1824 to 1828, but not having to earn a living, and keen work was revived at Moscow’s Bolshoy Theatre in to devote himself to music, he gave up this employment. 1939, in a version which eliminated all mention of the 5 Recitative: Davno li s sem’yoy svoey 13:15 Act 4 During this period he also served an apprenticeship with Romanov dynasty. Following the collapse of the [Not long ago in my family] an opera company and as a result came into contact with Communist government in 1989 the original libretto has (Susanin, Chorus) 0 Brattsï! V metyel’ 4:31 the operas of Rossini. He travelled within Western been restored to general circulation. By effectively [Brethren! In the storm] Europe between 1830 and 1833, and continued to study laying the foundations of the Russian nationalist school Epilogue (abridged) 6:47 (Sobinin, Chorus) music, receiving tuition in Milan, where he met both of opera, this magnificent work has great historical Sung by Helge Rosvaenge (in German) Bellini and Donizetti, and Berlin. Following the death significance, in addition to being a fine composition in 6 Entr’acte 3:07 Recorded in Berlin, 1940 of his father he returned to Russia, settled in St its own right. The setting is Russia in 1613. Following (Orchestra) Mat. 2RA 4461-2; cat. HMV DB 5563 Petersburg, and married in 1835. By now he was a the death of , Russia is subject to attacks professional and cosmopolitan musician, familiar with from marauding Poles. The daughter of the peasant Ivan *Slav’sya, slav’sya, tï Rus’ moya!.... This tenor aria was omitted from the 1947 the music of contemporaries such as Grétry, Méhul, and Susanin, Antonida, is in love with Sobinin, but her Nye dozhil otets do svyetlïkh dney! recording. Cherubini as well as Beethoven. Ivan Susanin or A Life father will not allow them to marry until a new Tsar is [Glory, glory to thee, my Rus’!…. for the Tsar, a landmark in the history of , safely on the throne, despite reassurances from Sobinin Father did not live to see these radiant days] was produced in 1836 and was an immediate success that the young Tsar, Mikhail Romanov, has already (Antonida, Vanya, Sobinin, Chorus) with its winning combination of a patriotic plot and been popularly elected. Ivan Susanin’s adopted orphan, 8.111078-80 4 5 8.111078-80 111078-80 rr Glinka EU 7/10/2005 11:09am Page 2 N 8.111078-80 Mikhail ADD AXOS Historical 3 CDs GLINKA Playing DISC PROHIBITED. BROADCASTING AND COPYING OF THIS COMPACT TRANSLATIONS RESERVED. UNAUTHORISED PUBLIC PERFORMANCE, RIGHTS IN THIS SOUND RECORDING, ARTWORK, TEXTS AND ALL (1804-1857) Time &

3:22:51 8.111078-80 Ivan Susanin 2005 Naxos Rights International Ltd. (A Life for the Tsar)

First produced in 1836, Glinka’s Ivan Ivan Susanin ...... Maxim Mikhailov Susanin or A Life for the Tsar was an immediate success with its winning Antonida ...... Natalia Spiller combination of a patriotic plot — the Vanya ...... Yelizaveta Antonova story of a peasant, Ivan, who gave his life to save that of the Tsar Mikhail, Sobinin ...... Georgi Nelepp founder of the Romanov dynasty — GLINKA: Ivan Susanin Commander of the Russian Detachment . . . . Alexander Hosson and nationalist music. On this recording we hear the revised 1939 Polish messenger ...... Ivan Skobtsov version in which the emphasis was Commander of the Polish Detachment ...... Fyodor Svetlanov moved from the young Tsar to the leaders of the uprising against the Chorus and Orchestra of the Bolshoy Theatre, Moscow Poles. The bass Maxim Mikhailov, who was born into a peasant family, Acts 1-4 conducted by Alexander Melik-Pashayev became strongly identified with the Epilogue conducted by Vasili Nebolsin * rôle which he performed over 400 times. The legendary Alexander Recorded in Moscow, 1947 and 1950 * Melik-Pashayev, the Bolshoy’s chief

GLINKA: Ivan Susanin conductor between 1953 and 1962, did much to extend its repertoire. CD 1 73:21 CD 2 49:41 CD 3 79:49 1 Overture 8:48 1-8 Act III 49:41 1-5 Act IV 38:00 2-5 Act I 37:31 6-7 Epilogue 6:47 MADE IN 6-0 Act II 27:03 8-@ Appendix 35:02 THE EU

Producer and Audio Restoration Engineer: Ward Marston 8.111078-80

www.naxos.com A complete track list can be found in the booklet Cover Image: Late 19th century watercolour stage design for Act III of

AXOS Historical A Life for the Tsar by G. Gagarin, showing Ivan with his daughter

N Antonida and Sobinin [Private Collection]