Rimsky-Korsakov: Sadko

Rimsky-Korsakov : Sadko

In the 13th century, the rich merchants of Novgorod mock the dreams of far-away journeys and of commercial conquests brought forth by Sadko, a musician and singer. But Volkhova, the Sea King’s daughter, is enchanted by Sadko’s voice, and promises to help him fulfill his dreams…

Sadko is a decisive work in Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s aesthetic evolution. As in many operas, the composer draws his artistic material from Russian folk and fairytales, but also from old musical and poetic forms. The result is a prodigious opera, whose modernity – both dramatic and musical – erupts from the fabulous resources of traditional Russian epics, but also from the wonders of the marine universe, close to his former navigator self’s heart.

A subtle analyst of the slavic soul, stage director Dmitri Tcherniakov comes back to the great stage of the Bolshoi Theater and devises a surprising production that perfectly underlines the ambiguities of this paradoxical opera, between past and present, fantasy and reality. He surrounds himself with magnificent Russian soprano Aida Garifullina, but also some of his favorite singers : Mikhail Petrenko, Ekaterina Semenchuk… In the pit and at the head of the Bolshoi Theater Orchestra, young Russian conductor Timur Zangiev breathes in this little-know masterpiece all the energy, all the poetry, and all the passion it requires.

Rimsky-Korsakov : Sadko [DVD & Blu-ray]

Opera in seven scenes sung in Russian
Libretto Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
With the assistance of Vladimir Belsky
Based on Russian Bylinas

Sadko Nazhmiddin Mavlyanov
Volkhova Aida Garifullina
Lubava Buslaevna Ekaterina Semenchuk
Nezhata Yuri Minenko
Ocean-Sea, The Sea Tsar Stanislav Trofimov
Whistle Mikhail Petrenko
Fife Maxim Paster
Varangian Merchant Dmitry Ulianov
Indian Merchant Alexey Nekludov
Venetian Merchant Andrey Zhilikhovsky
Vision Of The Old Mighty Warrior In The Guise Of A Pilgrim Sergey Murzaev
Foma Nazaryich Roman Muravitsky
His wife Alexandra Durseneva
Luka Zinovyich Vladimir Komovich
His wife Irina Rubtsova
Tsarine Hydraqua Irina Parfyonova
Wise men Alexander Eremeyev, Oles Paritsky
Blind beggars German Golubev, Konstantin Dronov, Yuri Zalessky, Alexander Mashnin, Vladimir Tarasov, Igor Uvarov

State Academic Bolshoi Theatre Of Russia Orchestra And Chorus
Conductor Timur Zangiev
Chorus master Valery Borisov

Stage direction and sets Dmitri Tcherniakov
Costumes Elena Zaitseva
Lighting designs Gleb Filshtinsky
Sketches from Appollinary Vasnetsov, Konstantin Korovin, Ivan Bilibin, Vladimir Egorov, Nikolai Roerich, Fyodor Fedorowsky
were used in the scenography