Album

The story of the tragic love affair of Francesca da Rimini, taken from Dante's "Inferno," has inspired numerous musical works, including operas by Ambroise Thomas, Riccardo Zandonai, and Hermann Goetz, but the only enduring piece on the subject is Tchaikovsky's 1876 symphonic fantasy. He had originally planned an opera on the story, but was discouraged by this brother Modeste, who ironically provided the libretto for Rachmaninoff's one-act opera, which received its premiere in 1906 and has failed to find a place in the repertoire. It contains some lovely moments, but due at least in part to its flawed libretto, it lacks dramatic urgency, and large sections sound more like lyrical or tempestuous meandering rather than theatrically purposeful musical development. Though the writing may seldom rise to the level of inspiration of which Rachmaninoff was capable, it's never less than skillfully or inventively executed. The performance by the BBC Singers and Orchestra, led by Gianandrea Noseda, makes a strong case for the opera—the playing and singing are consistently passionate and elegant. The fine cast of Russian soloists brings life to the score, singing with ardor, a strong sense of drama, and warm, full tone. This fine performance of the obscure work should be of interest to fans of late Romantic opera. Chandos' sound is clean and spacious, with good balance.

© Stephen Eddins, All Music Guide

CD 1
Sergey Vasilyevich Rachmaninov Composer Francesca da Rimini (opera) Op.25...Prologue Work Gennady Bezzubenkov Bass, Gianandrea Noseda Conductor, Sergey Murzaev Baritone, BBC Singers Chorus/Choir, Misha Didyk Tenor, Evgeny Akimov Tenor, Stephen Betteridge Chorus/Choir Director, Svetla Vassileva Soprano, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra
1	Introduction	6:10			$0.99
Sergey Vasilyevich Rachmaninov Composer Francesca da Rimini (opera) Op.25...Part 1: The First Circle of Hell: The Shade of Virgil, Followed by Dante Work Gennady Bezzubenkov Bass, Gianandrea Noseda Conductor, Sergey Murzaev Baritone, BBC Singers Chorus/Choir, Misha Didyk Tenor, Evgeny Akimov Tenor, Stephen Betteridge Chorus/Choir Director, Svetla Vassileva Soprano, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra
2	1.Introduction: Chorus (without words); 2.Tepér' vstupáyem mï v slepúyu bézdnu (Now We are Descending into the Dark Abyss); 3.Chorus: Ah, Ah 1; 4.Chorus: Ah, Ah 2; 5.Chorus: Ah, Ah 3	5:38			$0.99
Sergey Vasilyevich Rachmaninov Composer Francesca da Rimini (opera) Op.25...Part 2: The Second Circle: Dante and Virgil on the Edge of the Precipice Work Gennady Bezzubenkov Bass, Gianandrea Noseda Conductor, Sergey Murzaev Baritone, BBC Singers Chorus/Choir, Misha Didyk Tenor, Evgeny Akimov Tenor, Stephen Betteridge Chorus/Choir Director, Svetla Vassileva Soprano, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra
3	1.Kto eti dva, cto tak legkí dlya vétra? (Who Were Those Two?); 2.Net bóleye velíkoy skórbi v mire (Nothing is Worse)	8:26			$1.49
Sergey Vasilyevich Rachmaninov Composer Francesca da Rimini (opera) Op.25...Act 1 Work 22:04 Gennady Bezzubenkov Bass, Gianandrea Noseda Conductor, Sergey Murzaev Baritone, BBC Singers Chorus/Choir, Misha Didyk Tenor, Evgeny Akimov Tenor, Stephen Betteridge Chorus/Choir Director, Svetla Vassileva Soprano, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra
4	1.Introduction: Rimini: The Malatesta Castle	1:26			$0.99
5	2.Otvét moy prost (My Answer is Clear)	3:00			$0.99
6	3.Nictó ne zaglusít revnívïkh dum (Nothing Can Extinguish these Jealous Thoughts); 4.O, yésli bï tï znála	9:01			$1.49
7	5.Moy povelítel' zval menyá? (My Lord Called for Me?); 6.Lyubví tvoyéy khocú ya!; 7.Proklyát'ye	8:37			$1.49
Sergey Vasilyevich Rachmaninov Composer Francesca da Rimini (opera) Op.25...Act 2 Work 18:35 Gennady Bezzubenkov Bass, Gianandrea Noseda Conductor, Sergey Murzaev Baritone, BBC Singers Chorus/Choir, Misha Didyk Tenor, Evgeny Akimov Tenor, Stephen Betteridge Chorus/Choir Director, Svetla Vassileva Soprano, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra
8	1.Introduction	2:32			$0.99
9	2.Prekásnaya Ginévra	16:03			$2.99
Sergey Vasilyevich Rachmaninov Composer Francesca da Rimini (opera) Op.25 Work Gennady Bezzubenkov Bass, Gianandrea Noseda Conductor, Sergey Murzaev Baritone, BBC Singers Chorus/Choir, Misha Didyk Tenor, Evgeny Akimov Tenor, Stephen Betteridge Chorus/Choir Director, Svetla Vassileva Soprano, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra
10	Epilogue	3:45			$0.99