Main Performers | Ante Jerkunica (Prince Ivan Khovansky), Christopher Ventris (PrinceAndrey Khovansky, His Son), Vsevolod Grivnov (Prince Vasily Golitsin), Elena Maximova (Marfa, an Old Believer), Ain Anger (Dosifey), George Gagnidze (Shaklovity), Jennifer Rhys-Davies (Susanna), Norbert Ernst (Scribe), Anush Hovhannisyan (Emma), Colin Judson (Kuzka, a Muskateer), Philip Tebb -(First Soldier), Charles Gibbs (Second Soldier), Jamie W Hall (Varsonofiev), Christopher Bowen (Servant to Golitsyn), Thomas Raskin -(Streshnev) - vocals |
Choirs | Schola Cantorum of The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School, Memorial School, Tiffin Boys Choir, BBC Singers, Slovak Philharmonic Choir |
Set List | 'Khovanshchina, Mussorgsky, orch. Shostakovich (concert performance; sung in Russian) |
Performance Notes | Shot through with noble melodies, Mussorgskys national music drama weaves a darkly tangled political web in which Russia herself is the casualty. Caught between reformists and continuity, the nation struggles to find peace, and the conflict leads only to death in the operas shattering climax.
Semyon Bychkov conducts the BBC Symphony Orchestra and an international cast, including mezzo-soprano Elena Maximova as the enigmatic Marfa.
There were two intervals.
Royal Albert Hall and Proms debut performances from Ante Jerkunica, Vsevolod Grivnov, Elena Maximova, George Gagnidze, Jennifer Rhys-Davies, Norbert Ernst and Anush Hovhannisyan. |
Related Archival Material | Proms Guide (RAHE/1/2017/47a), Programme (RAHE/1/2017/75, includes Libretto) Mini Guide (RAHE/6/2017/36), Digital Photographs, Posters (RAHE/2/2017/27-28) |