Search - Sergey Prokofiev, Mstislav Rostropovich, Orchestre National de France :: Prokofiev: War and Peace (Guerre & Paix)

A perfect War & Peace

07/19/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This version of the monumental work of Prokofiev is simply wonderful. Galina Vishnevskaya and Lajos Miller (Natasha and Andrej) are the best of the disc. Nicola Ghiuselev is a very strong, and patriotic, Marshal Kutuzov. Wieslaw Ochman is not a Gedda (Anatoly in this recording), but the dramatism of his interpretation is a fine work. Gedda sing again with Vishnevskaya (Boris, Lady Macbeth, etc.) and the results are wonderful. But the best of the recording is Mstislav Rostropovich, a director who knows how play the russian repertory. In minor roles: Michel Senechal like Monsieur de Boësset, Mariana Paunova (strong Akhrossimova), Dimiter Petkov (Boris in the "Lady Macbeth" of EMI), and Nathalie Stutzmann and Catherine Dubosc. "War and Peace" is a dense work (four hours), but the scenes are a fine picture of the Napoleon's invassion. The first half of the opera is concentrated in the figure of Natasha (Peace), and the second half is the invassion (War); in this part the males roles have more importance. In resume, a wonderful recording, with a marathonic cast, but the four hours are like two. P. S. : Sorry for my english."

Magnificent Recording of a Russian Masterpiece

Marc Musnick | 01/11/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I love this opera. It's so spralling and a bit flawed but it never fails to wipe me out. Rostropovitch promised Prokofiev to keep this work alive and champion performing it complete. This concert version from 1986 is, I believe, note complete. It's a magnificent recording achievment with a strong cast and clearly the first choice as a recording. Rostropovitch's tempi always tend to be slow but that brings out the rich and complicated orchestration better and his wife, legendary Russian soprano Galina Vischneskaya is past her prime but she still sings beautifully in one of her most famous roles. The rest of the cast is first rate and robust sounding. The choral work is thrilling.



Of the three available recordings, and I'm familiar with the other two, this is clearly the recording to have. There's an historical connection here that's not to be ignored. And I really believe, the score is complete. Thre's certainly extended choral work that I've never heard before."