Hvorostovsky in Moscow [DVD]

Dmitri Hvorostovsky died on November 22, 2017, barely past his 55th birthday. Now all of his recorded performances, audio and video, will be more precious as there will be no more! On June 28, 2008, Hvorostovsky had invited Sondra Radvanovsky to be his guest star in the prestigious Moscow concert series 'Hvorostovsky and Friends' with Conductor Constantine Orbelian and the Philharmonia of Russia in the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory, Moscow, Russia. Though these two opera stars were well acquainted and probably friends this was their first-ever musical collaboration. Thus there is documented for posterity one of those all-too-rare instances of magical artistic alchemy between two great operatic performers. Subsequently they appeared together in complete staged performances of 'Il Trovatore' at Covent Garden, the MET and The San Francisco Opera. (One or more of these may be available on DVD) These appearances were effusively acclaimed. (In part program notes Lindsay Koob) There is also a compact disc available containing selections from the June 28th event, but, it is labeled 'Verdi Opera Scenes' and a bit of research is needed to determine that indeed it is from the same evening. Though the three encores labeled on that CD are not Verdi, but, Dvorak, Mozart and Puccini. Delos recorded this live concert and upon obtaining the film footage (a Russian TV show broadcast) collaborated with an expert film editor who synched the footage with the concert's audio. (Again in part Lindsay Koob). Unfortunately neither the DVD nor the CD contain the complete performance and each contains selections that the other does not include. And some selections even appear to be longer or shorter on one or the other. Furthermore both the CD at 54 minutes and the DVD at approximately 50 minutes are briefer in time signatures than the norm. This is especially disconcerting regarding the DVD as most DVD's of this nature are usually at least 90 minutes and often many more. Many CD's are 60 plus minutes and a few are even 70 minutes. Though most importantly what we have here are two outstanding operatic performers who bring an acting and singing intensity to a concert appearance that is rare and breathtaking. Conductor Orbelian displays special attention to his two singers and there is even a camera shot of an orchestra member with tears in the eyes. The Moscow audience seems more reserved than some, but, multiple bouquets of flowers are delivered to the stage after each and every selection.

Wonderful sound and video quality. Dmitri Hvorostovsky has a marvelous voice which ranges from the dramatic to almost lyrical. A wide selection of arias and songs. He has the talent to give each lyric its appropriate emotion. He interprets the arias with an actor's characterization and understanding.

Dmitri and Sondra together provide good entertainment.

If you haven't heard this yet,buy it!!!! Absolute vocal power and ease,the concert is spectacular as well as the two stars orchestra and Conductor!!GREAT FUN and time will just fly by!!AMAZING!!!!

A MARVELOUS SINGER WE LOST BUT THIS IS NOT HIS BEST WORK

Must for all the opera lovers. Dmitri Hvorostovsky in his best

I am sorry to write that HALF of this DVD is of bad picture quality.It is like DELOS know that the names Radvanovsky/Hvorostovsky sells andthey think they can release anything - even bad quality. I couldn't believe my eyesand feel sorry for the hundreds of people who have already bought it.What a shame DELOS!!!

I don't think there has been, is, or ever will be a greater stage duo than Hvorostovsky and Radvanvosky. Watching this DVD is, a truly magical experience.

This was a reminder of what a sad loss Dimitri was to the world of music. His singing is outstanding, as is that of Sondra Radvanosky. I would strongly recommend this to all lovers of opera - and of Dimitri Hvorostovsky.

The duets with Sondra Radvanovsky are riveting, but there are only 2 plus 3 solo arias, in all 42 mins. I was expecting much more as the CD has another duet and also Encores, so I think quite a lot of the original recital is missing.

A fantastic baryton with enomeous projectin. Sadly he is not with us anymore, but lives on through dvds and cds.

Commençons par le regret qu'inspire ce concert lyrique donné à Moscou au mois de juin 2008 sous la baguette de l'excellent Constantine Orbelian dirigeant le Philharmonia de Russie : un programme trop court, d'autant que la splendeur vocale de Dmitri Hvorostovsky et de Sondra Radvanovsky, invitée d'honneur qui lui donne la réplique dans deux duos verdiens, nous rend gourmands.Continuons avec une objection plus prosaïque mais pas négligeable pour tout le monde : ce dvd est accompagné d'une notice rédigée en anglais exclusivement, et les airs chantés sont pareillement sous-titrés en anglais exclusivement, drôle de manie des éditeurs (le fait n'est pas rare) que de tenir pour quantité négligeable la langue de Molière dans les proses et contenus dont ils garnissent leurs coffrets.Mais nous voyons s'imprimer sur l'écran les titres des œuvres et des airs en écriture cyrillique... amusant de voir comment s'écrit Don Carlos en russe ! détail ludique.Poursuivons avec le programme consacré pour l'essentiel à Giuseppe Verdi, dans lequel Dmitri Hvorostovsky chante le Carlo d'Ernani, le Rodrigue (Posa) de Don Carlo, le Renato du Ballo in maschera et le Comte de Luna d'Il Trovatore, Sondra Radvanovsky étant quant à elle l'Amelia de Renato et la Leonora de Luna.S'y ajoute un air du Faust de Charles Gounod (Valentin) - "Avant de quitter ces lieux".Concluons avec l'essentiel : la beauté du spectacle que nous donnent ces deux grands artistes lyriques, où rayonne le charisme vocal et physique d'un baryton né en Sibérie et qui, sans être à proprement parler un "baryton Verdi", semble bel et bien né pour chanter Verdi, par appropriation élective sinon par adéquation héréditaire.En supplément, Constantine Orbelian s'exprime mais en anglais et sans sous-titres, "just too bad"…Un autre supplément, éminemment commercial mais non dénué d'intérêt pour qui voudrait élargir sa connaissance de la discographie, riche, de Dmitri Hvorostovsky : on peut y entendre des extraits d'une douzaine d'enregistrements, une somme apéritive qui, pour ce qui me concerne, m'a donné envie d'aller faire un tour chez sa "Dame de pique" de Piotr Ilich Tchaïkovski.À l'instar du public moscovite enthousiaste, j'applaudis ce concert lyrique, quelque peu chétif mais très beau.

J'ai acheté ce dvd pour Dima ( D Hvorostovsky ) : il est extraordinaire comme toujours mais je ne peux regarder ce dvd une seconde fois ceci du à la voix de Sondra Radvanovsky qui m'insupporte . Je l'avais pourtant apprécié dans le Trouvère avec Dolora Zajick et D Hvorostovsky ( 2011 ) .Cette voix conviendra sûrement à d'autres mélomanes ( certains ne supportent pas la Callas alors qu'elle me fait tellement vibrer et pleurer ainsi que Angela Gheorghiu . Pour les inconditionnels de Dmitri Hvorostovsky vous avez le concert à St Petersburg avec Renée Fleming ( une voix d'or ) et celui à Moscou avec A Netrebko ( moins musicienne ).Sinon , le dernier Rigoletto est magnifique ( le tenor Demuro est excellent ( un timbre à la Alagna voir Pavarotti ) , la direction d'orchestre est de haut niveau et notre cher Dima est si émouvant malgré le ressenti de sa maladie .Cordialement