There's an early start time for Saturday's Met Opera broadcast - it's 12 noon, an hour earlier than usual. This week, the Met Opera presents Alexander Borodin's defining Russian epic, PRINCE IGOR. Famous for its Polovtsian Dances, the opera comes to the Met for the first time in nearly 100 years. Dmitri Tcherniakov’s new production is a brilliant psychological journey through the mind of its conflicted hero, with the founding of the Russian nation as the backdrop. Star bass-baritone Ildar Abdrazakov takes on the monumental title role, with Gianandrea Noseda conducting.
The impressive cast, with many Russian singers, is headed by the compelling bass Ildar Abdrazakov in the title role... "His Igor has moments of Italianate lyrical refinement. He brings passion, even a touch of neediness, to his exchanges with his devoted wife, Yaroslavna, the Ukrainian soprano Oksana Dyka in her Met debut. She is a classic Russian soprano with a cool, penetrating intensity, fearless high notes, and a glint of steel in her sound." (New York Times)
"The charismatic Georgian mezzo-soprano Anita Rachvelishvilibrings her plush, big voice and a sultry physicality to the role of Konchakovna."
(New York Times)
Gianandrea Noseda "led a vibrant and textured performance... [conveying] the Russian character of the music, while conducting it with clarity and precision. The Met chorus is at its glorious best." (New York Times)
"Prince Igor's triumphant return: the Met makes a masterpiece of an unlikely opera. [A performance that] would be the jewel of any opera company in any golden age." (New York Observer)
CAST:
Conductor: Gianandrea Noseda
Yaroslavna: Oksana Dyka
Konchakovna: Anita Rachvelishvili
Vladimir Igorevich: Sergey Semishkur
Prince Igor Svyatoslavich: Ildar Abdrazakov
Prince Galitsky: Mikhail Petrenko
Khan Konchak: Stefan Kocán