Alexander Borodin Prince Igor Kirov Opera Orchestra Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov Polovtsian Dances 3 CD Set

This 3-CD boxed set features the St. Petersburg Orchestra of the Kirov Opera conducted by Valery Gergiev, performing Borodin's Prince Igor.  Although Alexander Borodin is the musical genius behind this work, it was unfinished during his lifetime, and was completed with the help of his peers Alexander Glazounov, Yuri Faliek, and the incomparable Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov.  The compilation is a must-have for any classical music lover and is in near mint condition being unplayed without the original shrinkwrap, although there is some light storage wear to the exterior cardboard sleeve due to the wrap being removed. The three CD set is perfect for all occasions and includes a total run time of 3 hours and 28 minutes with an included booklet of the libretto.

Prince Igor is an opera in four acts with a prologue, written and composed by Alexander Borodin who was a Romantic composer and chemist of Georgian-Russian extraction.  He was one of the prominent 19th-century composers known as "The Five", a group dedicated to producing a "uniquely Russian" kind of classical music.  Borodin is known best for his symphonies, his two string quartets, the symphonic poem In the Steppes of Central Asia, and his opera Prince Igor.  A doctor and chemist by profession and training, Borodin made important early contributions to organic chemistry. Although he is presently known better as a composer, he regarded medicine and science as his primary occupations, only practicing music and composition in his spare time or when he was ill.  Borodin wrote this sprawling, complicated opera with its incredible melodic splendors in his spare time.  Unfortunately, he never quite decided where he was going with it and it was unfinished at the time of his death in 1887.  Various other composers have tried assorted fixes to make it work dramatically.  It was edited and completed by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and Alexander Glazunov.  The composer adapted the libretto from the early Russian epic The Lay of Igor's Host, which recounts the campaign of the 12th-century prince Igor Svyatoslavich against the invading Cuman ("Polovtsian") tribes in 1185.  He also incorporated material drawn from two medieval Kievan chronicles. It was first performed in St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1890.  This version has a splendid cast singing a score edited at the initiative of Artistic Director Valery Gergiev.  It's also resplendently sung by some of the finest voices from the glory days of the Kirov, including Galina Gorchakova at her best.

Track Listings
Disc:  1
  1. Ov - Gergiev, Kirov Opr, Orch
  2. Prologue No1: Intro: Solncu Krasnomu Slava! - Chor
  3. Prologue No1: Intro: Idem Na Bran's Vragom Rusi! - Mikhail Kit/Chor
  4. Prologue No1: Intro: Knaz'ja, Pora Nam Vystupat' - Mikhali Kit/Vladimir Ognovienko/Chor/Gegam Grigorian
  5. Prologue No1: Intro: Puskaj Sebe Idut - Georgy Seleniev/Constantin Pluzhnikov/Mikhail Kit
  6. Prologue No1: Intro: Ach, Lada, Moja, Lada! - Galina Gorchakova/Mikhali Kit/Vladimir Ognovienko/Gegam Grigorian
  7. Prologue No1: Intro: Tebe, Kak Bratu, Ee Ja Porucaju - Mikhail Kit/Chor/Vladimir Ognovienko
  8. Act 1, No.2 Chor Of Polovtsian Maidens: Na Bezvod'i, Dnem Na Solnce - Tatiana Movikova/Chor
  9. Act 1, No.3 Dance Of The Polovtsian Maidens - Gergiev, Kirov Opr, Orch
  10. Act 1, No.4 Cavatina: Merknet Svet Dnevnoj - Olga Borodina/Chor
  11. Act 1, No.5 Scena & Chor: Podrugi Devicy - Olga Borodina/Chor
  12. Act 1, No.5 Scena & Chor: Solnce Za Goroj Uchodit Na Pokoj - Chor
  13. Act 1 No.6 Recitative & Cavatina: Medlenno Den' Ugasal - Gegam Grigorian
  14. Act 1 No.6 Recitative & Cavatina: Ach! Gde Ty, Gde? - Gegam Grigorian
  15. Act 1 No.7 Duet: Ty Li, Vladimir Moj - Gegam Grigorian/Olga Borodina
Disc:  2
  1. Act 1 No.7 Duet: Nu Ctoz Otec Tvoj? - Gegam Grigorian/Olga Borodina
  2. Act 1 No.8 Aria: Ni Sna Ni Otdycha Izmucennoj Duse - Mikhail Kit
  3. Act 1 No.9 Scena: Pozvol' Mne, Knaze, Slovo Molvit' - Nikolai Gassiev/Mikhail Kit
  4. Act 1 No.10 Aria: Zdorov-Li Knjaz'? - Bulat Minjelkiev/Mikhail Kit
  5. Act 1 No.10 Aria: O Net, Net, Drug - Bulat Minjelkiev
  6. Act 1 No.11 Recitative: Gej! Plennic Privesti Sjuda! - Bulat Minjelkiev/Mikhail Kit
  7. Act 1 No.12 Polovtsian: Dances & Chor Uletaj Na Kryl'jach Vetra - Bulat Minjelkiev/Chor
  8. Act 1 No.12 Polovtsian: Dances & Chor Slavoj Dedam Raven Chan Nas - Chor
  9. Act 2, No.13a Chor: Slava, slava Volodimiru - Chor/Georgy Selezniev/Constantin Pluzhnikov
  10. Act 2 Scene 1 No.13b Recitative & Song: Natesilsja Li, Knjaz'? - Chor/Valdimir Ognovienko
  11. Act 2 Scene 1 No.13b Recitative & Song: Tol'ko B Mne Dozdat'sja Cesti 13c Recitative Ho! Knja... - Valdimir Ognovienko/Chor
  12. Act 2 Scene 1 No.13c Recitative: Knjazju Galickomu Slava! - Valdimir Ognovienko/Chor/Georgy Selezniev/Constantin Pluzhnikov
  13. Act 2 Scene 1 No.13e Scena: Stoj, Rebjata, Sluchaj! - Chor/Georgy Selezniev/Constantin Pluzhnikov
  14. Act 2 Scene 1 No.13f Song: In Honour Of Prince Galitsky Cto U Knjazja Da Volodimira 13g Chorus... - Chor
  15. Act 2 Scene 1 No.13g Chor: A Ctoz, I Vprjam' V Knjaz'ja Ego Posadim! - Chor/Georgy Selezniev/Constantin Pluzhnikov
  16. Act 2 Scene 2 No.14 Arioso: Ne Malo Vremeni Proslo S Tech Por - Galina Gorchakova
  17. Act 2 Scene 2 No.15 Scena: Tam Devuski Prisli K Tebe, Knjaginja - Evgenia Perlassova/Galina Gorchakova/Chor
  18. Act 2 Scene 2 No.16 Scena Aj! Knjaz'! Batjuski! - Chor/Galina Gorchkova/Valdimir Ognovienko
Disc:  3
  1. Act 2 Scene 2 No.17 Finale Dobro Pozalovat', Bojare - Chor/Galina Gorchkova
  2. Act 2 Scene 2 No.17 Finale Nam. Knjaginja, Ne Vpervye - Chor/Galina Gorchkova/Valdimir Ognovienko
  3. Act 3 No.18 Polovtsian March: Rat' Idet Domoj - Chor
  4. Act 3 No.19 Song: Nas Mec Nam Dal Poberdu - Olga Borodina/Chor
  5. Act 3 No.20a Recitative: Igrajte, Truby! - Olga Borodina
  6. Act 3 No.20b Scena: Uzel' Chan Nas Gorod Vsjal - Gegam Gorchakova/Mikhail Kit/Chor
  7. Act 3 No.21 Monologue: Zacem Ne Pal Ja Na Pole Brani - Mikhail Kit
  8. Act 3 No.22 Recitative: Knjaz', Skorej Sbirajsja v put' - Nikolai Gassiev/Mikhail Kit
  9. Act 3 No.23 Trio: Vladimir! Uzel' Vse eto Pravda? - Bulat Minjelkiev/Gegam Gorchakova/Mikhail Kit
  10. Act 3 No.24 Finale: Knjaz' Igor' Uskakal! - Bulat Minjelkiev/Chor/Olga Borodina
  11. Act 3 No.25 Lament: Ach! Placu Ja, Gor'ko Placu Ja - Galina Grigorian
  12. Act 3 No.26 Peasants' Chor: Och, Ne Bujnyj Veter Zavyval - Chor
  13. Act 3 No.27 Recitative & Duet: Kak Unylo Vse Krugom - Galina Grigorian
  14. Act 3 No.27 Recitative & Duet: On, Moj Sokol Jasny! - Galina Grigorian/Mikhail Kit
  15. Act 3 No. 28 Gudok Players' Song, Scena & Chor: Ty Gudi, Gudi, Da - Georgy Selezniev/Constantin Pluzhnikov
  16. Act 3 No. 28 Gudok Players' Song, Scena & Chor: Narod! Sjuda! - Georgy Selezniev/Constantin Pluzhnikov/Chor
  17. Act 3 No. 29 Epilogue: Da, Privel Gospod' Uvidet' Nam - Chor