The premiere of Mikhail Glinka’s Ruslan and Lyudmila took place in 1842. Still, in 1995, Kirov Orchestra, Opera Chorus, and Ballet in association with San Francisco Opera presented their new version with Anna Netrebko as Lyudmila, Vladimir Ognovenko as Ruslan, and Larissa Diadkova as Ratmir (“Glinka: Rouslan et Ludmila”). The musical performance can be viewed as perfect, and it is important to focus on the work of such singers as Netrebko and Diadkova. The characters performed by these singers are lively, and they are interesting to the audience. Netrebko, a coloratura soprano, demonstrates that her Lyudmila is a spirited and vivid character. Still, Diadkova’s Ratmir seems to compel the public’s attention even more actively because of her virtuosity in expressing the character’s feelings.
The performance can be discussed as impressive also in terms of the used theatrical scenery and costumes. They are effective to accentuate fantastic and epic adventures of the characters. These sets also make the audience follow the plot and concentrate on the fairytale interpretation of the fight between good and evil forces presented in the opera. Much attention should be paid to the ballet parties and the orchestra’s work. Glinka’s scores can be discussed as challenging, and some performances of Ruslan and Lyudmila are often viewed as unsuccessful because of problems with the orchestra (“Glinka: Rouslan et Ludmila”). However, the performance of Kirov Orchestra is exceptional. Still, in spite of the perfect performance of singers, the chorus, and ballet dancers, the opera seems to lack the dramatic action. Thus, unique theatrical images are created with the help of the singers’ mastery, their costumes, and sets, rather than the stage director’s skills.
References
“Glinka: Rouslan et Ludmila.” YouTube. 2013, Web.
Sargeant, Lynn. Harmony and Discord: Music and the Transformation of Russian Cultural Life. New York: Oxford University Press, 2011. Print.