ME 175 Melik-Pashajev Tchaikovsky: The Queen of Spades/ Bolshoi Opera Co

Melik-Pashajev conducts Tchaikovsky
THE QUEEN OF SPADES

Chorus and Orchestra of the Bolshoi Theatre, with Eugenia Smolenskaya, Veronika Borissenko, Pavel Lisitian, Georgi Nelepp, Evgenia Verbitskaya & Andrej Ivanov

“…the singers, more notable for alertness, idiomatic musicality, and intelligent characterisation than for uniformly high vocal quality, are all at least adequate. Although I am no special admirer of the peculiarly sweetish tone that Russian tenors strive for, Georgi Nelepp is a very good Herman, taken on his own terms, and Alexei Ivanov is above average in the primary low-voiced role of Tomsky. E Verbitzkaya and E Smolenskaya sing the main female

roles effectively, and orchestra, chorus and soloists all show admirable unity of purpose under the baton of Melik-Pashayev…” [extract from full liner notes]

J H, Jr, HI-FIDELITY, April 1954