Rimsky-Korsakov: Le Coq D'Or Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		0.0
Overall		4.0

Rimsky-Korsakov: Le Coq D'Or Blu-ray Movie Review

Cock-a-doodle-wow!

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman April 23, 2012

Orientalism was a burgeoning tendency in several artistic idioms for centuries, a potent way to evoke an exotic and little known culture. For some reason, though Orientalism had been at least regularly utilized for untold years prior, it had a major outbreak (if that's the right word) in the mid- to late nineteenth century, and it seemed to have a special allure to Russian composers. Most if not all of the coterie of Russian composers known as The Five at the very least dabbled in Orientalism with some regularity, and at least a couple of them wrote large scale works that delighted in recreating the evocative sonorities of Eastern cultures and climes. What's ironic if not flat out funny about Orientalism, at least with regard to nineteenth century European musical approaches, is that it is of cours a decidedly faux Orientalism, at best. It's big and it's colorful, but it bears little resemblance to the often minimal (if no less expressive) musics of indigenous Asian peoples. It may seem the height of cheek, therefore, that a real Eastern Art, that of Kabuki, is utilized in the production of an opera that at least traffics in Orientalism, Rimsky-Korsakov's not so subtly veiled political screed The Golden Cockerel, often performed in French (as it is on this Blu-ray) as Le Coq d'Or. This was Rimsky-Korsakov's final opera, and in fact one of the last pieces he ever wrote. There's some historical basis to the folk legend that The Golden Cockerel's derision and banning by the faltering Tsarist regime may have contributed to Rimsky-Korsakov's quickly declining fortunes in health, and the composer died before the opera was ever performed. The composer himself labeled his piece a "fairy tale with a moral", but like a lot of fairy tales, there's a hidden subtext about the real life grown up world that was alarmingly prescient in Rimsky-Korsakov's day and which seems just as relevant now, more than a century after the opera's premiere. This stunningly designed Kabuki version was first performed in 1984 in a co-production by the San Francisco Opera, but it's revived here by the Théâtre Musical de Paris – Châtelet, once again featuring the staging of renowned Kabuki artist Ennosuke Ichikawa.

Though Tsar Nicholas II would manage to cling onto power for around another decade, the bloody handwriting was already pretty much on the wall for those who could see it circa 1905 – 06, after the disastrous Russo – Japanese War and the incipient revolutionary activity that was already beginning to roil the Russian populace. Rimsky-Korsakov casts a foolish King, in this case King Dodon (simply remove the final "n" from that name to realize what librettist Vladimir Belsky had in mind), who, like Tsar Nicholas II, gets involved in a completely useless and unnecessary war, making a pre- emptive strike against his neighboring land for no other reason than that he "feels" that land is about to strike him.

The story of The Golden Cockerel and King Dodon (Albert Schagidullin) is actually relayed by a mystical Astrologer (Barry Banks), who informs the audience in the opera's Prologue that the story being relayed here is a fairy tale, but that doesn't mean it can't hold meaning for those who are wise enough to see and learn. Though Rimsky-Korsakov and Belsky obviously wanted to mask their real intent with this gambit, there's little real circumspection in their portrayal of a doddering idiot who brings disaster on his land and, in fact, on himself.

The Astrologer himself gifts King Dodon with The Golden Cockerel (Yuri Maria Saenz), a magical bird which will act as a sort of canary in a mineshaft: it will crow in warning whenever Dodon's kingdom is in danger. The Astrologer exacts a promise from Dodon that in exchange for this fabulous gift, the Astrologer can ask for anything he wishes at some point in the future, and the King must comply. That sets the opera off on its main plot, where Dodon, reacting to the Cockerel's crowing, ends up invading his neighboring territory, leading to disaster for (nearly) all.

This is an incredibly sumptuous and really fascinating production that retains an inherent feel of ritual due to its Kabuki setting, a setting which also manages to bring out the folklore aspects of the opera. The cast here is made up of Kabuki notables as well as an international cast that features a number of Russians. While the sets are minimal (per Kabuki custom), the costumes here are outstandingly opulent, with glorious robes and masks for many major players, and a fabulous costume for The Golden Cockerel.

Kent Nagano has always been one of the more adventurous conductors on the contemporary scene, and he invests this Golden Cockerel with a lot of flash and panache, a glittering patina that brings out the effervescently glamorous ambience of Rimsky-Korsakov's opulent melodies. The cast sings marvelously, with Saenz's Cockerel a real standout. The production also features some very appealing and authentically ethnic choreography, especially in the third act, adding an almost carnival like atmosphere to the proceedings. Orientalism may be thought of largely as a musty relic of a bygone age, but reinvigorated as it is here in this stunning Golden Cockerel, the allure of the East shows it is still alive and well and if not kicking, at least crowing.

Rimsky-Korsakov: Le Coq D'Or Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Le Coq d'Or (The Golden Cockerel is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of ArtHaus Musik with an AVC encoded 1080i transfer in 1.78:1. Despite having been filmed in 2002, this is a respectably sharp and well defined high definition presentation that is especially impressive in terms of color, which is boldly saturated and which pops incredibly well throughout the opera. Black levels are solid and quite deep, though there is a problem with muddy shadow detail at times, especially in the upstage area which is frequently quite dark. Fine detail pops rather pleasingly in close-ups, with the fabrics of the costumes especially impressive.

Rimsky-Korsakov: Le Coq D'Or Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Le Coq d'Or (The Golden Cockerel features two lossless audio options, an uncompressed LPCM 2.0 stereo mix and a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround mix. Fidelity here is exceptional, brilliantly reproducing the glistening textures of Rimsky-Korsakov's evocative music. Vocals are extremely well mixed and prioritized and balance is very well handled throughout the opera. The orchestra and ensemble sound excellent under Nagano's vigorous baton, and dynamic range is also quite wide and appealing.

Rimsky-Korsakov: Le Coq D'Or Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

There are no supplements on the disc, but the package includes an insert booklet with a short introductory essay giving some background on the opera, as well as a synopsis. With such a staggeringly original staging, this is certainly one release which would have benefited mightily from a making of featurette.

Rimsky-Korsakov: Le Coq D'Or Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Le Coq d'Or (The Golden Cockerel is a brilliantly lush and exotically sumptuous orchestra, one almost drowning in melody and that very colorful style that defines Rimsky-Korsakov. Luckily the physical production here matches the glamour of the music in virtually every respect. Somewhat oddly perched between ritual and folklore, this Kabuki interpretation is arrestingly visual and offers some of the most incredibly gorgeous costumes in recent memory. The Eastern ambience only helps to make this piece more of a fairy tale in some ineffable way, and the entire production is both magical and meaningful. Well sung, well played and extremely well staged, this is a Golden Cockerel that is in fact truly golden. Though this Blu-ray is lacking any supplements (something especially lamentable considering how inventive the production is), with strong video and stellar audio, this release comes Highly recommended.