Alexander Lasarev, Orchestra of the Bolshoi Theatre - Rimsky-Korsakov: Mlada (2010/1989)

Pokrovsky's acclaimed production, a story of early Slavs prior to christian conversion, captures the essence of the Bolshoi's traditions of drama and realism. It is complemented by Andrei Petrov's inspired choreography.
Rimsky approached his musical projects as opportunities to challenge himself and explore new types of musical expression. In Mlada he was working with (and through) Wagner: leitmotivs (though this is not especially new in R-K's music); a long, Philip Glass-like ostinato opening to Act 3 a la the opening of Das Rheingold, to which are added Walkurie style trilling, but serving a different musical purpose. This also has Rimsky's first true ballet numbers, which make Tchaikovsky's ballets look merely pretty and emotionally shallow by comparison.
This 1890 work seems pointed at the future: Rimsky's pupil Stravinsky clearly drew from Act 3 for the most infernal of his Firebird music, and I cannot believe that Richard Strauss was not familiar with Cleopatra's dance when he was working on Salome's dance of the veils some 15 years later. The more I hear of Rimsky's music the more I admire and appreciate what he accomplished as a composer.
This DVD is the only way to experience this amazing work, flaws and all, and the trip is worth it, especially with such an amazing dancer as Nina Ananiashvili performing the mute part of the murdered princess who haunts her former lover, as well portraying the ultimate seductress Cleopatra! (C. Bennett)

Cast:
Mlada (Dancer) - Nina Ananiashvili
Yaromir - Oleg Kulko
Voislava - Makvala Kasrashvili
Mstivoy - Gleb Nikolsky
Morena - Galina Borisova
Priest - Anton Djaparidze
Lumir - Elena Zaremba
Novogrodian - Vladimir Kudriashov
His wife - Nina Lebendeva
Mayor - Yuri Statnik
A Moor - Vladimir Bukin
Orchestra & Chorus of the Bolshoi Theatre of the USSR
Conductor - Alexander Lazarev