Editorial Review:

Description:
The 1992 Glyndebourne Festival Opera production of Pique Dame (The Queen of Spades) won unanimous critical acclaim for its revelatory interpretation of the mesmeric and psychologically harrowing work which Tchaikovsky himself regarded as his masterpiece. The cast features three top Russian singers: Sergei Leiferkus, who 'brings imposing vocal distinction to the part of Herman's free-living friend Count Tomsky,'--Daily Telegraph; Dimitri Kharitonov, 'a soft-grained, notably stylish Yeletsky,'--Financial Times; and Yuri Marusin, 'the indisputable star of the show... from whom Vick secures an astonishing physical portrait of Tchaikovsky's doomed hero, one that strikes terror and evokes pity,'--Sunday Times. Nancy Gustafson as Lisa and Felicity Palmer as the Countess also won high praise for their performances in this 'marvelous and brilliant piece of modern music-theatre,'--Financial Times. In Russian with English subtitles. 169 min.

Amazon.com:
Tchaikovsky's opera Pique Dame, based on a ghost story by Alexander Pushkin, is a study in obsession and madness--themes that this extraordinary production explores brilliantly and in depth. Everything works together, although on paper the combination may look risky: a cast of Russian men and English women; staging that combines the elegant realism of 18th-century costumes with a surreal set design; realistic props (a staircase, a bridge railing, gambling tables) enclosed in stark white walls covered with abstract black squiggles. In some scenes, it looks like there is furniture clinging to the ceiling, and one scene is lit garishly but appropriately in shades of red.

The air of macabre madness reaches its peak in the climactic scene where the old Countess (Felicity Palmer) is literally scared to death by the young, tragic hero Herman (Yuri Marusin). Both perform with spectacular impact, and the effect is reinforced even by the chair--shaped like a human skeleton--in which she is seated. Marusin and Palmer stand out dramatically in performances calculated for theatrical impact rather than pretty sound. The supporting cast is uniformly excellent, and video director Victir Maniura deserves special mention for some outstanding camera work. Andrew Davis's music direction is expert, though less spectacular than the video production. --Joe McLellan









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Rating: - * a great production ... I am writing this review to counter the bad ones here. This is a great production, both vocally and theatrically. The director's concept is wonderful and the singers are great. I recommend this DVD over any other one of this opera. What a joy. Rating: - * A great performance ... As others have noted Marusin's singing is often a terrifying struggle to get on key--but except in a few instances, it pays off with an incredibly powerful performance. The rest of the cast is outstanding and totally committed. The sets are very effective as is the conducting. You won't forget this opera! Rating: - * One Very Serious Fault ... the tenor, Marusin, is more than enough reason not to bother buying or watching this DVD. He is constantly off key. Herman is the character that carries the opera so, as goes Marusin, so goes this rendition. Rating: - * Hard to Sit Through ... Pique Dame is indeed a great opera, perhaps Tchaikovsky's finest, and this production has it's good points. The acting and staging are often compelling. Nancy Gustafson is a joy to watch and hear as Lisa. Felicity Palmer is wonderful as the old countess, and both Tomsky and Yeletski are well sung. Yuri Marusin's Herman is well acted and the tenor seems thoroughly to understand the psychological nuances of this central character, however, Mr. Marusin's eccentric singing style and horrible intonation completly undermine his performance. No matter how dramatic the interpretation, it is necessary for the tenor to sing at least some of the notes on pitch. One wonders in the duets how Nancy Gustavson coped with him. (He does much better in the Vienna State Opera production of Khovanshchina on DVD which I recommend.) I have no aversion to surrealistic sets, except that these are memorably unattractive as is the lighting. The staging of the musically delightful pastorale in the second act is rendered uncommonly silly by the presence of dancing green sheep! Too much of this production is hard to look at and painful to the ears. Rating: - * Horrifying terrific production ... This is the best acted and sung production of The Queen of Spades I've ever seen. The set looks bizzarre at first, but, as soon as Herman enters the abstruct painting on the leaning walls starts to make sense. It symbolizes Herman's horrifying descent into madness. Yuri Marusin is perfect in this demanding role. He is very much involved and looks even obsessed by the character he's playing. Really horrifying performance and what a voice he produces! Nancy Gustafson really a great singer actress, too. Very convincing. Everybody sings and acts perfectly, not to mention Sergei Leyferkus. This production was filmed especially for the video at Glynderbourne festival with no audience. Therefore there is no noise from the audience and it's very well filmed and edited. The image is very clear and the sound is surprisingly great even though it's only 2 channel PCM. A masterpiece!