In 1849, Russian novelist
Fyodor Dostoyevsky spent four years incarcerated in Siberia for socialist activities. His diary-style novel, Notes from the House of the Dead, forms the inspiration forLeosJanacek's 1928 opera, recorded at the 1 992 Salzburg Festival with the Vienna
Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Claudio Abbado.
Bulgarian bass
Nicolai Ghiaurov heads the cast as Goryanshikov, who arrives at a prison camp as a political detainee. Through three acts,
Goryanshikov hears the stories of his fellow inmates: the manic
Skuratov, the murderer
Morosov, and the boy Alyeya.
"The biggest triumph of the evening," according to The
Sunday Times, "was enjoyed by Claudio Abbado and the Vienna Philharmonic, who played Janacek's score almost too beautifully." (bass) (soprano) (tenor) (baritone) (tenor) (tenor)
With the Vienna State Opera Chorus Producer Klaus Michael Gruber
Television director Brian Large