A programme of Russian songs with Galina Vishnevskaya (soprano) and Mstislav Rostropovich (piano)
GALINA VISHNEVSKAYA , formerly the leading soprano at the Bolshoi Opera, has sung at the world's leading opera houses.
ROSTROPOVICH is known as one of the finest cellists in the world' and also as a conductor. But tonight he is heard in yet another role, as his wife's accompanist on the piano.
Both Rostropovich and his wife were born in Russia but in 1978 they were deprived of their Soviet citizenship and forbidden to return to their native land. Many of the songs they have chosen for this programme are about lost love and the music has a tender melancholy which surely reflects the performers' sadness at being separated from their homeland and its people. The songs are sung in Russian and English. Translations by JILL BURROWS and ANDREW DALE will be spoken by Judi Dench and Michael Williams. The composers are GLINKA, TCHAIKOVSKY,
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV, PROKOFIEV and RACHMANINOV.
The programme is introduced by HUMPHREY BURTON and was recorded at St John's, Smith Square, Westminster.
Sound GRAHAM HAINES Lighting JOHN WILSON Directed by RON ISTED
Produced by BILL MORTON