Gramophone Magazine
June 2024
Blu-ray of the Month

Asmik Grigorian (Nastasya (Kuma)), Iain MacNeil (Prince Nikita), Claudia Mahnke (Princess Yevpraksiya), Alexander Mikhailov (Prince Yuri), Frederic Jost (Mamïrov/Kudma), Zanda Švēde (Nenila)

Frankfurter Opern- und Museumorchester, Chor der Oper Frankfurt, Valentin Uryupin, Vasily Barkhatov

Originally set in the 15th century, Tchaikovsky’s The Enchantress is updated to the present day in this innovative production. The charismatic, emancipated Nastasya, who rejects the advances of the devious Mamïrov, duly faces the implacable forces of traditional values in a society riven by divisions between liberal freedoms and religious orthodoxies. The tragic outcome engulfs everyone. This production was a triumphant success – ‘At the end, storms of enthusiasm, the likes of which are rare even at Oper Frankfurt’ (Neue Musikzeitung) – both for the staging and performers, with soprano Asmik Grigorian hailed as a ‘miracle’ and baritone Iain MacNeil as ‘world class’.

"Come for Grigorian, stay for the staging...Strongly recommended to those who enjoy exploring rare Russian repertoire." - Gramophone Magazine, June 2024