Boris Shtokolov- Prince Gremin's aria

[@3232siobhan]

Such plaintive, delicate and deeply poignant singing x thank you

[@lehava960]

My favourite bass aria in realy russian language,realy russian bass voice, very beautiful! Thank you!

[@thorstenszczepanski3745]

I am deeply convinced thta only a Russian can sing this aria as envisaged by the composer and this is on of the finest examples I ever listened to.

[@krzysztofszczepanski2433]

Please listen to this and after that ask yourself how deep is you conviction. kzbin.info/www/bejne/faHTqHqEfL19Z8U

[@johnblasiak607]

Bernard Ladysz sings it just as well and I would say more sweetly. I went to the link from Krzysztof below. Listen to Ladysz sing OLD Man River simply superb Google Bernard Ladysz Mississippi

[@pjotrerling]

I totally agree - this may very well be the finest rendering of Gremins aria I have heard. Just beautiful, even more so.

[@elainebmack]

@45acppistolero . Thank you for your analysis. As a cellist, I have always been drawn to the dark, soulful, often melancholy sound of Russian music and singing. It feels very real to me. With all due respect to the "Three Tenors" phenomenon, I easily tire if that timbre, no matter how great the voice. These dark, Slavic voices draw you into a contemplative frame of mind. I think that's why I love them so much.

[@BigglesWatch]

This is magnificent singing and his interpretation brings out all the pathos that we need from a Gremin.

[@petergraham8681]

Another fine Russian singer that I am hearing now for the first time. I will seek more examples from THIS Boris ASAP!

[@sfkcbf]

I am compelled to save this recording to Favorites and to listen to it again with regularity.

[@saragrant3667]

thank you, kontchak - I am sure it is the best Gremin's aria of this century by Boris. I could hear many basses and bassi proffondi but Boris version is absolutely outstanding...intonation, expression, musical culture, lirismo and musical taste - all that make you feel goose-bumps during all the performance...I even like it more than by Neil. Ghiaurov.

[@gailliescodd1043]

How marvolous. My step father was a basso profundo, he always looked to this recording as the master tape. It is. Full of great emotion, love and utterly shows Eugene what true love is.

[@cfilipow]

Why did it take me so long to discover this amazing singer?!

[@VonEssek]

Superb! Thanks for introducing me to Štokolov. Hvala!

[@АртёмМиронов-п7э]

Один из лучших басов мирового уровня. Браво Штоколов!

[@davidsolomon8203]

A truly amazing voice!!!

[@micky9321]

une grande et magnifique découverte pour moi !

[@elainebmack]

I can't get over the beauty of Shtokolov's voice and interpretation. Please find more of his performances, and thank you for sharing.

[@tiinakarlsson9592]

Wow, his voice!!!!

[@Tehomet]

The range and control is astounding. Thank you again for posting these wonderful pieces.

[@madoffman]

Almost every day I find some new marvel here in vocal music and this gentleman would have to rank way up there in my view. Quite an instrument with wonderful control and expression. My Favorite Basso is Kurt Moll, but Shtokolov is a great find and I appreciate the posts.

[@kazimierasitko8846]

Uczta duchowa Cudns Aria cudny Głos Dziękuję bardzo 😊😊😊❤

[@cliffordjanvier5105]

Thank you James for this introduction to a wonderful operatic bass.

[@wanderleyreis7233]

BRAVO !!!!

[@quequitoAR]

What else but beautiful???? Thank you, khankonchak, for this

[@lehava960]

What a voice! Amazing!

[@russobasso]

Absolutely fantastic!!!

[@Alfruna]

Beautiful voice! wow

[@spevoljub]

One of the best, if not the one.

[@saragrant3667]

Fantastic, outstanding and the most emotionally right performance! I also consider that only Russian voices/artists thoroughly understand all expressions enclosed inside this masterpiece! Listened so many singing this aria but only few made me feel such a goosebumps that never could forget it!

[@khankonchak]

I am so glad you have made Shtokolov's acquaintance. Just a year and a half ago, he was completely absent from KZbin, and now there are 3 pages worth of videos. It's certainly a vast improvement, although I wish that he had made more recordings (and that companies like Melodiya would release them on CD). But I'm grateful for the treasures that DO exist, and I hope that you enjoy perusing them in this forum.

[@wolkowy1]

I don't understand Russian but agree with your info. that it "sounds like a heartfelt confession...". Thanks for uploading this great and amazing voice.

[@spevoljub]

Perhaps I was not clear enough - My comment was about interpretation of this particular aria - one of the most beautiful arias, not just for bass. I believe that interpretation of Shtokolov goes with the best. I also know, that he was a great singer with "normal" power voice. Good bless you

[@Pirova152]

Timbre exquisito, fraseo y tempo notables, afinación perfecta, puro sentimiento del hombre mayor que ha conseguido el amor de una mujer mas joven y lo comparte con un joven recién conocido, sin saber que aman a la misma mujer.

[@adamzmalinowic3407]

Supermistrzowskie wykonanie ! Dzięki.....

[@ВикторИвенин-ь4о]

Я считаю его одним из лучших басов СССР и России. Его тембр завораживает. Дыхание беспредельное. А в исполнении его романсы и русские песни это золотая россыпь а вернее жемчужный фонд России 💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐🌻🌻🌸🌸🌼🌼🌼

[@cyclesingsleep]

Bravo!!! Beautiful!!! Thank you : )

[@ВикторияГеоргиевская-з3и]

Outstanding singer! Unique voice!

[@anthi_]

The best version of this aria for me. What a colour!

[@AIdem-ig9fq]

Despite my mixed-bag feeling about Shtokolov's vocal (even in his prime) in general, I agree here with those who praised his performance in this particular (masterpiece) aria.

[@sergeysipin9193]

Моей маме повезло, а мне нет, - она живьем слышала ЭТОТ голос!!!

[@paulobarcelos2308]

Thanks for giving us the opportunity of knowing this singer with good voice and sensibility. I was convinced, with the only blemish of the obtrusive vibrato that makes both the voice and the melody tremble. I will try to find the videos of Russian Romances, I am interested in Mussorgsky and Tchaikovsky.

[@karolytobias2042]

Hungary loves this! :-)

[@germanquintero10121946]

SIEMPRE MAGNIFICO

[@germanquintero10121946]

MAGNIFICO

[@YasSeleznevArtist]

Филирует великолепно

[@khankonchak]

It IS a wondrous, awe-inspiring voice, isn't it? Shtokolov made relatively few recordings in his prime, and they are quite difficult to find. Melodiya has never reissued them on CD and doesn't seem in a particular hurry to do so. You're most welcome, however, to check out the Shtokolov uploads that I've posted on my YT page (and which I'll be adding to). Also be sure to visit the channels of muuha14, MusashiTzu, and Pustinnik25, who have contributed many rare recordings of his.

[@ransomcoates546]

The timbre and pure legato reminds me of Ghiaurov in his prime.

[@Phaidra69]

One more Great bass who continued the tradition of the " dark ' color , deep like velvet , huge range and amazing interpretation russian or slavian , if you like it better , voices !!!! and for the non - russian speakers , i want to say that his accent is perfect !!

[@FranciscoFerrerGaliana1930]

magnifica Aria

[@mysong42]

Yes,there is Reizen,there is Christoff,and maybe few others that might be of super performance with excellent voices ,but there is only one the greatest of them all Shtokolov...WOBLE here or woble there if that what some are trying to criticise_even if there would be which is out of question here -this is the finest bass singer EVER been.The warmth and colour of this spectacular voice and spectacular supperb control has yet to be surpassed....

[@khankonchak]

A "wobble" entails indeterminate pitch; it's a problem whose audible consequence involves pitch insecurity. There is NO such issue here. Shtokolov DOES have a wide vibrato, but he stays squarely on pitch. If the vibrato isn't to your taste, then fine (even if your complaint is new to me). But if you're going to post critical remarks, you should know your terminology before you do so. This was recorded in his prime. It's hardly the sound of a bass in the throes of vocal decay, if you ask me.

[@Yitzhakhazak]

Wobble? No! Open vowels as "o" and "a" at full voice have a vibrato in such a powerful dark voice. His "i" has less vibrato. He has the courage and the technique to sing big tones in the higher register whereas some singers would cover these a little more and be less generous. His low F# is secured anyway. The difference in this aria between his deep basso and Reizen´s melodious and more lyrical cantante is quite telling! Am I right?

[@gyulaugron3379]

Zseniális I.

[@45acppistolero]

@Aetion I disagree. I do believe that it is cultural. The Russian/Slavic culture merely values this sound. One could say that the inherent melancholy of the Russian culture (read almost any Russian author) would create the value of this type of voice. Most others value the tenor because of its beauty and in the higher registers where the voice threatens (and sometimes does) crack. I heard a broadcast from the Met and heard Pavarotti crack on a high C.

[@45acppistolero]

I always thought Chaliapin was the greatest. Now I may have to reassess my opinion. Wow.

[@davidsolomon8203]

Guy Pierce I am in complete agreement: I, too, consider Chaliapin the greatest, His pianissimos do not match the stunningly beautiful ones of Shtokolov!!!

[@skakdosmer]

Very good. Although he's struggling with the deep notes at the end. He's not a basso profondo, but a basso cantante.

[@pamelacorbett8774]

It’s all a matter of taste, but I am more moved by Laszlo Polgar’s version.

[@mayflash67]

This is just great, but a little bit younger Mark Reizen (not 90years old) was a great also!!!!!

[@pinkaminadianepie4735]

So fucking metal

[@anthi_]

Did he ever recorded the complete opera?

[@borisvanin8062]

Это исполнение не в авторской тональности. Такое впечатление, что это поёт не бас, а лирический баритон.