Russian romance. “ONLY RAZ“. Boris Shtokolov

This video was devoted to 75s birthday of great Russian bass Boris Timofeevich Shtokolov. He is 73 here. Peoples Artist of Russia he was the leading soloist of the Academic Kirov Opera & Ballet Theatre in Petersburg. On the stage of this theatre he created a whole gallery of unforgottable characters. In 1949 eighteen-year old Boris enterd at the Sverdlovsk (Ekaterinburg) Conservatory. When still a sophomore he sings at the Opera. Very soon the young singers name appears among the names of the leading artists of the Sverdlovsk Opera. His repertory includes Russian & foreign classical music: Gremin (Eugene Onegin by Tchaikovsky), Don Basilio (The barber of Ceville by ), Dosifey, Pimen, Boris Godunov (Khovanshchina & Boris Godunov by etc) His skill & aspiration to deeply fathom the role he is performing, grow to one performance to another. In things discovered long ago I would like to discover their innermost meaning, get to the very heart of my characters, - writes Shtokolov. I want to rediscover each role. For instance I want to sing the part of Boris again & again. The profound quality of music, text & character is so great then even if I could live three lives it still would not be enough to apprehend it all In 1959 Boris Shtokolov is invited to sing at the Opera & Ballet Theatre in Leningrad. Besides the aforementioned roles Shtokolovs repertory includes Ivan Susanin, Ruslan in Glinkas operas, Demon in Demon by Rubinstain A.G., Kochubey in Mazepa by Tchaikovsky, Mephistopheles in Faust Gounod etc Boris Shtokolov is an exellent chamber singer. His chamber repertory consists of Russian folk songs & romances, which he performes with great feeling & expressiveness. Folk songs incarnate the voice, history & soul of the people whove created them, glorifying human feelings & aspirations. Folk songs arising from the necessity of man to give vent to his intermost feelings perfine to the most lively, versafile & emotional form of popular art. Whose heart can remain cold to the sounds of a slow Russian song with its stern grandeur & broadness of melody? Old Russian romances born in the end of 18th & the beginning of the 19th centuries still adorn the concert programmes of the singers of today. They are appreciated for their melodiousness, emotionality & sincerity which always find their way to peoples hearts. The subject & theme of old romances written mostly to words by Russian classical poets determined the originality of this musical form. Romances-elegies & romances-monologues are prevalent here. I loved you (music by , words by ,), I go to the road alone (music by , words by ), I met you (music by unknown author, words by ) Such is Only once(music by Fomin, words by German) you can listen to this video post. They all fascinate the audience by their lyrical mood, beautiful melodies, veracity of feelings, simplicity of musical language & unpretentiouseness of accompaniment. День и ночь роняет сердце ласку, День и ночь кружится голова! День и ночь взволнованною сказкой Мне звучат твои слова! Только раз бывает в жизни встреча! Только раз судьбою рвётся нить, Только раз в холодный, хмурый вечер Мне так хочется любить! Гаснет луч пурпурного заката, Синевой окутаны цветы... Где же ты, желанная когда-то? Где же ты, дарившая мечты? Только раз! бывает в жизни встреча! Только раз судьбою рвётся нить! Только раз в холодный, хмурый вечер Мне так хочется любить! Только раз бывает в жизни встреча! Только раз судьбою рвётся нить! Только раз в холодный, хмурый вечер Мне так хочется любить!