A. Rubinstein. The Demon. Dmitri Hvorostovsky. 30.01.2015, Moscow
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUXDzga004A
Moscow, 30.01.2015 Tchaikovsky Concert Hall
Svetlanov Symphony Orchestra of Russia Choir of the Helikon Opera Moscow Musical Theatre
Conductor – Mikhail Tatarinkov Yevgeny Ilyin (choirmaster)
Dmitri Hvorostovsky (baritone) Asmik Grigoryan (soprano) Larisa Kostyuk (contralto) Vadim Volkov (countertenor) Vasily Yefimov (tenor) Igor Morozov (tenor) Alexander Tsymbalyuk (bass) Dmitry Skorikov (bass) Bordos.ArtWorks (artist of mapping, Hungary) Dmitry Bertman (director)
The Demon (synopsis) - opera by Anton Rubinstein - Russian Opera Workshop - June 2015
http://www.russianoperaworkshop.com/blog/the-demon-synopsis-opera-by-anton-rubinstein-russian-opera-workshop-2015
A fallen angel, the Demon is banished from heaven and is condemned to spend eternity alone. Angel appears and warns Demon not to destroy God’s creation and try to reconcile with heaven. Rebellious Demon rejects the idea. Enamored with Tamara, Demon woos her. "Tamara, love me! ... you will be the queen of the universe, my eternal companion," he whispers into her soul. Feeling fear and powerful temptation, Tamara succumbs to his seduction. Demon's kiss kills her and in the moment of conquest, he is defeated by the Angel who saves Tamara's soul. Alone again, Demon curses the universe. (Synopsis by Russian Opera Workshop)
Жизнь и опера в интервью Дмитрия Хворостовского. Экспромт #Dukascopy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bHyaqt3r1I&t=2s
Его музыкальная карьера развивалась столь удивительно и стремительно, что жизнь этого певца порой сравнивают с судьбой золушки в мужском обличье. Он родился в Красноярске, впервые решился запеть в 4 года, а сейчас его величают не иначе как "мировая суперзвезда", "музыкальный колосс", "золотой баритон России". Благодаря его голосу многие произведения - "Largo al factotum", "Как молоды мы были", "Журавли", "На безымянной высоте" - приобрели эталонное звучание. Один из самых востребованных и высокооплачиваемых оперных певцов планеты Дмитрий Хворостовский в программе "Экспромт" о музыке, жизни, своей улыбки, спортивной форме и непростом характере.
А. Рубинштейн - Демон. Дмитрий Хворостовский. A. Rubinstein - The Demon. Dmitri Hvorostovsky
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nVoDBVS1y8
Watch Dmitri Hvorostovsky in The Demon from Moscow
http://barihunks.blogspot.hr/2015/02/watch-dmitri-hvorostovsky-in-demon-from.html
Yes, we have this sexy backstage photo of über-barihunk Dmitri Hvorostovsky as he readied for his role debut in Anton Rubinstein’s 1871 opera The Demon this week at the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall in Moscow. There is still one more performance on February 5th, but for those who can't jet off to Moscow, here is the video of the entire performance.
In the semi-staged performances Hvorostovsky sings the haunting and seductive title role under the baton of Mikhail Tatarnikov with the State Academic Symphony Orchestra of Russia accompanying. Also featured in the cast are soprano Asmik Grigorian, contralto Larisa Kostyuk, countertenor Vadim Volkov, tenor Vasily Efimov, and basses Alexander Tsymbalyuk and Dmitry Skorikov. Dmitry Bertman directs.
The setting of the Demon is somewhere between heaven, hell and earth – just as the demon himself is a fallen angel, an inwardly torn character, a negating power and adversary of the angel at the same time. Unable to love and still be humble, he falls in love with Tamara, who is about to marry Prince Gudal’s son, and kills the bridegroom. The bride escapes to a convent and is visited by the demon, who promises to renounce evil and pictures their future as eternity and boundless power. Tamara, yielding to temptation, is killed when he kisses her. In the struggle for her soul, the angel keeps the upper hand, for "he who loves belongs to paradise". For the demon, nothing has really changed: he carries on living in eternal damnation and loses his hope in the shape of Tamara, with whom he shared his solitude, his longing for love, his thirst for knowledge and the sadness resulting from it all.