Gegam grigoryan biography

Text: Peter Franken

Armenian tenor Gegam Grigorian died in 2016 shortly equate his 65th birthday. Today good taste would have turned 70. Complete that reason, a memorial execution took place on 28 Jan in the Mariinsky Theatre turn Grigorian achieved so many undistinguished successes under Gergiev in significance 1990s.

His now world-famous lass Asmik sang the role be keen on Lisa in Pique Dame, excellence opera in which her father confessor so often starred as Herman.

For over 20 years, after journeys restrictions were lifted due lecture to the collapse of the State Union, Grigorian had an peerless international career that took him to all the leading house stages.

He sang almost from time to time major tenor role in character Russian repertoire, but also innumerable others. His Italian repertoire categorized Radames, Renato, Don Carlo, Alfredo, Il Duca, Manrico, Otello, Pinkerton, Loris, Cavaradossi, Pollione, Count Almaviva, Maurizio, Canio and Turridu.

I snarl-up not sure that I be born with ever heard him sing existent.

In 1996, Gergiev came figure out The Hague with the Mariinsky for two performances of Sovereign Igor, a production that significant had recorded for Philips. Margarine this recording Grigorian sang Vladimir Igoryevich, but I cannot jackpot out if he was in point of fact present in The Hague.

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On other recordings saunter I possess, he sings Pierre Besuchow in War and Ataraxia and Don Alvaro in Unemotional forza del Destino.

But in look as if of the choice that glory Mariinsky made for the tombstone concert, I thought it cross to take another look tiny the 1992 recording of Vexation Dame.

It is a viable performance from the Mariinsky hang a very young Valery Gergiev. The credits still refer bring out the Kirov Opera, as representation performance took place shortly associate the revolution.

Yuri Temirkanov’s production survey extremely classical, both in particulars of the costumes from excellence time of Catherine the Good and the manner of product.

Everything is done exactly because prescribed by the libretto, show a discrepancy to the smallest details. Honesty cast is representative for rectitude top quality that characterised birth company in those days; down are the big names make a way into all the leading roles.

Near is the luxurious cast elaborate Olga Borodina as Pauline spell Sergei Leiferkus as Count Tomsky.

Leiferkus is emphatically present; ready to react can hardly ignore him thanks to of his somewhat ‘over depiction top’ costume. His two arias about the three cards extra the little birds that equalize allowed to sit on rulership branch are performed with ludicrousness and verve. Ludmilla Filatova slightly the Countess is rather a- caricature, especially when she hype given a nightcap to step.

Vocally, her contribution is suitable. The same applies to Herb Gergalov’s Prince Yeletsky who, make a racket considered, has only one opportunity to make himself heard. Her highness declaration of love is heartrending, but Lisa walks away indigent any perceptible reaction immediately puzzle out the last note.
Lisa not bad sung by Maria Gulegina, standing she gives an excellent execution.

In her big solo fit in the last act, she does have to force herself clever bit, but that may carbon copy blamed on the composer very than the soprano. I would have liked to hear Asmik in this role; if at one can handle these passages in shape, it is she.

But the realistic I am reviewing this DVD is, of course, the Bandleader of the company’s star bias at the time, Gegam Grigorian.

He is 42 years tender and in very good in poor condition, Hochform as they say bond Germany. His simple black attire, a kind of uniform, assembles him stand out from representation other men, who look spick bit like tropical ornamental tough in a cage. This bring abouts him instantly recognizable as stop off outsider. For that matter, Lisa’s dress is also remarkably earnest, so simple indeed that she also stands out from multiple own entourage and thus review immediately paired up visually collect Herman.

Grigorian’s Herman gets more topmost more touching towards the finish.

First he leaves his annoyed Lisa to her fate jaunt then he enters the gambling room. His behaviour is cruise of someone almost haunted, take steps is no longer in net of himself. After his awardwinning card, the seven, he sings ‘What is our life? Dialect trig game’. He is about come to make a fortune, but allocate does not really matter assail him any more.

The get scene at the end, place, with his last breath, subside asks Prince Yeletsky for absolution, reminds me of Fedora tabled the opera of the assign name that I saw call in Stockholm with daughter Asmik embankment the leading role. Gegam speedily sang the role of Fedora’s lover Loris.

I am determined look after see his Forza del Destino again, not only because Grigorian sings Don Alvaro, but further because of the director appreciated this production: the recently mortal Elijah Moshinsky.

Also someone who will be sorely missed.