Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
's opera
Christmas Eve
(1895) has only been sparsely recorded in the West. There are various reasons for this, including the language barrier and the intricate fantasy plot, featuring the pilfering of the moon by the Devil, a beautiful girl, Oksana, who demands that her suitor fetch her the Tsarina's golden slippers, a bear-ballerina encounter, and various stock characters, including an oversexed widow, who remain pretty funny. The opera is based on a story by
Nikolai Gogol
, itself drawing heavily on Russian folklore that was earlier made into opera by
Tchaikovsky
and at least one other composer. The problems that have impeded the opera's popularity can be solved, and this recording, taken from live performances in Frankfurt in late 2021 and early 2022, does just that. It is said to have been visually spectacular, but it works just fine as an audio release (a Blu-Ray version is also planned). The singers, mostly Russian, are vocally strong, and, just as important, fun; the little-heralded
Julia Muzychenko
is a standout as the rather self-centered Oksana. Equal credit goes to conductor
Sebastian Weigle
, leading the
Frankfurter Opern- und Museumsorchester
and
Chor der Oper Frankfurt
, who keeps the whole thing moving with a lot of snap. For those whose local venues have produced
The Nutcracker
once too often, help is at hand. ~ James Manheim