Mark Reizen at 79- Amidst the din of the ball (Tchaikovsky)

[joenjwang]

I heard that there was a later recording? Do you have that one? I believe he was 90? Maybe it was an earlier recording and I'm mistaken. Nonetheless, do you have a recording that he made of this song, in addition to this one. I know he has...but I can't find any :'''''(

[saltburner2]

By any standards, this is truly great singing. What an artist, what dedication!

I am in awe of a master-singer.

[rayer1000]

holy crap 79! Amazeballs! Incredible control!

[vnpei]

A moment to treasure...

[guirlandes3]

Est' tol'ko odno slovo za Reizen: Chudyesni Bozhe moi, kakoi velikii artist....

[abracadabranque]

Quelle qualité de chant à 79 ans!La voix n'a pas une ride,le vibrato est toujours serré.Un exemple pour toutes ces petites voix qui bougent à 40 ans et sont finies à 50 .

[Herur22]

Really  amazing!

[Herur22]

Really amazing!

[sfkcbf]

A wonderfous voice coupled with masterful musicianship. Bravo!

[paulostroff99]

Wondrous at 79 ,or any age for that matter.

[cnn002]

bellisimooooo!!!!!!!!!!!

[JWallWill]

That was lovely! Thankyou for posting.

[Kievest]

A performance that ennobles the artist

and all who hear it! Thank for this

treasured posting!

[neilisabass]

So beautiful...

[vstasov]

This is a miraculous performance. Reizen was a master of intimate performance, and could scale back his magnificent voice and paint with words like no one else. An incarnation of a rare and exalted artistic plane. Sublime. I'm captive to his art.

[francotenelli]

he is just amazing, and at this age who could preserve one's voice better

[Altivelzian]

I listen to this with a real sense of personal loss; my father was a very fine bass who adored Reizan. I remember his and Reisen's recorded voice echoing though the house (usually Boris of course) when I was a little girl. My father died last December and the sad thing is that I only "discovered" Youtube about a month ago - my father never lived to hear these wonderful recordings. I can only hope he hears them now. Thank you for posting.

[patillo75]

Una de las canciones más hermosas del gran Tchaikovsky. Pero lo más conmovedor es ver a Reizen interpretándola tan bien a sus 79 años. Parece increíble, un prodigio de técnica vocal.

[vstasov]

So moving and beautiful. Takes you to another world.

Thank you.

[65attila]

Amazing

[sobchakdrums]

This is honestly one of my favorite things ever. Def top 5 on youtube, at least top 3

[KILLERADVICE]

Marvellous : a treasure !

[joanabanyeres]

pero es una maravilla, un gran cantante. Cante esta aria de Tchaikowsky y la había olvidada.

[pearlmuth3]

His voice has retained a youthful sound, proof of his tech. Bravo!

[fb25m]

simply amazing!

[hedgechair]

Perhaps without youtube, I would never have heard a singer like this. (though I had heard the name)  I am not Jewish, but the fact is important, as the devotional singing of Synagogue Cantors very much influences the technique of Jewish singers. Open, warm and voice longevity friendly.

[artmartdc]

Glorious, the more I see and hear, the more I want to see and hear!

[Ufelan]

Reizen, the perfect singing artist, no matter at what age.

[CountDiLuna]

This recording is really fantastic, the best I've heard of 'Sred shomnogo bala'. This was actually the recording that sparkled my interested in Tchaikovsky's romances, and for that I'm very grateful. They're lovely songs, and this one is so fun to sing.

Cheerio!

[CHIVAPIANO1]

FANTASTIC !!!!!!!!!!

[stchoukine]

I do not understand what does his religion with his natonality?

There is no doubt ,"he is a legend"one of the best bass of all times

[Agorante]

I think the relevance is that Kipnis was also a Ukrainian Jew. Paul Plishka is also Ukrainian. Of course Ghuairov and Christoff were Bulgarian. Hardly any so called Russian basses were in fact Russian.

Also it should be remembered that the Ukranians suffered genocide from the Russians in the thirties. Reizen would have lived through this.

Finally remember that the Ukranians are among the most anti-semitic people on earth (check a couple web sites). Being a Ukranian Jew means something.

[khankonchak]

You are EXACTLY right, Agorante. I mentioned that Reizen was Jewish to emphasize the monumental nature of his achievement in a virulently anti-semitic society. In the USSR, being Jewish referred to one's NATIONALITY. Jews were listed as just that in documents such as passports- NOT Ukrainian, Russian, etc. They faced constant and pernicious discrimination; as a result their heritage often resounded strongly within them. Reizen's talent allowed him a status and prestige that few Jews attained.

[vstasov]

Thank you khankonchak, for these remarks. Could the same thing be said about Oistrakh, also born in Ukraine?

[khankonchak]

Yes, Oistrakh was born in Odessa (like my grandfather). Both he and Reizen felt indebted to the USSR, which helped build their careers to near legendary proportions. On the other side of the coin, both also realized that they were pawns of a government that used their origin to counter accusations of Soviet discrimination against Jews. Like many others, however, they avoided conflict and simply devoted themselves to music.

[khankonchak]

By the way, I find it sadly ironic that there a few Russian nationalists on YT who insist on calling musicians like Oistrakh and Reizen great "Soviet" or "Russian" artists. It's an "honor" they bestow on a select few, while vilifying "ordinary" Jews in the same breath.

[PticaLetit]

@khankonchak

Excuse me, but calling people nationalists just for the reason they classify artists by their citizenship, not ethnical nationality, seems pretty silly. Thats how it's mostly done all over the civilised world. And by the way, noone cares that in the so called Russian mafia few are actually russians;)

[vstasov]

My great grandmother was from Odessa.

[CzarDodon]

Yes, the music seems to be in his DNA, perfect command as an interpreter, perfect control of his voice, he stands there seems to make no effort, yet the concentration is 200% and I just listen enraptured as the magic unfolds

[chicagozarker]

I am simply in awe of Reizen, and this video is a perfect example of why. This is truly outstanding singing.