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

The great Ukrainian-born Jewish bass Mark Reizen (1895-1992) sings Tchaikovsky's "Sred' shumnovo bala" ("Amidst the din of the ball"), Op.38, No.3 (text by Aleksei Tolstoi). Recorded 1974.

Even at age 79, the ever-youthful and spry Reizen sings with beautiful control of dynamics and legato, putting to shame many singers half his age. Eleven years later, Reizen celebrated his 90th birthday by performing the role of Prince Gremin in "Evgeniy Onegin" (at the Bolshoi Theater)- a feat that appears to be unequalled in the history of opera.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Russian
• song
• Ukrainian
• Jewish
• basso
• Mark
• Reizen
• Peter
• Tchaikovsky
• Aleksei
• Tolstoi
• Amidst
• the
• din
• of
• ball

[Kievest]

A performance that ennobles the artist

and all who hear it!  Thank for this

treasured posting!

[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.

[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!

[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;) 

[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!