Mark Reizen- Song of the Viking Guest from Sadko

Mark Reizen (1895-1992)

The 'Song of the Viking Guest' comes from the 4th kartina (tableau) of Rimsky-Korsakoff's 1897 opera "Sadko". The people of Novgorod gather at a pier on Lake Ilmen, thronging around the overseas traders (Varangian, Indian, and Venetian, among others) and inspecting their merchandise. The Viking merchant tells of the sea and cliffs of his homeland ("Against the fearsome rocks the waves break with a roar..."), while Rimsky-Korsakoff's ascending and descending scales, framed by massive chords, provide a turbulent musical backdrop.

Mark Reizen's singing needs little comment. His account is magisterial, expansive, and bears a grave nobility quite suited to the Viking Merchant. Nicolai Golovanov leads the Bolshoi Theater Orchestra in this 1952 recording, my favorite of the aria (and the opera as a whole).

Category:

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• Mark
• Reizen
• Марк
• Рейзен
• Ukrainian
• Jewish
• bass
• basso
• Sadko
• Russian
• opera
• bylina
• Song
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• the
• Viking
• Guest
• Rimsky-Korsakoff
• Korsakov

[energyglobal]

AulicEXclusiva :

I agree with you. Comparing Chaljapin with Reizen makes Chaljapin's voice sound a bit pale.

What a wonderful basso profundo voice Reizen had !!

[khankonchak]

Needless to say, I adore this recording or else I would not have posted it. Reizen, however, was a basso cantante, not a profondo. His voice was weightier than that of Chaliapin (especially the young Chaliapin), but the latter classification requires a granitic solidity, a "cavernous" quality that he did not possess. This becomes particularly evident when comparing Reizen's voice to such profondo basses as Mikhailov and Shtokolov.

[richardmix]

What a lesson to compare his vowels to Shaliapin and Mikhaylov!  What is the substitution (for "bog odin") in the next to last verse?

[khankonchak]

Reizen sings "odin bog" (the god Odin). He does not change the text.

[qklq42]

Mark Reizen is indeed very underrated in the west. Never heard him on the radio. As I hear this he must have been one of the greatest bassos ever. A beautiful voice, a fine interpretation and a overwhelming musical performance.

Hans NL

[placydil]

Nikolai Golovanov FTW

[Parapat66]

@sarastro87 I like the version of Ghiaurov best, but think that Boris Christov has the most dramatic presentation of the aria.

[chaiter1]

I prefer Reizen to the "heavy sounding" basses. He was a master of great variety, memorable in operatic roles as well as in song repertoie. And listen to his line, his dynamics his breadh of breath.He is a great example.

[redneck10ivan]

In the Russian spirit lives Vikings :)

[micky9321]

impressionnant . super !

[Bolshevikings]

the strongest viking in the world - Mark Reizen!

[bassobaritono]

This is absolutely superb rendition. He is one of the great Basso Cantantes ever recorded. 

[acerb45666555]

Sadko is a great production! both film and stage!

[micky9321]

magnifique , Reizen superstar !

[micky9321]

super !!!!

[sarastro87]

Greeeeeaaat voice but it is too slow for me, and interpretation isnt good. Aria needs more legato and Reizen schouldnt sing every notes with the same power.This is common mistake, it is very powerfull aria but i t would be greater sensation, when basses doze his voices.The best version of this aria on youtube - ghiaurov .