Boris Shtokolov- Tol'ko raz (Only Once) (P. Gherman)

Boris Timofeevich Shtokolov (1930-2005) is a name unfamiliar to most music aficionados in the West. Though he was was an extremely popular singer in the former Soviet Union (and my personal favorite bass), his exposure to audiences beyond the Iron Curtain was limited- his tours abroad were not frequent, and recordings are relatively sparse for an artist of his stature. A graduate of the Ural State Conservatory in Ekaterinburg, he was THE leading bass at the Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg for much of his 30 year tenure there (1959-89) and is still considered the finest interpreter of old Russian romances and folk songs.

His voice was a genuine basso profondo-very dark, rotund, and powerful, but at the same time perfectly controlled, even, and flexible throughout its entire range, with an effortless top. The timbre is smooth as velvet, never harsh, and instantly recognizable (a characteristic of many great singers, it seems), and Shtokolov's trademark diminuendos and floated pianissimos are nothing short of miraculous, unmatched by any other bass in my listening experience.

Here he sings one of my favorite romances from the genre of the "starinniy russkiy romans" (old Russian romance): Pavel Gherman's "Tol'ko raz" ("Only Once"). Non-native listeners might be familiar with it from Dmitri Hvorostovsky's album "I met you, my love". While I have great admiration for the Siberian baritone as a singer and applaud his efforts to bring such romances to a wider audience, I must say his interpretation is completely outclassed by that of Shtokolov. Next to him, Hvorostovsky simply sounds glib and superficial; he sees the romance as nothing more than a pretty song. Shtokolov, on the other hand, makes a miniature masterpiece of it, and his singing conveys a depth of feeling that Hvorostovsky barely hints at.

Transliteration and translation of the text follow:

Den' i noch ronjaet serdtse lasku,
Den' i noch kruzhitsja golova,
Den' i noch vzolnovannoyu skazkoi
Mne zvuchat tvoi slova.

Tol'ko raz byvaet v zhizni vstrecha,
Toll'ko raz sud'boju rviotsa nit',
Tol'ko raz v kholodnyi, khmuryi vecher
Mne tak hochetsa liubit'.

Gasnet luch purpurnovo zakata,
Sinevoi okutany tzvety.
Gde zhe ty, zhelannaia kogda-to,
Gde zhe ty, darivshaia mechty?


Day and night my heart expresses fondness,
day and night my head spins around.
Day and night, like an impassioned fairy tale,
your words resound in my ears.

A true encounter happens but once in life,
the thread of life is torn by fate but once;
only this once, on a cold, overcast evening
I so much desire to love.

The ray of the crimson sunset fades,
the flowers are wrapped in the blueness of dusk.
Where are you, the one I once so desired;
where are you, who planted these dreams in me?

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Boris
• Shtokolov
• Борис
• Штоколов
• basso
• profondo
• old
• Russian
• romance
• Tol'ko
• raz
• Only
• Once
• Pavel
• German
• B.Fomin

[runupahill1]

Thank you so much for your prompt response. 20 years ago I copied that LP onto a cassette because someone informed me Mussorgsky's original version was more effective than Rimsky-Korsakov's. I had had no idea there was a controversy. I was astounded at how my body and mind responded to Shtokolov and Mussorgsky's real conception. Let me look one last place for my old suitcase full of cassettes. I'll let you know. I saw the Shtokolov hallucination scene video. Was a full version made?

[khankonchak]

Unfortunately, I don't know whether or not Shtokolov made a complete film of Boris Godunov. It's difficult enough just to find many of his recordings on CD; he didn't venture into the studio all that frequently, and what he did record Melodiya has not seen fit to reissue on disc. Pustinnik25 might be able to answer your question. He has posted several videos of Shtokolov (and countless other singers) on TV and in concert and obviously has astonishing access to Soviet television archives.

[runupahill1]

My deeply felt gratitude to Khankonchak. To him (or her), and to MushashiTzu, and to rvronsky, and to anyone else, for years I've been trying to find Shtokolov's recording of Act 2 of Boris Godunov (from Mussorgsky's 1869 version), that was on Columbia/Melodiya M-34569. I've lost my bootlegged cassette copy. It was one of the most impressive and effective performances I've ever heard. If I hadn't lost it, I would have worn it out. Anyone have it to post?

[khankonchak]

Thank you for your comments. I have the LP that you mention and transferred it to CD last year. I also love Shtokolov's performance of the Palace Scene but am reluctant to post it; due to YT's time restrictions on videos, it would have to be broken up into 3 uploads. I can, however, burn you a copy of the disc if you're interested.

[Ankhsnammon]

So perfect singer!!!!

So wonderful artist!!!

Before this interpretation,all the others are..nothing!

ankhsnammon

[erasistratus1]

Day and night my heart expresses fondness, Day and night, my head spins around, Day and night, like an impassioned fairy tale, Your words resound in my ears. A true encounter happens but once in life, The thread of life is torn by fate but once, Only this once, on a cold and wintry evening I so much desire to love. The ray of the crimson sunset melts away, The flowers are wrapped in the blueness of dusk, Where are you, the one I once so desired, Where are you, who planted this longing in me?

[papoj1PVR]

Shtokolov and Christoff - It's so hard to choose...

[maselv270258]

Великий бас,НО...романс "Белой акации гроздья душистые" в его испонении - это ПОЛНЫЙ отстой,к сожалению ((( Видимо НЕ всё и великим даже подвластно...

[bichou2007]

Just an amazing performer, I never heard Russian romances resonate so beautifully... he gives volume and depth. Thank you thank you thank u.

[MrPAN52]

c'est absolument,TOTALEMENT magnifique,indescriptible.La voix,incroyable,la merveilleuse langue russe,ce que je ressens de la poesie du texte sans meme connaitre le russe,la profondeur,l'emotion:c'est bouleversant!

[Kievest]

Miraculous the way Maestro Shtokolov can sing in what is to many an unfamiliar

language, and yet his performance requires no translation because every shaded

thought and powerful feeling is made known deeply and directly to the heart and

soul. He brings so much of himself to every performance so that he can give

in kind to his enraptured listeners. Thank you, Mark, for posting this eternal

masterpiece and to paulostroff99 for sharing!

[paulostroff99]

Superb! TY K for posting.

[basenjidiva]

This magnificent, evocative voice comes to me as if from a dream! Is it possible that any mortal could have sung with such desire and desirability, or has this wonder been purely a figment of my imagination?

[basenjidiva]

@erasistratus1

Thank you for this translation; gorgeous!

[basenjidiva]

@erasistratus1

Oh, thank you very much for this translation!

Much gratitude, and all the best to you,

Basenjidiva