Mr. Talvela began to have premonitions about his death since the mid- or late 1970's, when his health began to decline. He developed diabetes and gout and had a near-fatal sudden illness in 1977. Around 1982 he developed heart disease. Despite these illnesses, he kept singing - and since 1981 he was also a farmer in Juva, Eastern Finland. In July 1989 he died of a heart attack while dancing at his daughter's wedding. This video was thus filmed only one year before his death.
@OpernDriver Talvela was celebrated for his Russian opera roles, especially Boris Godunov, Pimen, and Dosifei. He was also regarded as one of the great Sarastros of his time--there's a video here on youtube of him singing "O Isis und Osiris," and I don't think anyone could argue that he's awesome.
That is right about his, voice but to me hvorostovski is much better than Talvele. The latter seems to tell the story in some moments while the former is sining it.
This fantastic singer and artist left the world to early!
Finnen som med mye motgang ble den kanskje beste Basssanger verden har hørt. Har egen festival i Finnland.
Brynjar Hoff
Mr. Talvela began to have premonitions about his death since the mid- or late 1970's, when his health began to decline. He developed diabetes and gout and had a near-fatal sudden illness in 1977. Around 1982 he developed heart disease. Despite these illnesses, he kept singing - and since 1981 he was also a farmer in Juva, Eastern Finland. In July 1989 he died of a heart attack while dancing at his daughter's wedding. This video was thus filmed only one year before his death.
Magnificent!!!
@OpernDriver
Talvela was celebrated for his Russian opera roles, especially Boris Godunov, Pimen, and Dosifei. He was also regarded as one of the great Sarastros of his time--there's a video here on youtube of him singing "O Isis und Osiris," and I don't think anyone could argue that he's awesome.
Очень хорошо!
Les da poljany, bezljud'e krugom.
V'juga i plachet i stonet,
Chujetsja, budto vo mrake nochnom,
Zlaja, kogo-to khoronit;
Gljad', tak i jest'! V temnote muzhika
Smert' obnimajet, laskajet,
S p'janen'kim pljashet vdvojom trepaka,
Na ukho pesn' napevajet:
Oj, muzhichok, starichok ubogoj,
P'jan napilsja, popljolsja dorogoj,
A mjatel'-to, ved'ma, podnjalas', vzygrala.
S polja v les dremuchij nevznachaj zagnala.
Gorem, toskoj da nuzhdoj tomimyj,
Ljag, prikorni, da usni, rodimyj!
Ja tebja, golubchik moj, snezhkom sogreju,
Vkrug tebja velikuju igru zateju.
Vzbej-ka postel', ty mjatel'-lebjodka!
Gej, nachinaj, zapevaj pogodka!
Skazku, da takuju, chtob vsju noch' tjanulas',
Chtob p'janchuge krepko pod nejo zasnulos'!
Oj, vy lesa, nebesa, da tuchi,
Tem', veterok, da snezhok letuchij!
Svejtes' pelenoju, snezhnoj, pukhovoju;
Jeju, kak mladenca, starichka prikroju...
Spi, moj druzhok, muzhichok schastlivyj,
Leto prishlo, rascvelo!
Nad nivoj solnyshko smejotsja da serpy gljajut,
Pesenka nesjotsja, golubki letajut...
It seems that he do not undertsand the words he sings.
Trepak : "A drunken peasant stumbles outside into the snow, and becomes caught in a blizzard. As he perishes he dreams of summer fields."
TO ALL THE EXPERTS ON VOICE AND INTERPRETATION:
Listen to Shaliapin's version.
That is right about his, voice but to me hvorostovski is much better than Talvele. The latter seems to tell the story in some moments while the former is sining it.