Boris Shtokolov- Prince Gremin's aria
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- Опубліковано 8 лют 2025
- Boris Timofeevich Shtokolov (1930-2005) is a name unfamiliar to most music aficionados in the West. Although he 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.
Since I have already posted a few videos of Shtokolov in old Russian romances and folk songs, I thought it time to present him in opera. In the early 1970's, Shtokolov made a number of aria recordings with conductor Fuat Mansurov and the Bolshoi Theater Orchestra. One of these was an absolutely superlative version of Prince Gremin's aria ('Lyubvi vse vozrasty pokorny') from Tchaikovsky's "Evgeniy Onegin", which I have chosen for Shtokolov's UA-cam opera "debut". And he truly breathes new life into this old warhorse of a piece. For once, the aria sounds like a heartfelt confession instead of a public address or a dull recitation from the telephone book. Shtokolov's incomparable voice and dignified, yet utterly sincere approach make him the best Prince I've ever heard, BY FAR. He even manages to outdo Reizen, Mikhailov, and Petrov, all of whom recorded solid, but otherwise unremarkable Gremins. And Shtokolov is light years removed from the woofy-voiced Sergei Aleksashkin in the MET's 2007 broadcast of the opera. Shtokolov's artistry simply defies criticism, and I hope that this recording proves to be a wonderful discovery for those unfamiliar with his singing.
Один из лучших басов мирового уровня. Браво Штоколов!
Such plaintive, delicate and deeply poignant singing x thank you
My favourite bass aria in realy russian language,realy russian bass voice, very beautiful! Thank you!
I totally agree - this may very well be the finest rendering of Gremins aria I have heard. Just beautiful, even more so.
Why did it take me so long to discover this amazing singer?!
This is magnificent singing and his interpretation brings out all the pathos that we need from a Gremin.
@45acppistolero . Thank you for your analysis. As a cellist, I have always been drawn to the dark, soulful, often melancholy sound of Russian music and singing. It feels very real to me. With all due respect to the "Three Tenors" phenomenon, I easily tire if that timbre, no matter how great the voice. These dark, Slavic voices draw you into a contemplative frame of mind. I think that's why I love them so much.
Another fine Russian singer that I am hearing now for the first time. I will seek more examples from THIS Boris ASAP!
thank you, kontchak - I am sure it is the best Gremin's aria of this century by Boris.
I could hear many basses and bassi proffondi but Boris version is absolutely outstanding...intonation, expression, musical culture, lirismo and musical taste - all that make you feel goose-bumps during all the performance...I even like it more than by Neil. Ghiaurov.
I am compelled to save this recording to Favorites and to listen to it again with regularity.
A truly amazing voice!!!
I am deeply convinced thta only a Russian can sing this aria as envisaged by the composer and this is on of the finest examples I ever listened to.
Please listen to this and after that ask yourself how deep is you conviction. ua-cam.com/video/GppwGNGXJ1c/v-deo.html
Bernard Ladysz sings it just as well and I would say more sweetly. I went to the link from Krzysztof below. Listen to Ladysz sing OLD Man River simply superb
Google Bernard Ladysz Mississippi
How marvolous. My step father was a basso profundo, he always looked to this recording as the master tape. It is. Full of great emotion, love and utterly shows Eugene what true love is.
I can't get over the beauty of Shtokolov's voice and interpretation. Please find more of his performances, and thank you for sharing.
BRAVO !!!!
Superb! Thanks for introducing me to Štokolov. Hvala!
Wow, his voice!!!!
The range and control is astounding. Thank you again for posting these wonderful pieces.
I don't understand Russian but agree with your info. that it "sounds like a heartfelt confession...". Thanks for uploading this great and amazing voice.
I am so glad you have made Shtokolov's acquaintance. Just a year and a half ago, he was completely absent from UA-cam, and now there are 3 pages worth of videos. It's certainly a vast improvement, although I wish that he had made more recordings (and that companies like Melodiya would release them on CD). But I'm grateful for the treasures that DO exist, and I hope that you enjoy perusing them in this forum.
une grande et magnifique découverte pour moi !
The best version of this aria for me. What a colour!
Almost every day I find some new marvel here in vocal music and this gentleman would have to rank way up there in my view. Quite an instrument with wonderful control and expression. My Favorite Basso is Kurt Moll, but Shtokolov is a great find and I appreciate the posts.
What a voice! Amazing!
What else but beautiful???? Thank you, khankonchak, for this
Thank you James for this introduction to a wonderful operatic bass.
Absolutely fantastic!!!
Perhaps I was not clear enough - My comment was about interpretation of this particular aria - one of the most beautiful arias, not just for bass. I believe that interpretation of Shtokolov goes with the best. I also know, that he was a great singer with "normal" power voice.
Good bless you
Beautiful voice! wow
Fantastic, outstanding and the most emotionally right performance! I also consider that only Russian voices/artists thoroughly understand all expressions enclosed inside this masterpiece! Listened so many singing this aria but only few made me feel such a goosebumps that never could forget it!
One of the best, if not the one.
Timbre exquisito, fraseo y tempo notables, afinación perfecta, puro sentimiento del hombre mayor que ha conseguido el amor de una mujer mas joven y lo comparte con un joven recién conocido, sin saber que aman a la misma mujer.
Я считаю его одним из лучших басов СССР и России. Его тембр завораживает. Дыхание беспредельное. А в исполнении его романсы и русские песни это золотая россыпь а вернее жемчужный фонд России 💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐🌻🌻🌸🌸🌼🌼🌼
Uczta duchowa Cudns Aria cudny Głos Dziękuję bardzo 😊😊😊❤
Моей маме повезло, а мне нет, - она живьем слышала ЭТОТ голос!!!
Bravo!!! Beautiful!!! Thank you : )
Outstanding singer! Unique voice!
Supermistrzowskie wykonanie ! Dzięki.....
Thanks for giving us the opportunity of knowing this singer with good voice and sensibility. I was convinced, with the only blemish of the obtrusive vibrato that makes both the voice and the melody tremble. I will try to find the videos of Russian Romances, I am interested in Mussorgsky and Tchaikovsky.
Филирует великолепно
Despite my mixed-bag feeling about Shtokolov's vocal (even in his prime) in general, I agree here with those who praised his performance in this particular (masterpiece) aria.
SIEMPRE MAGNIFICO
The timbre and pure legato reminds me of Ghiaurov in his prime.
Hungary loves this! :-)
MAGNIFICO
One more Great bass who continued the tradition of the " dark ' color , deep like velvet , huge range and amazing interpretation russian or slavian , if you like it better , voices !!!!
and for the non - russian speakers , i want to say that his accent is perfect !!
Yes,there is Reizen,there is Christoff,and maybe few others that might be of super performance with excellent voices ,but there is only one the greatest of them all Shtokolov...WOBLE here or woble there if that what some are trying to criticise_even if there would be which is out of question here -this is the finest bass singer EVER been.The warmth and colour of this spectacular voice and spectacular supperb control has yet to be surpassed....
magnifica Aria
It IS a wondrous, awe-inspiring voice, isn't it? Shtokolov made relatively few recordings in his prime, and they are quite difficult to find. Melodiya has never reissued them on CD and doesn't seem in a particular hurry to do so. You're most welcome, however, to check out the Shtokolov uploads that I've posted on my YT page (and which I'll be adding to). Also be sure to visit the channels of muuha14, MusashiTzu, and Pustinnik25, who have contributed many rare recordings of his.
A "wobble" entails indeterminate pitch; it's a problem whose audible consequence involves pitch insecurity. There is NO such issue here. Shtokolov DOES have a wide vibrato, but he stays squarely on pitch. If the vibrato isn't to your taste, then fine (even if your complaint is new to me). But if you're going to post critical remarks, you should know your terminology before you do so. This was recorded in his prime. It's hardly the sound of a bass in the throes of vocal decay, if you ask me.
Wobble? No! Open vowels as "o" and "a" at full voice have a vibrato in such a powerful dark voice. His "i" has less vibrato. He has the courage and the technique to sing big tones in the higher register whereas some singers would cover these a little more and be less generous. His low F# is secured anyway. The difference in this aria between his deep basso and Reizen´s melodious and more lyrical cantante is quite telling! Am I right?
@Aetion I disagree. I do believe that it is cultural. The Russian/Slavic culture merely values this sound. One could say that the inherent melancholy of the Russian culture (read almost any Russian author) would create the value of this type of voice. Most others value the tenor because of its beauty and in the higher registers where the voice threatens (and sometimes does) crack. I heard a broadcast from the Met and heard Pavarotti crack on a high C.
Zseniális I.
It’s all a matter of taste, but I am more moved by Laszlo Polgar’s version.
Very good. Although he's struggling with the deep notes at the end. He's not a basso profondo, but a basso cantante.
Did he ever recorded the complete opera?
I always thought Chaliapin was the greatest. Now I may have to reassess my opinion. Wow.
Guy Pierce I am in complete agreement: I, too, consider Chaliapin the greatest, His pianissimos do not match the stunningly beautiful ones of Shtokolov!!!
So fucking metal
This is just great, but a little bit younger Mark Reizen (not 90years old) was a great also!!!!!
Это исполнение не в авторской тональности. Такое впечатление, что это поёт не бас, а лирический баритон.