Valery Gergiev dedicated this performance to the memory of Lorin Maazel, who commissioned The Enchanted Wanderer in his first season as music director of the New York Philharmonic in 2002.
“The Enchanted Wanderer” is a beautiful piece that has rarely been seen on stage. The opera merges gypsy songs, Russian Orthodox choral music, and traditional Slavic instruments with 20th-century idioms... ...Valery Gergiev conducts this musical treasure, staged amid the reeds of Russia’s mythic past and evoking the fabled lore of Baba Yaga, Mussorgsky, and Rimsky-Korsakov alike.", so Classicalite.
Shchedrin's concert opera 'The Enchanted Wanderer' has quickly taken a permanent place in the musical canon. Deep Slavonic emotions and gripping virtuosity characterize both this piece and many other compositions by Shchedrin. The Moscow-born composer nevertheless remains an originally Russian composer whose attachment to Russian music folklore and poetry has never been broken off. The text of this 'opera for the concert stage' is based on a story by the great Russian narrator Nikolay S. Leskov and tells of an enchanted pilgrim. The dramatic action is told by three vocal soloists, large choir and orchestra in colourful musical pictures.
This performance is a part of the Mariinsky Orhcestra tour which ends February, 14th with the oper Iolanta by Tchaikovsky in USA. Many prolific works by russian composers will be performed in the next days. Januar, the 25th in Ann Armour and January, the 28th in Carnegie Hall New York Mariinksy Orchestra will perform Rodion Shchedrin's Concert for Orchestra No 1 with the title "Naugty Limericks".
You can see the score of the Enchatned Wanderer here: www.schott-music.com/shop/Sheet_Music/Choir_Music/mixed_choir/with_instruments/show,261785,s.html