FULL Almast (Spendiaryan) Yerevan Barseg Tumanyan
Popular Singers in this Opera Recording
Information on the Performance
- Work Title: Almast   
- Composer: Spendiaryan Alexander  
- Libretto: Sophia Parnok    Libretto Text, Libretto Index
- Venue & Opera Company: Yerevan Opera Theater, Armenia  
- Recorded: unknown
- Type: Staged Opera Live
- Singers: Barseg Tumanyan
- Conductor: unknown  
- Orchestra:
- Stage Director:   
- Costume Designer:   
Information about the Recording
- Published by: TumanyanOfficial  
- Date Published: 2021  
- Format: Unknown
- Quality Video: 3 Audio:3
- Subtitles: nosubs  
- Video Recording from: YouTube     FULL VIDEO
-  
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS PERFORMANCE
Wikipedia quote:
In 1916 Spendiaryan met Armenian poet Hovhannes Tumanian, who suggested three of his poems “Anush”, “Parvana” and “The Siege of the Tmbouk Castle” as themes for a national Armenian opera. Spendiaryan listened to the prelude of the last poem and was immediately attracted by its beauty. According to Tumanian’s daughter, he was fascinated by Firdousi’s poem in the banquet scene, by Tatoul’s nightmare, and by the ambitious Almast – who dreamed of winning the throne. Tumanian also organized special musical evenings for Spendiarian in his own home and then at Tbilisi’s Music School, in which national musicians and minstrels took part. At this stage Spendiarian, a Russian-Armenian, began to make a detailed study of Armenian folk music. He wrote: “Amongst the large amount of material I was particularly struck by Nikoghayos Tigranyan’s music, on which I composed some of the instrumental passages in my opera”. Because of the pressure of work, Tumanian was forced to abandon the idea of writing the libretto himself, and the task was undertaken by Russian poet Sophia Parnok. In 1916 the libretto was ready, and Spendiaryan began work on the opera, and finished the opera’s vocal score in 1923. He continued his work on the instrumentation right up to his death. The instrumentation of the fourth act of “Almast” was completed by composer Maximilian Steinberg.
According to musical critic A. Shahverdian, “it is here that the basis was laid for a new style of Armenian national music.”
Thanks for this upload. Unfortunately the opera is incomplete, two acts are missing. It would be great and deeply appreciated if it could be uploaded complete, but probably the other two acts are not available. Really appreciate anyway, keep up the EXELLENT WORK, please!!!