‘As Mussorgsky didn’t finish the composition of his two operas Sorochintsï Fair and Salammbô, I thought it would be interesting to look at what he left and compare it with some reconstructions. Regarding Sorochintsï Fair, I saw that it was possible to make a lovely comedy without adding anything, just using what Mussorgsky had left. As this opera is a comedy that refers heavily to Ukrainian folk music, I preferred to use a small chamber orchestra to reinforce these aspects of the work. The irony of Gogol's text is unique and doesn’t translate well to a large orchestra.’
– Fabrice Bollon, Conductor/Arranger
![MUSSORGSKY, M.: Sorochintsï Fair [Opera] / Salammbô Suite](../../../sharedfiles/images/cds/hires/8.660547-48.jpg "MUSSORGSKY, M.: Sorochintsï Fair [Opera] / Salammbô Suite")
Modest MUSSORGSKY (1839–1881)
Sorochintsï Fair *
Opera in three acts (1874–80),
ed. Fabrice Bollon (2021)
Salammbô Suite (arr. Bollon) **
Carina Schmieger, Soprano * • Greta Bagiyan, Mezzo-soprano *Junbum Lee, Nutthaporn Thammathi, Tenors *
Hans Gröning, Bass-baritone *
Petar Naydenov, Jin Seok Lee, Tair Tazhi, Basses *
Cantus Juvenum Karlsruhe *
Members of the Opernchor des Theater Freiburg * • The Lily’s Project * **
Fabrice Bollon * **
Modest Mussorgsky’s operatic output is dominated by the epic Boris Godunov and Khovanshchina, but of his notable unfinished works Sorochintsï Fair is the most prominent example. Based on a story by Gogol, this is a comic opera in which amorous encounters intermingle with a devil’s curse. This chamber orchestra version by Fabrice Bollon uses only original music by Mussorgsky unlike other completions. Potentially a compelling and original drama, Salammbô was Mussorgsky’s first attempt at an opera, praised by Rimsky-Korsakov for the ‘beauty of its themes and ideas’.
Act II: Xhot’ by siyu zhe minutu (I’ll leave my new hat here)
Bass
Mezzo-soprano
Soprano
Baritone
Tenor
Tenor
Bass
Bass
Conductor
The Cunning Little Vixen
Šárka
BOLLON, F.:
Twelve Lilies for Leoš
Borth • Gaul • Park • Cantoerggi • Fortuna-Bollon
Cantus Juvenum Karlsruhe
Members of the Opernchor des Theater Freiburg
The Lily’s Project • Bollon
– Gramophone
Die ungebornen Enkel
The Secret Garden of the Cordania
Park • Thammathi • Moser
– BBC Music Magazine ★★★★
Josephs Legende
Staatskapelle Halle • Bollon
– BBC Music Magazine ★★★★
Your Voice Out of the Lamb
Four Lessons of Darkness • Dogmatic Pleasures
Petri • Salo • Fukačová • Moser
Odense Symphony Orchestra • Philharmonisches Orchester Freiburg
Deutsche Radio Philharmonie
Poppen • Milton • Bignamini
– American Record Guide