Since Ostrovsky has virtually no following in the West, the music Tchaikovsky wrote for his play has languished, which is a pity. One can imagine a concert suite; but really the gramophone is the ideal medium for rescuing such an enterprise and saving some delightful numbers for us.
Three years ago both CdM and Chandos issued sets, each with points of recommendation. Alexander Arkhipov sang Winter’s fine monologue powerfully but in rather a hectoring manner for Andrey Chistiakov on CdM; Vladimir Grisho had a subtler note of magic for Neeme Jarvi on Chandos. Arkady Mishenkin has a greater degree of pathos here. Irina Mishura-Lekhtman had a lively sparkle for Lel on Chandos; Natalia Erassova nipped through the tongue-twisters of Lel’s second song on CdM unscathed but also without much character. On the new record, Elena Okolysheva is heavier-toned than either, and with her throbbing vibrato is little suited to the shepherd lad. The chorus cannot match the brightness of either of the earlier versions, sounding at times a little lackadaisical (or just under-rehearsed), and much the same is true of the orchestra.
Those who have already acquired Jarvi or Chistiakov (and marginally, the former is preferable) need not feel their choice now overtaken. The new version provides transliterated text and translation. CdM did not, Chandos did.'