Michael Tanner

Khovanskygate is about the dreadfulness and possible glory of being Russian

Plus: Danielle de Niese irritates in the Met’s otherwise musically marvellous new Così fan tutte

Memorable: Joseph Guyton as Andrei Khovansky in ‘Khovanskygate’ [Getty Images/Shutterstock/iStock/Alamy] 
issue 03 May 2014

Within the space of a few weeks we have had the rare chance of seeing the two great torsos of Russian opera, Borodin’s Prince Igor, unfinished because the composer was often otherwise engaged, and Musorgsky’s Khovanshchina, unfinished because its composer died of drink. Prince Igor at the Coliseum was musically magnificent, and dramatically utterly absurd, ‘self-parody’ that did not do justice to its low-jinks.

GIF Image

Disagree with half of it, enjoy reading all of it

TRY 3 MONTHS FOR $5
Our magazine articles are for subscribers only. Start your 3-month trial today for just $5 and subscribe to more than one view

Comments

Join the debate for just £1 a month

Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for £3.

Already a subscriber? Log in