Galina Vishnevskaya-Marfa’s Aria (with English subtitles)

I discovered “The Tsar’s Bride“ a couple of years a go at the Bard Music Festival and I fell in love with the music in it. There is a wonderful overture, and several beautiful arias and ensembles in “The Tsar’s Bride.“ I will be posting all of the arias which the major characters sing in this opera, so stay tuned. Galina Vishnevskaya is on the recording of Benjamin Britten’s “War Requiem” conducted by Britten himself. Benjamin Britten wrote the soprano solo with Vishnevskaya in mind, but she was not allowed to leave the Soviet Union, so she could not sing in the premiere performance. Vishnevskaya was known for Russian opera and Russian Art song, but she also performed in Italian operas. For example, she sang Liu in Puccini’s last opera, “Turandot” opposite Birgit Nilsson and Franco Corelli. She also debuted at the Met in the title role of Verdi’s “Aida.”