When it comes to international opera singers, it’s hard not to mention Dmitri Hvorostovsky, the great Russian baritone. At the 2006 Proms, the renowned Russian baritone wowed audiences with a stunning selection of works by some of history’s greatest composers.
Opening with No Sleep, No Rest from Borodin’s Prince Igor, he brought raw intensity to the piece, embodying the anguish and resolve of the character with every note. His deep, velvety voice carried the weight of the music’s emotion.
Then Hvorostovsky shifted a deeply stirring rendition of “Gran dio…Oh de’ verd’anni miei” from Verdi’s Ernani, which his baritone voice captured every ounce of sorrow and desperation within the aria.
Next, he moved on to Epithalamium from Anton Rubinstein’s Nero, a piece rich with grandeur and ceremony. With warm, resonant tones, Hvorostovsky evoked an air of mystery and romance. His interpretation brought out the essence of old-world elegance, transporting the audience to a bygone era.
Then came a crowd favorite—Votre toast, je peux vous le rendre from Bizet’s Carmen. With playful charm and boundless energy, Hvorostovsky embodied the swaggering Escamillo, his commanding presence electrifying the room. His dynamic performance had the audience clapping along, swept up in the infectious rhythm.
His performance was completed with a heartfelt rendition of Moscow Nights by V. Soloviev-Sedoy. The nostalgic Russian folk melody, carried by his velvety voice, transported listeners to starlit summer evenings in Moscow.
Dmitri Hvorostovsky’s Proms 2006 is a journey of various emotions, from sadness to joy, from romance to strength. It’s not an exaggeration to say that he successfully immersed the audience in the haunting beauty of the music.
