Like the opera, a flaming spectacle of a production

The Fiery Angel is one of my personal favourite operas of the 20th century. It is demoniacally dramatic with so much depth in its symbolism, and Prokoviev's music is some of the most blistering and witty that he wrote ever. And what an amazing production this is. It looks wonderful, bizarre and magical all at once to match exactly the structure of the opera's libretto. The orchestral playing make the score wild and spooky yet very dramatic and witty at the same time with plenty of dynamic contrast, adept balance and hauntingly beautiful tone. Valery Gergiev's conducting adds a lot to this, I find his conducting of Russian opera truly remarkable and very authentic, and here in The Fiery Angel there is no exception to that. He allows for the balances to come through and comes across as disciplined yet loving of the music he conducts, which are always great qualities to have in a conductor. The staging is intense and moving in equal measures. The performances are just great, the standout being Galina Gorchakova in the fiendishly demanding role of Renata, mainly because the character is so complex, her performance vocally and dramatically is faultless. Sergei Leiferkus is every bit as outstanding as Ruprecht, he is a powerful presence and he sings with security. Konstantin Pluzhnikov is an imposing Mephistopheles as well, while Vladmir Galouzine sings strongly in his role as well. All in all, a flaming spectacle both as an opera and as a production. 10/10 Bethany Cox

Russian cinema is distinguished by its epic scale, philosophical depth, and innovative visual language. It often explores history, ideology, and the human psyche, with a tradition of psychological realism and artistic experimentation. Russian cinema contributed revolutionary theories of editing and later a spiritual approach to film language. It remains known for combining formal experimentation with profound explorations of endurance and belief.

Nikolay Grinko, Aleksandr Kaydanovskiy, and Anatoliy Solonitsyn in Stalker (1979)

The drama genre is a broad category that features stories portraying human experiences, emotions, conflicts, and relationships in a realistic and emotionally impactful way. Dramas delve into the complexities of human life, often exploring themes of love, loss, morality, societal issues, personal growth, with the aim to evoke an emotional response from the audience by presenting relatable and thought-provoking stories.

Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)

The fantasy genre features imaginative and often magical worlds, characters, and events. It explores realms beyond the boundaries of reality, featuring elements such as magic, mythical creatures, supernatural powers, and fantastical settings. These stories can take place in entirely fictional worlds or blend fantastical elements with real-world settings.

Elijah Wood in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

The music genre features stories showcasing musical performances, music-related documentaries and recordings of live concerts and music festivals.

Prince and Apollonia Kotero in Purple Rain (1984)

The mystery genre features the investigation and solving of a puzzle, typically a crime or an enigmatic event. Mysteries are known for their suspenseful narratives, intricate plots, and the challenge they present to readers or viewers to piece together clues and solve the central mystery alongside the characters.

Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway, and Kelvin Harrison Jr. in Chinatown (1974)

Serge Prokofiev's enigmatic work, this is a tale of the supernatural, religious hysteria and demonic possession which is set in Germany at the time of The Inquisition.

Sergei Leiferkus, Galina Gorchakova, and Vladimir Ognovenko in The Fiery Angel (1993)

The Biggest Movies and TV Coming in September

See which big screen releases you can watch from the comfort of your couch.

Theatrical Releases Coming to Streaming

Get a closer look at these actors from their many TV and streaming series roles.

Streaming Stars, Then and Now

Galina Gorchakova in The Fiery Angel (1993)

The Fiery Angel

Photos2

Top Cast20

User reviews1

Related interests

Storyline

Did you know

Top picks

Details

Tech specs

Contribute to this page

More to explore

Recently viewed