Oh, they are both incomparably magnificent... I was lucky enough to see this at Glyndebourne, I think I recall 1995. A friend of a friend had Corporate tickets and although we were nearly late, despite racing there in his Saab Turbo, skidding to a halt in the dry, dusty car park and taking our seats 30 seconds before curtain up - all that stress was immediately forgotten. It was my first ever opera and I was transfixed. Subsequently even the sainted Rossini, the venerable Donizetti, the blessed Bellini, during performances of at least some of their works, there are occasional moments I find myself shifting and shuffling in my seat - but that first time seeing Pikovaya Dama, wow. Mesmerising. Bowling over a young person, all fresh and curious and keen isn't difficult - but despite my being somewhat grizzled these days, Hvorostovsky doing this melts granite. How operationally tragic his life was cut short ... but this, surely, is a fitting legacy. Still to this day one of my all time favourites.

I love him singing this so much I carry it around in my head. He melts my heart every time I hear him sing this aria. How could any woman not fall instantly into his arms after this declaration of love? Tchaikovsky the master of a beautiful tune and Dmitri Hvorostovsky the master of delivery. How cruel is life that he didn’t get to sing out his days into retirement? How much more beautiful music he had left to give us?❤❤❤❤❤❤

And, my heart still aches. I was blessed to see him in this role at The Met. Sublime perfection.

Красавцы какие ! Дмитрий ,гений .

So right.

Ö nem csak áriát , Ö mindent eltudott ěnekelni 🎻💖💦💔

В каждом театре где ставят эту оперу ,есть свой Елецкий

You gave voice to all I feel and think every time I listen to this piece of utter perfection. I prefer this live recording to any of his studio recordings of it. Getting to see those warm eyes smolder and burn and that slight smile only adds to the perfection. I was blessed to see him in this role at The Met. I will never forget the transcendence achieved in that performance. I listen to this aria every day, along with the final duet from Onegin with Renée Fleming and Dima and Renée’s duet of Germont and Violetta in a semi staged concert performance. We miss you so much, Dmitri. Memory Eternal. Vechnaya Pamyat.

I cut his obituary from The Times and placed it in my "special tin".... the world lost surely one of the greatest baritones to have ever walked the face of the planet. It was as surreal to me then as Her Late Majesty was last September😥

Lamento tanto não ter assistido uma única apresentação dele.....mas aqui no Brasil,nunca será esquecido,sempre maravilhoso e uma voz incomparável!!!!

No wonder he chose this for Cardiff back in 1989

Right?!? She’s NUTS!!! Who could hesitate one second to accept this man’s overtures?!

@@thesilvershining He might be a bit too much for her...but I agree with you.

This the most beautiful declaration of love ever composed. Sung by the best and most beautiful baritone the world has ever been blessed with. This was a concert, but I can imagine that a woman might run away from what she thinks is just a dream

Прекрасно!

❤❤ Он с нами !!!

How lucky you were !!!

@@maried1879 I was very lucky! I was the classical music buyer for Tower Records Castro and it was his first time in the SF Opera House. I will always cherish the memory.

@@DagmarDollmaier Precious memories indeed. Greetings from France

@@maried1879 Greetings from Russia! I was living in San Francisco when I worked at Tower Records Castro but my love of Russian opera/classical music somehow ended up with me living in Saint Petersburg, where I can go to the Mariinsky Theatre whenever I want! Life is interesting and passions can be rewarded.

@@DagmarDollmaier Nice, I think Dmitri Hvorostovsky opened up Russia to the rest of the world with his folklore and war songs... so beautiful, love them so much although I don’t understand a word. Musicality of your language is smooth and with Dimtri’s voice these songs become magnificent.

"irresistible"

@@kable321 Unless his admired baritone came back, Ettore Bastianini... there is no way to deliver songs like this. Just Glorious!

¡¡ L`auteur dil Martín Fierro !! Je vous saluè !!

На века лучший голос!

Vechnaya Pamyat Dmitri

Hvorostovsky sang the baritone role of Prince Yeletsky; Hermann is the starring tenor's role. But we know what you meant. How wonderful that you were able to see and hear him in person! ❤

@@dvm3584 Yes! Thank you for correcting me!

В нем было всё и внешность и голос и сумашедшая энергетика.

Maria Lentz Sorry, it's a "little" mistake; not Iberian (means from Iberia; Spain, Portugal) but Siberian Tiger (meaning from Siberia, as Dimitri Hvorostovsky was born in Krasnoyarsk, 3rd big city of Siberia; in fact it exists a species of tiger in Siberia called The Siberian Tiger that is on it's way to disappear. About the disappearing of Dimitri/The Siberian Tiger, I am not able to comment for the time being. 💔

Iberian??

@@kable321, Liberian )

Dramatic baritone.

Нет, дорогой Олег: criterion! ;-)

Beautiful ! Beautiful words !

Ja tez !

La más triste noticia recibida desde la muerte de PAVAROTTI, EL FALLECIMIENTO DE DMITRI HJROVOSTKY INDICA LA DESAPARICIóN DEL BARITONO MAS APRECIADO DE LS SIGLOS XX Y XX1. DOLOSROSO !!

I agree. This is a beautiful rendition and it helps to see of whom he cherishes so in the song! His legato is extraordinary. His breath support is sometimes unbelievable.

On the north side of the pitch during the recit. Other than that--one of the closest to perfection displays of singing I've ever heard.

@@tobeymiller2329 I’ve noticed he can be a bit sharp in things. But I’d honestly take that over the slightly flat that plagues even the best singers at times

Yes, like all arias that he signs.

Like all of them, that he sings.

Me, too. I CANNOT get enough of this!

Because he looks so great in this role it's easy to forget how well he sings and acts - a mature man, a soldier who really knows the difference between love and mere romance. And the voice of course is full of testosterone but also wonderful tenderness but frankly if those top Gs at 4.14 didn't knock Lisa bandy she didn't have any oestrogen in her - they hit my G spot with my eyes shut.!

And I have listened to Dmitri here, like you, so many times, that i have lost the count.

The composer must had been smiling and glad he did this aria for this man, get lost trying to figure if his voice, or his presense, or his facial expression, or his artistry...touches you inner spot first or most, my God it is really hard to know, but it is for sure and easy to know, all who saw this be touched so quick...this is aged wine and fine chocolate, so dear to heart no matter how many times have listened and counting it still.

This is exactly how I feel.

Exactly my thought.