Gallina Vishnevskaya

Galina Pavolovna Vishnevskaya became the most exciting soprano to emerge in the Soviet Union after World War II. She had a major career on the Bolshoi stage, cruelly cut short due to the political beliefs of her and her husband.

A landmark of 20th-century vocal recording, Songs by Tchaikovsky and Britten unites the formidable talents of soprano Galina Vishnevskaya and cellist/conductor Mstislav Rostropovich. Released by Decca in 1970, this album is a profound exploration of romantic and modern art song, moving from the passionate, folk-tinged melancholy of Tchaikovsky to the stark, haunting intensity of Benjamin Britten's The Poet's Echo, a cycle written expressly for Vishnevskaya. The profound musical and personal synergy between these two artists—a legendary husband-and-wife duo—is palpable throughout, resulting in performances of raw emotional power, intellectual depth, and breathtaking virtuosity that stand as a definitive interpretation.

Director Alexander Sokurov conducts comprehensive interviews with legendary conductor Mstislav Rostropovich and his soprano-singing wife Galina Vishnevskaya in this documentary.