Opera Arias Romances Songs 5CDDVD BOX by David Badridze: A Time Capsule of Classical Magic
If you’re into classical music, especially opera, this box set is like stumbling upon an old trunk filled with treasures. Released in 2014 under the Russian label Гостелерадиофонд (that’s Gosteleradiofund for us non-Russians), Opera Arias Romances Songs feels less like a polished modern release and more like a love letter to forgotten masterpieces. The compilation spans decades—from recordings as early as the 1930s up to the '50s—and it's raw, imperfect, but oh-so-beautiful.
Let me cut straight to what makes this collection unforgettable: CD3 - Victor Dolidze's "Keto And Kote" (Montage) and CD5 - Songs Of Georgian, Russian, Soviet, And Italian Composers. These two tracks hit different because they’re not just performances; they’re stories told through sound.
“Keto And Kote” grabs you by the soul right away. It’s a comic opera, so there’s humor woven into its melodies, but also something deeply human. You can almost picture the characters bickering or laughing on stage. What sticks with me most isn’t even the singing—it’s how alive the recording feels. Like you’re sitting in some tiny theater in Tbilisi back in the day, hearing these voices resonate without all the fancy tech we have now. There’s warmth here that no studio could ever replicate today. Imperfections? Sure. But those little cracks make it real.
Then there’s CD5, which is basically a musical world tour before anyone had jet planes. One moment you’re swaying to a melancholic Russian romance, the next you’re swept off your feet by an Italian aria dripping with drama. The song “Marine” from A. Shaverzashvili stands out—it’s playful yet haunting, like catching a glimpse of someone across a crowded room who disappears too soon. I kept replaying it, trying to figure out why it stuck with me. Maybe it’s the nostalgia baked into every note, or maybe it’s just the way the singer belts out those high notes like their life depends on it.
The rest of the box set follows suit—raw gems plucked from history. Tracks recorded off LPs from the '30s and '40s scratch and pop, but somehow that only adds charm. Even the DVD excerpts from The Shield Of Jurgai feel like sneaking a peek at another era. No flashy effects, no autotune—just pure talent laid bare.
What blows my mind about this whole thing is how personal it feels. It’s not just David Badridze showing off his vocal chops—it’s him sharing pieces of his heritage, his culture, his heart. Listening to this album is like flipping through a photo album where each track is a faded Polaroid capturing moments long gone but still vivid in memory.
And honestly? If I had to sum up this box set in one weird sentence, it’d be this: It’s like finding your grandpa’s dusty record player in the attic and realizing he was cooler than you’ll ever be.
