The Taste of Halva

58 min.

Audio Plays, Radio Productions & Literary Readings

Language Russian

Author Viktor Vitkovich

Narrator Evgeniy Yevstigneyev

Description

For many years the great emir of Bukhara has known no happiness—he lost the magical taste of halva, and now life is sour for him, like lemon. But in the home of the poor potter Shir-Mamed, happiness has appeared in an astonishing way: a little son, and his name is Hodja Nasreddin. And who would have guessed what this young rogue and wit is capable of?! All of Bukhara has heard about Nasreddin’s pranks. Perhaps he will manage to return the downcast emir the taste of halva?

Contents:

01. The Taste of Halva. Part 1. I set out on a hard road
02. The Taste of Halva. Part 2. It has long been known
03. The Taste of Halva. Part 3. And the boy decided to help the old woman
04. The Taste of Halva. Part 4. Saving his own head

Bonus tracks:
05. The crier’s song “Listen, residents of noble Bukhara”
06. The duet of Shir-Mamed and his wife “Oh, if only we had a little son”
07. The gypsy woman’s song “The thin stalk swayed”
08. The emir’s song “Since childhood I’ve loved halva”
09. The vizier’s song “I don’t want to accept torment”
10. The cooks’ song “I’m standing by the oven, not worrying”
11. The song about the emir “A beautiful emir shall enter”
12. Nasreddin’s song “I set out on a hard road”

Running time of the audio play “The Taste of Halva”: 38:01
Running time of the bonus tracks: 20:34

Roles and performers:

Narrator - Yevgeny Yevstigneyev
Nasreddin’s song - Gennady Belov
Duet of Shir-Mamed and his wife - Inna Myasnikova, Vladislav Línkovsky
Bazaar couplets - Vladislav Kuzin, Pavel Babakov, V. Borisov, Vladislav Línkovsky
Crier’s song - Pavel Babakov
Divan - Anatoly Gorokhov
Cooks’ song - Pavel Babakov, V. Borisov, Vladislav Kuzin
Gypsy woman’s song - Eleanor Ivanova
Emir’s song - Armen Dzhigarkhanyan
Vizier’s song - Anatoly Gorokhov
Mixed choir, Goskino orchestra.
Conductor: Georgy Garanian