Nikolay Miaskovsky (1881-1950)

Started by vandermolen, June 12, 2007, 01:21:32 PM

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vandermolen

#800
16 has a wonderful funeral-march slow movement (inspired by the air disaster of the 'Maxim Gorky' aircraft). No.24 (in memory of one of NYM's friends) is one of the most deeply felt - I agree. Gauk's performance of Symphony No.17 (which I think is dedicated to the conductor) is well worth hearing, although Svetlanov's recording is fine too.
This fine three CD set, with its extraordinary cover image, features recordings of symphonies 16,17,21,22,25 and 27 by different conductors:

"Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm" (Churchill).

'The test of a work of art is, in the end, our affection for it, not our ability to explain why it is good' (Stanley Kubrick).

kyjo

My favorite works by him are definitely Symphonies 24 (mainly for the slow movement) and 25, Cello Sonata no. 2 (beautiful!), and String Quartet no. 13. I recall thinking rather highly of the 6th Symphony, so I must revisit that one. 
"Music is enough for a lifetime, but a lifetime is not enough for music" - Sergei Rachmaninoff

Irons

Quote from: kyjo on November 23, 2021, 06:46:07 AM
My favorite works by him are definitely Symphonies 24 (mainly for the slow movement) and 25, Cello Sonata no. 2 (beautiful!), and String Quartet no. 13. I recall thinking rather highly of the 6th Symphony, so I must revisit that one.

Very much agree with the 2nd Cello Sonata. So many symphonies, I have trouble recalling which is which although they are all different and each has special qualities.
You must have a very good opinion of yourself to write a symphony - John Ireland.

I opened the door people rushed through and I was left holding the knob - Bo Diddley.

Mirror Image

Quote from: kyjo on November 23, 2021, 06:46:07 AM
My favorite works by him are definitely Symphonies 24 (mainly for the slow movement) and 25, Cello Sonata no. 2 (beautiful!), and String Quartet no. 13. I recall thinking rather highly of the 6th Symphony, so I must revisit that one.

No love for the last symphony, the 27th? I'll have to give a listen to the SQ and Cello Sonata No. 2 you mention. I haven't heard them in quite some time.

vandermolen

Quote from: Mirror Image on November 23, 2021, 09:53:02 AM
No love for the last symphony, the 27th? I'll have to give a listen to the SQ and Cello Sonata No. 2 you mention. I haven't heard them in quite some time.
The valedictory No.27 is very moving and definitely one of my favourites. I regret that Gauk's marvellous performance has never been released on CD.
"Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm" (Churchill).

'The test of a work of art is, in the end, our affection for it, not our ability to explain why it is good' (Stanley Kubrick).

Mirror Image

Quote from: vandermolen on November 24, 2021, 11:56:07 PM
The valedictory No.27 is very moving and definitely one of my favourites. I regret that Gauk's marvellous performance has never been released on CD.

It's an incredibly moving and poignant work. He was dying as he was writing it much like Finzi was with his Cello Concerto.

vandermolen

Quote from: Mirror Image on November 25, 2021, 05:58:26 AM
It's an incredibly moving and poignant work. He was dying as he was writing it much like Finzi was with his Cello Concerto.
Yes, that's very true John. Rootham's Second Symphony is, I find, unbearably moving for the same reason.
"Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm" (Churchill).

'The test of a work of art is, in the end, our affection for it, not our ability to explain why it is good' (Stanley Kubrick).

Mirror Image

Quote from: vandermolen on November 25, 2021, 10:08:07 AM
Yes, that's very true John. Rootham's Second Symphony is, I find, unbearably moving for the same reason.

Indeed. I should revisit that Rootham symphony at some point. Too much music, so little time per usual. :)

Symphonic Addict

The other day I heard the 24th under Titov (Northern Flowers label) and I confirmed my admiration and liking for the first two movements. The 3rd has some nice moments, but in this performance I felt a lack of drive and excitement. It's one of my favorites along with 16-19, 21, 22, 24-27.

I need to hear a recording of the 6th that really convinces me of its qualities.
Part of the tragedy of the Palestinians is that they have essentially no international support for a good reason: they've no wealth, they've no power, so they've no rights.

Noam Chomsky

kyjo

Quote from: Mirror Image on November 23, 2021, 09:53:02 AM
No love for the last symphony, the 27th? I'll have to give a listen to the SQ and Cello Sonata No. 2 you mention. I haven't heard them in quite some time.

It's a fine work but hasn't quite sent me off to the "Pieces that blown you away recently" thread, at least not yet. I'm a bit pickier about my Miaskovsky than some folks. ;)
"Music is enough for a lifetime, but a lifetime is not enough for music" - Sergei Rachmaninoff

vandermolen

#810
Quote from: Symphonic Addict on November 27, 2021, 05:40:41 PM
I need to hear a recording of the 6th that really convinces me of its qualities.
Do you know this one Cesar? (picture below). It has been very effectively remastered by Paul Arden-Taylor for Alto. The performance was always great IMO but the Russian Disc release was not great sound (from 1959). It's inexpensive (with informative notes  8)). My other recommendations are Jarvi's DGG recording (fine performance and great sound but possibly absurdly expensive now) and Stankovsky's old Marco Polo recording (not transferred to Naxos). It was  the first CD release and not that well reviewed, but I like it. Svetlanov's (Olympia/Alto) is great but unfortunately it excludes the (optional) choir at the end. The more recent Kondrashin release (on Melodiya) is very good but the crucial flute passage in the trio section of the scherzo (one of my favourite moments in all music) is IMO played much too fast, sounds rushed and loses its poignancy.
Here's an old comparative review of releases on Marco Polo, Russian Disc and Olympia which might be of interest:
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2001/Dec01/Miaskovsky6.htm
(Jarvi Review)
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2006/nov06/Miaskovsky_6_4716552.htm

(Alto/Kondrashin)
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2020/May/Myaskovsky_sy6_ALC1421.htm
Here's a review of the later Kondrashin recording (written by me  ;D) in which I attempt a comparative survey. It was written before the Alto release of the older Kondrashin recording.
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2006/may06/Myaskovsky_6_MELCD1000841.htm
Sorry, I've gone a bit OTT on this post  ::):
"Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm" (Churchill).

'The test of a work of art is, in the end, our affection for it, not our ability to explain why it is good' (Stanley Kubrick).

aligreto

Quote from: vandermolen on November 27, 2021, 10:49:39 PM

Sorry, I've gone a bit OTT on this post  ::):

No-one here will complain on that score, Jeffrey  ;)
What we would like is more of the same!  ;D

vandermolen

Quote from: aligreto on November 28, 2021, 02:04:40 AM
No-one here will complain on that score, Jeffrey  ;)
What we would like is more of the same!  ;D
:)
"Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm" (Churchill).

'The test of a work of art is, in the end, our affection for it, not our ability to explain why it is good' (Stanley Kubrick).

Symphonic Addict

Quote from: vandermolen on November 27, 2021, 10:49:39 PM
Do you know this one Cesar? (picture below). It has been very effectively remastered by Paul Arden-Taylor for Alto. The performance was always great IMO but the Russian Disc release was not great sound (from 1959). It's inexpensive (with informative notes  8)). My other recommendations are Jarvi's DGG recording (fine performance and great sound but possibly absurdly expensive now) and Stankovsky's old Marco Polo recording (not transferred to Naxos). It was  the first CD release and not that well reviewed, but I like it. Svetlanov's (Olympia/Alto) is great but unfortunately it excludes the (optional) choir at the end. The more recent Kondrashin release (on Melodiya) is very good but the crucial flute passage in the trio section of the scherzo (one of my favourite moments in all music) is IMO played much too fast, sounds rushed and loses its poignancy.
Here's an old comparative review of releases on Marco Polo, Russian Disc and Olympia which might be of interest:
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2001/Dec01/Miaskovsky6.htm
(Jarvi Review)
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2006/nov06/Miaskovsky_6_4716552.htm

(Alto/Kondrashin)
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2020/May/Myaskovsky_sy6_ALC1421.htm
Here's a review of the later Kondrashin recording (written by me  ;D) in which I attempt a comparative survey. It was written before the Alto release of the older Kondrashin recording.
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2006/may06/Myaskovsky_6_MELCD1000841.htm
Sorry, I've gone a bit OTT on this post  ::):

Very helpful, Jeffrey. Thanks a lot. This information will allow me to decide better.
Part of the tragedy of the Palestinians is that they have essentially no international support for a good reason: they've no wealth, they've no power, so they've no rights.

Noam Chomsky

vandermolen

Quote from: Symphonic Addict on November 28, 2021, 07:20:49 PM
Very helpful, Jeffrey. Thanks a lot. This information will allow me to decide better.
My pleasure Cesar. This is a strong performance as well (great cover art from the painter Isaac Levitan: 'Eternal Rest')
"Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm" (Churchill).

'The test of a work of art is, in the end, our affection for it, not our ability to explain why it is good' (Stanley Kubrick).

vandermolen

From WAYLTN thread:
Miaskovsky: Symphony No.3
This characteristically doom-laden early symphony shows the influence of Scriabin and is an early high-point in NYM's symphonic journey. It's coupled with the eloquent and moving Lyric Concertino. The odd thing is that Olympia CDs are now often terribly expensive but this one has always been available very inexpensively (c. £3.50 on Amazon UK). As such it would be a great introduction to Miaskovsky's music.
"Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm" (Churchill).

'The test of a work of art is, in the end, our affection for it, not our ability to explain why it is good' (Stanley Kubrick).

Maestro267

I did start a listening run of the symphonies in order and got to No. 11 before post-jab illness put it on hold.

vandermolen

Quote from: Maestro267 on February 06, 2022, 10:44:00 PM
I did start a listening run of the symphonies in order and got to No. 11 before post-jab illness put it on hold.
I hope that you are better now and can continue your NYM survey.
Highlights to come (IMO) are nos 12 (very Socialist Realist), 13 (more modernist) 15, 16 (great slow movement) 17, 21, 23,24,25 and 27.
Happy listening!
"Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm" (Churchill).

'The test of a work of art is, in the end, our affection for it, not our ability to explain why it is good' (Stanley Kubrick).

vandermolen

"Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm" (Churchill).

'The test of a work of art is, in the end, our affection for it, not our ability to explain why it is good' (Stanley Kubrick).

calyptorhynchus

Just listening to some Miaskovsky today. Sad to think of tragic events happening in Russia and Ukraine at the moment.  :(
'Many men are melancholy by hearing music, but it is a pleasing melancholy that it causeth.' Robert Burton