March 2013 I declare Russian Symphonies Month - Who's in? :)

[Cato]

I am instantly putting this on my list of what to listen to for the rest of the week because of this!

Going to miss this Russian month!! Plenty more to listen to though!

Cato, your nutshell description of Tcherepnin makes him sound very interesting to me. 

I hope the actual experience matches the anticipation!   

I will write a little more about each symphony later in the week: actually, the strongest works are the Piano Concertos.  In the 1960's, DGG released a record of the Second and Fifth Concertos with Tcherepnin at the keyboard and Kubelik on the podium.   I was "converted" by the Second Concerto: the Fifth needed time to grow on me, but I have had people tell me just the opposite.

To be sure, there are a few clunkers in his oeuvre (the Suite Georgienne comes to mind).  It would be nice to have the ballets recorded, e.g. The Abyss.

[Octave]

Aha!  I do know some Tcherepnin, thougb obviously not well enough to remember that I do.  A couple pieces on the Pletnev ENCHANTED KINGDOM disc, in fact the piece from which the disc draws its name.   
No idea how Pletnev's recordings rate among Tcherepnin interpretations, but I do remember liking those very much.

It also seems that Brilliant has a cheap 2cd of the same (?) recordings of the piano concertos included in that Bis box; probably a moot point for me, if those recordings of the symphonies are well worth having.

[Cato]

Anyway, right now: the Symphony #2 by Alexander Tcherepnin.  I first heard this on the old Louisville Symphony label, and was much enthused by it.

I should mention that the BIS recording with Lan Shui conducting the Singapore Symphony Orchestra is most excellent.  An energetic performance and (especially) superior sound make it preferable over the Louisville.

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[Cato]

The Third Symphony of Alexander Tcherepnin has the subtitle of "Chinese Symphony," which was not his idea, but his publisher's.

The opening movements do not sound particularly "Chinese" especially if one is expecting a Richard Rodgers Orientalism in the music.  The Adagio is more overtly "Chinese."

I should mention that Tcherepnin married a Chinese lady, a pianist named Lee Hsing Ming.  So there was interest in things Chinese!

The work is perhaps a little more conservative tonally than the first two symphonies, given the pentatonic scales, but its structure tends to be one of constant development with few if any repetitions.

I was lucky to buy this CD some years ago when it was still reasonably priced:

[asin]B000027AD0[/asin]

[Cato]

The Third Symphony of Alexander Tcherepnin has the subtitle of "Chinese Symphony," which was not his idea, but his publisher's.

The opening movements do not sound particularly "Chinese" especially if one is expecting a Richard Rodgers Orientalism in the music.  The Adagio is more overtly "Chinese."

I should mention that Tcherepnin married a Chinese lady, a pianist named Lee Hsing Ming.  So there was interest in things Chinese!

The work is perhaps a little more conservative tonally than the first two symphonies, given the pentatonic scales, but its structure tends to be one of constant development with few if any repetitions.

I was lucky to buy this CD some years ago when it was still reasonably priced:

[asin]B000027AD0[/asin]

The Fourth Symphony of Tcherepnin is tantalizing in its three movements, showing the composer developing his style in new ways: it reminds me - somewhat, in a spirit of brotherhood, so to speak - of the Borodin Second Symphony and its roots in Beethoven, in that a compact drama takes place.  The work is perhaps the biggest dramatically of the symphonies.

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Personally, I have always felt as if the work is unfinished.  The third movement acts as mini-adagio and finale: perhaps I am greedy and want a fourth movement, but the composer gives us 3 and says the work is finished!

Again Lan Shui and the Singapore Symphony offer a fine performance on BIS.


Also today, and highly recommended:

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[Brahmsian]

Final RSMM, finishing off with my second run through Jarvi's Prokofiev set

Prokofiev

Symphony No. 1 in D major, Op. 25 'Classical'
Symphony No. 4, Op. 112 (revised 1947 version)

Jarvi
Scottish National Orchestra

Chandos

[asin]B001HY4TLE[/asin]

*I want to thank everyone that participated (hopefully willingly).    I immensely enjoyed this month, listening to old favourites, while discovering countless other beautiful Russian symphonies (and other Russian gems non-symphonic).  Cheerioo!

[kishnevi]

My rather limited participation in RSSM:

Rachmnaninov--Symphonies and other works/RNSO, Rletnev cond.
Tchaikovsky--Symphonies 4-6 and other works/RSSO, Polyansky cond.
Rimsky Korsakov--Symphonies and other works/Philharmonia, Y. Butt cond.

Most fortunate part was reacquainting myself with R-K's symphonies and first acquaintance with the lesser works that were used as fillers.  Also a productive first listen ever to Rachmaninov's The Bells.

[Brian]

It's all over! Stop listening to Russian symphonies. Repeat: you are NO LONGER ALLOWED to listen to Russian symphonies. They have been banned. Thank you.

[Mirror Image]

That's right, Brian! It's time to move onto Impressionistic and Expressionistic music. May the faun be with you!

[Lisztianwagner]

Wow, does April comprise Expressionistic music too? Very good!

[madaboutmahler]

I was up until 2 in the morning yesterday trying to fit in Shosty 10 before the end of RSMM!! Pure dedication

I'd say that at least 90% of what I listened to last month were Russian symphonies!! Here's the list!!

Arensky 1
Balakirev 2
Bortkiewicz 2
Glazunov 4, 5
Gliere 3
Kalinnikov 1
Khachaturian 2
Miaskovsky 24
Popov 2
Prokofiev 1-7
Rachmaninov 1-3 + Choral
Rimsky Korsakov 2
Scriabin 1-3
Shostakovich 5, 6, 10, 12
Stravinsky Psalms/Three Movements
Taneyev 4
Tchaikovsky 1-6

That's 38 Russian symphonies!!

Loved this month a lot, thanks, Ray!

[Brahmsian]

I was up until 2 in the morning yesterday trying to fit in Shosty 10 before the end of RSMM!! Pure dedication

I'd say that at least 90% of what I listened to last month were Russian symphonies!! Here's the list!!

Arensky 1
Balakirev 2
Bortkiewicz 2
Glazunov 4, 5
Gliere 3
Kalinnikov 1
Khachaturian 2
Miaskovsky 24
Popov 2
Prokofiev 1-7
Rachmaninov 1-3 + Choral
Rimsky Korsakov 2
Scriabin 1-3
Shostakovich 5, 6, 10, 12
Stravinsky Psalms/Three Movements
Taneyev 4
Tchaikovsky 1-6

That's 38 Russian symphonies!!

Loved this month a lot, thanks, Ray!

You're welcome Daniel.  Although no need to thank me.  Thank yourself for treating yourself to many Russian symphonies.  I'm glad you enjoyed and participated in RSMM.  I was really floored by the vast amount of participation by so many! 

[Karl Henning]

Daniel, I think you earned the palme d'or . . . .

[Brahmsian]

Daniel, I think you earned the palme d'or . . . .

Hold on, Karl.  Wait until I divulge my RSMM list! 

[Karl Henning]

Hoom, hom . . . let us not be hasty . . . .

[Brahmsian]

87 Russian symphonies, by my count (but this includes repeated listens). 

[Karl Henning]

Zowie.

[Karl Henning]

Just the palme d'argent for you, Daniel! : )

[Sergeant Rock]

87 Russian symphonies, by my count (but this includes repeated listens). 

Nut, did you listen to the Kalinnikov G minor? That was my main contribution to the Russian month: encouraging people to listen to it. Some did for the first time, and loved it; very gratifying. As far as my own listening, I wasn't the most prolific participant 

Arensky 1 & 2
Kalinnikov 1 & 2
Prokofiev 1 & 7
Shostakovich 9
Tcherepin 1


Sarge

[Brahmsian]

Nut, did you listen to the Kalinnikov G minor? That was my main contribution to the Russian month: encouraging people to listen to it. Some did for the first time, and loved it; very gratifying. As far as my own listening, I wasn't the most prolific participant 

Arensky 1 & 2
Kalinnikov 1 & 2
Prokofiev 1 & 7
Shostakovich 9
Tcherepin 1


Sarge

I haven't.  He's on my list though for future exploration, to be sure!