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

[Mirror Image]

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

It sure does!

[Lisztianwagner]

It sure does!

That's great; it will certainly be interesting to compare Impressionism and Expressionism.

[madaboutmahler]

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

I have been beaten!   

[North Star]

Enjoyed the RSMM very much, although I could have listened to more.
Here's what I listened to, the bold ones were first listens

Shostakovich: 8th, 9th, 15th
Prokofiev: 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th
Rakhmaninov : 1st, 2nd, 3rd
Tchaikovsky 2nd, 4th, 6th (Pletnev) 4th, 5th (Sokhiev)
Borodin 2nd
Miaskovsky 24th
Rimsky-Korsakov Antar
Glière 3rd
Taneyev 4th

So 21 listened symphony recordings in total, and 20 symphonies, from 9 composers, including 2 first listens of composers.

[Brahmsian]

Only 151 days left to March 1st, 2014.   

Seriously, I'm obsessed with Russian symphonies, and Russian music in general.  I need help. 

I will add more Russian symphonists next year to the mix (some I haven't heard yet).

Like Schnittke, Kalinnikov, and a few others.

I've only heard one or two works by Schnittke (can't remember what it was, a chamber piece that was very haunting!), and have not heard any Kalinnikov.  Lots to explore and look forward to.

[jochanaan]

...Seriously, I'm obsessed with Russian symphonies, and Russian music in general.  I need help.  ...

Would you like to try some Russian opera?

[madaboutmahler]

Would you like to try some Russian opera?

or Schnittke?

[Brahmsian]

Would you like to try some Russian opera?

Indeed!    I've only heard a handful, and will continue exploring.  In the process of exploring some of Rimsky-Korsakov's operas.

I've heard Boris Godunov (not the whole thing), and absolutely love Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk and Eugene Onegin.

I have a DVD of The Nose, but I did not enjoy it as much as Lady...

When it comes to opera, it takes a while for me to dive right in. 

[jochanaan]

Indeed!    I've only heard a handful, and will continue exploring.  In the process of exploring some of Rimsky-Korsakov's operas.

Although I'm not actually familiar with any of the Rimsky operas, I've played excerpts and heard suites from several of them.  It would seem, from what I've heard, that RK's operas contain much of his best music.  Some of the old music books rate RK as an even better composer than Tchaikovsky, even though what we mostly hear now is only Scheherazade and the Russian Easter Overture; maybe it's time for a re-evaluation of the Rimsky operas.

I've heard Boris Godunov (not the whole thing), and absolutely love Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk and Eugene Onegin.

I may have heard Boris once, and of course I've heard the coronation scene.  I'm completely unfamiliar with Lady Macbeth, but I've seen Onegin twice--magnificent music, like hearing a Tchaikovsky symphony for three solid hours.  It is said that the Russian church prohibited theaters for several centuries, only relaxing its stance in the nineteenth century--but the Russians definitely "made up for lost time."  Glinka, Tchaikovsky and Rimsky-Korsakov were known during their lifetimes mostly as opera composers.

When it comes to opera, it takes a while for me to dive right in. 

Understandable.  The best way to experience operas, though, is to both hear and see them.  Operatic excerpt albums really don't give one the full experience of a great opera; it's meant to be both heard and seen.  And by no means all the singers are "fat ladies"! If you can't afford actually to attend an opera, try to find a good video recording.  (That might be difficult with the Rimsky-Korsakov operas; I'm not sure how many of them have even been recorded!)

[mc ukrneal]

If you can't afford actually to attend an opera, try to find a good video recording.  (That might be difficult with the Rimsky-Korsakov operas; I'm not sure how many of them have even been recorded!)

Most of them were or have been on DVD. I'd start with Sadko, which I think closest in terms of musical expectations.

[Brahmsian]

The second year of Russian Symphony March Madness has begun (for anyone wanting to participate again this year). 

[springrite]

The second year of Russian Symphony March Madness has begun (for anyone wanting to participate again this year). 

What about Russian quartets? Not that we have exhausted the symphonic genre...

[Brahmsian]

What about Russian quartets? Not that we have exhausted the symphonic genre...

The rules are very simple, Paul.....you may bend the rules as much as you like. 

Feel free to listen to any music you like.  Russian Quartets are OK in my books.  I'm listening to the Tchaikovsky String Sextet right now as I am typing this. 

[springrite]

The rules are very simple, Paul.....you may bend the rules as much as you like. 

Feel free to listen to any music you like.  Russian Quartets are OK in my books.  I'm listening to the Tchaikovsky String Sextet right now as I am typing this. 

I am going through the Myaskovsky quartet cycle, of which I think I am missing one CD, though...

[Karl Henning]

The rules are very simple, Paul.....you may bend the rules as much as you like. 

Feel free to listen to any music you like.  Russian Quartets are OK in my books.  I'm listening to the Tchaikovsky String Sextet right now as I am typing this. 

Souvenir de Florence is below the green lemon!

I am going through the Myaskovsky quartet cycle, of which I think I am missing one CD, though...

The only quartet of his I know is the wonderful a minor quartet on one of the Pacifica Quartet volumes.  Which two other quartets would you strongly commend, Paul?

[Brahmsian]

I am going through the Myaskovsky quartet cycle, of which I think I am missing one CD, though...

I have the complete cycle, performed by the Taneyev Quartet on Northern Flowers label.  Myaskovsky's quartets are excellent.  Which CD are you missing?  There are 5 CDs.

[Brahmsian]

Souvenir de Florence is below the green lemon!

The only quartet of his I know is the wonderful a minor quartet on one of the Pacifica Quartet volumes.  Which two other quartets would you strongly commend, Paul?

Agreed, Karl re:  Souvenir....

Ahh, that must be Myaskovsky's final Quartet # 13 in A minor.  A dandy indeed.  My favourite, Karl, is M # 12 in G major.  # 13 is a near favourite, though.

[Brahmsian]

Thread duty for RSMM!

Myaskovsky

Symphony No. 12 in G minor, Op. 35  Kolkhoznaya (Collective Farm)
Symphony No. 5 in D major, Op. 18

Svetlanov
Orchestre Symphonique d'Etat de la Federation de Russie

Warner Music

Fantastic works and recordings! 

[asin]B000XCTD5S[/asin]

[Ken B]

It's going to be a busy month of March!  On my menu:

The symphonies of (in various random order, to be determined later):

Prokofiev
Taneyev
Tchaikovsky
Stravinsky
Shostakovich
Rimsky-Korsakov
Myaskovsky
Rachmaninov
Glazunov

No Kalinnikov? Borodin?

[Brahmsian]

No Kalinnikov? Borodin?

I don't have any recordings of their symphonies.  And I'm on a spending hiatus for awhile.