Valentin Silvestrov, a genius or a lot of the same notes in different wraps?

[snyprrr]

ok, i waaas confusing Vasks and Silvestrov. Vasks is the one who does the battle music. done.

[Mirror Image]

I've known, and listened to, Silvestrov for about a year or so, but I've only recently decided to take the plunge on a few of his recordings. One thing I noticed immediately was how slow his music was but within this music was a sparity and a beautiful ear for harmonic color. The work in question was his Symphony No. 5. I heard this work via YouTube, but I can only imagine how good the recording will sound. I like that slow moving, zen-like quality of his music. Reminds me of why I love Arvo Part's music so much. Of course, I realize Silvestrov occupies a very different area than Part.

[eyeresist]

I've just received the Requiem CD, and have listened to the first few movements. I'm not greatly impressed, finding little that's striking or enjoyable in the music, but the recording and performance surely don't help. The soundstage is quite unnatural, the singing and playing are uniformly second-rate, and the interpretation lacks all tension and momentum, elements I think this work needs to be convincing. Hopefully there will be a better recording soon, but that may depend on the fortunes of Silvestrov's reputation.

[Mirror Image]

I've just received the Requiem CD, and have listened to the first few movements. I'm not greatly impressed, finding little that's striking or enjoyable in the music, but the recording and performance surely don't help. The soundstage is quite unnatural, the singing and playing are uniformly second-rate, and the interpretation lacks all tension and momentum, elements I think this work needs to be convincing. Hopefully there will be a better recording soon, but that may depend on the fortunes of Silvestrov's reputation.

That's what I was afraid of. I need to get rid of my Silvestrov CDs ASAP.

[snyprrr]

That's what I was afraid of. I need to get rid of my Silvestrov CDs ASAP.

ok, now I'm never going to get one. Sorry Val!

[San Antone]

Valentyn Sylvestrov was a new name to me until I happened upon his music this morning.    This collection of his orchestral music would seem to be a good place to begin an investigation into his oeuvre.

[asin]B00007GXWQ[/asin]

Wikipedia has this to say about him

Sylvestrov is perhaps best known for his post-modern musical style; some, if not most, of his works could be considered neoclassical and post-modernist. Using traditional tonal and modal techniques, Sylvestrov creates a unique and delicate tapestry of dramatic and emotional textures, qualities which he suggests are otherwise sacrificed in much of contemporary music. "I do not write new music. My music is a response to and an echo of what already exists," Sylvestrov has said.[1]
In 1974, under pressure to conform to both official precepts of socialist realism and fashionable modernism, Sylvestrov chose to withdraw from the spotlight. In this period he began to reject his previously modernist style. Instead, he composed Quiet Songs (Тихі Пісні (1977)) a cycle intended to be played in private.

Sylvestrov's Symphony No. 5 (1980–1982), considered by some[who?] to be his masterpiece, may be viewed as an epilogue or coda inspired by the music of late Romantic composers such as Gustav Mahler. "With our advanced artistic awareness, fewer and fewer texts are possible which, figuratively speaking, begin 'at the beginning'... What this means is not the end of music as art, but the end of music, an end in which it can linger for a long time. It is very much in the area of the coda that immense life is possible."

Sylvestrov's recent cycle for violin and piano, Melodies of Instances (Мелодії Миттєвостей), a set of seven works comprising 22 movements to be played in sequence (and lasting about 70 minutes), is intimate and elusive - the composer describes it as "melodies [...]on the boundary between their appearance and disappearance"

[CRCulver]

It's curious that it has been a decade now since Silvestrov wrote his Symphony No. 7, and there is still no commercial recording (though ECM has recorded much of his music in the meantime). Did it attract the same mixed reactions as his Sixth?

[snyprrr]

Carol Alt is still hot! Just flipping by FoxNews... what,.. did you ask..?...

[snyprrr]

I checked out some YouTube today:

1) one of the "silent songs". mmm...meh? Not for me. I can hear why, if you like this, you'd like the Schoeck. No cut, jus sayin

2) Dedication and Post-something, with Kremer. Once again, I like Myaskovsky's Cello Concerto better. Thaaat's Nostalghia!

3) Symphony No.4: not at all.

4) SQ No.1: I guess,...patronage was not pleased.

5) 5mins. of Requiem for Larissa. I could barely hear it.



Couldn't find the "infamous" Sym. 5, haha , but, unless it's absolutely perfect, then I don't think his idea of a "post-scriptum" to orchestral history, and mine, sound the same. I do like this concept though, of an immense post-scriptum. But, for me, just dragging out that intro to Myaskovsky's Cello Concerto would do the trick for me.

Am I wrong to think that he sounds like Vasks, or am I just confusing the two? Does Vasks have any of "that" sound? I didn't really like the Wergo disc (forget what's on it).

Symphony No.2

After Sumera and Tuur I ran into Silvestrov, and, again, was thoroughly unimpressed with everything on YT except this awesomely anachronistic 2nd Symphony, which must be from his earlier days. It just sounds like a classic dodecaphonic(?) work, I don't know,, it sure cast one on me.

Frankly, this let to Part...

[Rons_talking]

While I don't care for any of his piano music at all, the 4th and 5th Symphonies have a strong sense of voice and have impressed me greatly. Ever since I saw the 5th on some publication's list of 20th C. symphonic masterworks I have been listening to his work. I'd never heard of him before that.

[Mirror Image]

While I don't care for any of his piano music at all, the 4th and 5th Symphonies have a strong sense of voice and have impressed me greatly. Ever since I saw the 5th on some publication's list of 20th C. symphonic masterworks I have been listening to his work. I'd never heard of him before that.

His Symphony No. 5 is an outstanding work. My favorite performance is the Robertson/Berlin RSO on Sony. Grab it if you can find it cheap. It's OOP. Saraste also has a good performance on BIS with the Lahti Symphony Orchestra.

[71 dB]

I'm very confused these days, but I think I want to explore this composer...

[Mirror Image]

I'm very confused these days, but I think I want to explore this composer...

Why are you confused?

[vandermolen]

His Symphony No. 5 is an outstanding work. My favorite performance is the Robertson/Berlin RSO on Sony. Grab it if you can find it cheap. It's OOP. Saraste also has a good performance on BIS with the Lahti Symphony Orchestra.

+1

[71 dB]

Why are you confused?

Too much confusing stuff in my life recently. Hard to have a feeling of control of anything. A year ago I went through pipe repair and Trump became POTUS. Amazon marketplace changes, multiple directions of music interests... so chaotic.

[Mirror Image]

Too much confusing stuff in my life recently. Hard to have a feeling of control of anything. A year ago I went through pipe repair and Trump became POTUS. Amazon marketplace changes, multiple directions of music interests... so chaotic.

Perhaps it might do you so good to take two steps back and reaccess the important things in your life. I always have said that in order to live the life that you want, you have to make some cuts and find ways to eliminate the unnecessary things (i. e. things that make your life difficult or unpleasant). 

[71 dB]

Perhaps it might do you so good to take two steps back and reaccess the important things in your life. I always have said that in order to live the life that you want, you have to make some cuts and find ways to eliminate the unnecessary things (i. e. things that make your life difficult or unpleasant).

It's not that simple. Trump's presidency makes me feel unpleasant, but what can I do about it as a Finn living in Finland? Bigoted people who hate other people for racistic or other stupid reasons make me feel unpleasant. All the conflicts in the world... ...this planet is such a shithole. I feel Trump's wall behind my back and can't take steps back.

There's too many Silvestrov releases to know what to buy and not enough to have cheap options. I already have the cheap Naxos. The other stuff is not that cheap. Symphony 6? MDG has a nice-looking SACD...

[Turner]

Regarding Silvestrov, I´d go for the Metamusik & Postludium with Lubimov.
It´s £ 6.75 at
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/B00008MNCG/ref=sr_1_1_olp?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1521314892&sr=1-1&keywords=silvestrov+metamusik

and Euros 5.14 at
https://www.amazon.fr/gp/offer-listing/B00008MNCG/ref=sr_1_1_olp?ie=UTF8&qid=1521315036&sr=8-1&keywords=silvestrov+metamusik

Samples at https://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/classical/search?search_query=silvestrov+metamusik 
It´s quite simple, meditative music, say a bit like Pärt´s Tabula Rasa in that respect, though somewhat darker.

[71 dB]

Regarding Silvestrov, I´d go for the Metamusik & Postludium with Lubimov.
It´s £ 6.75 at
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/B00008MNCG/ref=sr_1_1_olp?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1521314892&sr=1-1&keywords=silvestrov+metamusik

and Euros 5.14 at
https://www.amazon.fr/gp/offer-listing/B00008MNCG/ref=sr_1_1_olp?ie=UTF8&qid=1521315036&sr=8-1&keywords=silvestrov+metamusik

Samples at https://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/classical/search?search_query=silvestrov+metamusik 
It´s quite simple, meditative music, say a bit like Pärt´s Tabula Rasa in that respect, though somewhat darker.

Thanks for the good recommendation! I'm listening to this CD on Spotify and liking what I hear so I just ordered the CD, £8.33 delivered. 

[Turner]

Thanks for the good recommendation! I'm listening to this CD on Spotify and liking what I hear so I just ordered the CD, £8.33 delivered. 

I can tell you it remains one of my favourite discs, after a good deal of years