Scriabins Temple

[Moonfish]

I think I have been listening to Scriabin for hours (YouTube can be a temptation). Probably four different versions of Poem of Ecstasy at this late hour.  Very transcendent - I lean towards Svetlanov at this point.       A Scriabin comparison "game" would be fun. By the way - does GMG do them nowadays or are they just distant memories of the past?

Scriabin: Poem of Ecstasy
USSR Symphony Orchestra
Svetlanov

https://www.youtube.com/v/Pn5GcJFq-Qw


Hmm, what do you think about Salonen's performance (Philharmonia O; BBC Proms 2010)?

Scriabin: Poem of Ecstasy
Philharmonia Orchestra
Salonen

https://www.youtube.com/v/HAnVrdQ3qFk

[aukhawk]

I seem to recall there's a Zubin Mehta / LAPO recording of that somewhere, coupled with a most luscious Verklarte Nacht.

I get on better with the piano music and Klara Min was rightly recommended by Todd see here:
http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,26952.msg1101922.html#msg1101922

[Moonfish]

I seem to recall there's a Zubin Mehta / LAPO recording of that somewhere, coupled with a most luscious Verklarte Nacht.

I get on better with the piano music and Klara Min was rightly recommended by Todd see here:
http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,26952.msg1101922.html#msg1101922

Thanks for the recommendation, Aukhawk! So many recordings of Scriabin's piano works. Quite a maze!

[Moonfish]

After reading this thread, sampling Scriabin on YouTube for hours and much pondering I went for....

Neeme Järvi's Scriabin performances of the symphonies:

[asin] B00000IM6S[/asin]

and the early Melodiya Scriabin/Svetlanov recordings..... (Svetlanov's overall performances in the realm of classical music are growing on me)

[asin] B0093OQ2R4[/asin]

Following Cato's advice for the piano works:(it seems like Ponti has mixed reviews and I don't like Vox's plastic boxes for some reason)
(for some reason the Ponti 5 cd set was only $13 on Amazon, but "higher powers" have now corrected the price - go figure!)

[asin]B00007J4SK[/asin]

[asin] B00007J4SI[/asin]

[Moonfish]

SCRIABIN: COMPLETE WORKS - DECCA 18 CD BOX

http://www.classicalcdreview.com/scriabinbox.html
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2015/Aug/Scriabin_complete_4788168.htm

A lot of real rarities here, which is the main reason for acquiring the set, plus some decent performances, and some less interesting ones too.

But: I just discovered that CD 4 and CD 10 has been switched in the box set.
So that CD 4 contains the material of CD 10, and vice-versa.
Luckily, it´s all there anyway.

What wonderful music he composed.

The MusicWeb review for the Decca box is quite interesting (and detailed)! 
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2015/Aug/Scriabin_complete_4788168.htm

[Moonfish]

I came across what looks like a very interesting biography focused on Alexander Scriabin:
Scriabin, a Biography by Faubion Bowers
Dover; ISBN 978-0486288970

https://smile.amazon.com/Scriabin-Biography-Second-Revised-Dover/dp/0486288978/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1527842727&sr=1-1&keywords=bowers+scriabin

"This definitive biography of Alexander Scriabin (1871–1915), newly revised and updated by the author, incorporates many confessional letters and personal reminiscences in a vivid, highly personal portrait of the controversial Russian composer. One of the visionary pioneers who sought a new musical language — at least a full decade before the advances of Stravinsky and Schoenberg — Scriabin immersed himself in a search for a way to express, in sound, the mystical and theosophical ideals that obsessed him.
This monumental biography probes the complexities of the composer's personal revolution as it chronicles the turbulent events of his upbringing, marital life, and career: his tours of Europe and America, abandonment of his wife, brushes with homosexuality and madness, and the flowering of an unrealized vision to synthesize all of art and life in an all-encompassing final work. Originally published in two volumes, the work is republished here in one volume unabridged, complete with a catalog of Scriabin's works and 49 rare photographs."

[Cato]

Yes, the Faubion Bowers book is still the standard biography, as far as I know!

Welcome to Scriabin's Temple indeed!  I recall coming across the Poem of Ecstasy via a record showing Gustav Klimt's painting called The Kiss over 50 years ago. 

After that, I was hooked!  It was like WSCR, "All Scriabin, all the time!" 

[Moonfish]

Yes, the Faubion Bowers book is still the standard biography, as far as I know!

Welcome to Scriabin's Temple indeed!  I recall coming across the Poem of Ecstasy via a record showing Gustav Klimt's painting called The Kiss over 50 years ago. 

After that, I was hooked!  It was like WSCR, "All Scriabin, all the time!" 

Oh, good. I think that will be one of my "summer" books! I'm quite interested in Russian history and culture overall and there is no better way to add to that journey. Encounters with biographies just adds to the understanding - highlights so to say. Besides, it also adds to the listening experience. 
Thanks for the welcome to Scriabin's Temple, Cato!  0:)

[Moonfish]

Scriabin: Symphony No. 1
Avdeeva/Grigoriev
The Republican Choir
The State Academy Symphonic Orchestra
Svetlanov
(1963)

A first listen to Scriabin's First Symphony via Svetlanov's recording from 1963. I'm very impressed - this is a marvelous symphony: inviting and vibrant throughout. The sound is much better than I expected. Excellent!  I must admit that I was a bit surprised as I expected a much more chaotic soundscape - instead it is warm, vibrant and filled with various interconnecting themes. It is obviously early Scriabin so he can be viewed as being a bit more conventional. I have sampled his later symphonic works and the chaos aspects don't seem severe (at least in my ears). Perhaps the solo piano works are a different story entirely?  This particular symphony is very colorful - I can't help mentioning that after reading about Scriabin. Are the rumors true that he partially perceived music within the realm of colors? Intriguing! I'm also glad that I chose Svetlanov's early recordings from the 1960s as a first encounter. I was hesitating between Muti and Svetlanov, but my recent "Russian listening" has favored Svetlanov.  I couldn't help but to opt for the Russian forces as I approached Scriabin.  It was serendipity that it was still available via a vendor. I'm thinking about checking out Kitajenko's recording with the Frankfurt orchestra later on for a comparison. Great music!!!!!  Five stars! 0:) 0:) 0:) 0:) 0:)

[aukhawk]

Chromesthesia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chromesthesia
is apparently a thing, yes.

[Cato]

Scriabin: Symphony No. 1
Avdeeva/Grigoriev
The Republican Choir
The State Academy Symphonic Orchestra
Svetlanov
(1963)

A first listen to Scriabin's First Symphony via Svetlanov's recording from 1963. I'm very impressed - this is a marvelous symphony: inviting and vibrant throughout. The sound is much better than I expected. Excellent!  I must admit that I was a bit surprised as I expected a much more chaotic soundscape - instead it is warm, vibrant and filled with various interconnecting themes. It is obviously early Scriabin so he can be viewed as being a bit more conventional. I have sampled his later symphonic works and the chaos aspects don't seem severe (at least in my ears). Perhaps the solo piano works are a different story entirely?  This particular symphony is very colorful - I can't help mentioning that after reading about Scriabin. Are the rumors true that he partially perceived music within the realm of colors? Intriguing! I'm also glad that I chose Svetlanov's early recordings from the 1960s as a first encounter. I was hesitating between Muti and Svetlanov, but my recent "Russian listening" has favored Svetlanov.  I couldn't help but to opt for the Russian forces as I approached Scriabin. It was serendipity that it was still available via a vendor. I'm thinking about checking out Kitajenko's recording with the Frankfurt orchestra later on for a comparison. Great music!!!!!  Five stars! 0:) 0:) 0:) 0:) 0:)

I owned a copy of that recording when it first came out!  The Russians are indeed a logical choice for Scriabin, but certainly others since the time of that recording make their cases quite well.  Yes, Scriabin seems to have had synaesthesia.

I think most would agree that Scriabin worked out his musical progress first on the piano: certainly the Fifth Symphony shows parallels with some of the later sonatas.  Most radical of all is the unfinished Prefatory Action: Universe which was given life by composer and Scriabin acolyte Alexander Nemtin.  To fill in gaps in the sketch, he orchestrated parts of the late piano works, and then apparently created whole movements by composing variations on the original sketches.

So you end up with a remarkable hybrid! 

[kyjo]

A first listen to Scriabin's First Symphony via Svetlanov's recording from 1963. I'm very impressed - this is a marvelous symphony: inviting and vibrant throughout. The sound is much better than I expected. Excellent!  I must admit that I was a bit surprised as I expected a much more chaotic soundscape - instead it is warm, vibrant and filled with various interconnecting themes. It is obviously early Scriabin so he can be viewed as being a bit more conventional. I have sampled his later symphonic works and the chaos aspects don't seem severe (at least in my ears). Perhaps the solo piano works are a different story entirely?  This particular symphony is very colorful - I can't help mentioning that after reading about Scriabin. Are the rumors true that he partially perceived music within the realm of colors? Intriguing! I'm also glad that I chose Svetlanov's early recordings from the 1960s as a first encounter. I was hesitating between Muti and Svetlanov, but my recent "Russian listening" has favored Svetlanov.  I couldn't help but to opt for the Russian forces as I approached Scriabin.  It was serendipity that it was still available via a vendor. I'm thinking about checking out Kitajenko's recording with the Frankfurt orchestra later on for a comparison. Great music!!!!!  Five stars! 0:) 0:) 0:) 0:) 0:)

I love Scriabin's First Symphony as well, especially the glowingly lyrical, life-affirming finale with its vocal solos and choral contributions. In general, I think Scriabin's symphonies are quite underrated - my favorite is the dramatic Second, which charts a powerful journey from darkness to light.

[snyprrr]

Stravinsky-to-Messiaen-to-Satie-to-Debussy-to-Chopin....

so now I'm at Scriabin, whom I've always found Dreary Dreary Dreary,... I'm only talking Piano Music right now (I have fond memories of the last two Orchestral Works).

All I have is Op.74, and, yea, I'm getting nothing out of it (off of a supremely dreary CD, 'Preludes to A Revolution', wouldn't be without it!!)... currently listening to Sokolov playing the 'Black Mass',... yeeea,...ahhh,... I'm SUPPOSED to like this... I had the Horowitz back in the early 90s, Scriabin was too much for me, and, as a fan of Esoterix, I just didn't get Scriabin's "satanism" (please, I only mean it in the "blahblahblah" sense)...the darkness, or is it madness... Lovecraft?...

Oh, Karl's not going to be pleased...


I'm thinking perhaps you could recommend me some earlier, tuneful, works,... please?!!

[Madiel]

I'm thinking perhaps you could recommend me some earlier, tuneful, works,... please?!!

Sonatas.

[vandermolen]

I love Scriabin's First Symphony as well, especially the glowingly lyrical, life-affirming finale with its vocal solos and choral contributions. In general, I think Scriabin's symphonies are quite underrated - my favorite is the dramatic Second, which charts a powerful journey from darkness to light.

+1

[SurprisedByBeauty]

I'm thinking perhaps you could recommend me some earlier, tuneful, works,... please?!!

Preludes!

[snyprrr]

Preludes!

This is what I ended up ordering:

1) Lisitsa 'Nuances & Ashkenazy 'Vers la Flamme'... mostly because, between them, they have a LOT of the smaller, cool, pieces. Whether their playing is the cat's meow, will shall see, but, I do like the layout.

2) Volodos at Carnegie, and in Vienna, which have PS 7&10, and some small pieces. Why? VOLODOS!!

3) Mikhail Rudy 'Late Works' on Calliope



As for the Sonatas, 1&3&5 are too extrovert for me; I really liked 2&4. I really liked the behemoth 8,but this time I found 9 just kind of clangy (I liked 6 better than 9)... still working on 7 and 10...

[snyprrr]

I've been reeeally digging into Scriabin- what a complex and fascinating Composer! I'm even surprised by his EarlyWorks,... great melodic  and harmonic invention, so tuneful!

I've finally mapped out all the PRELUDES- some are the most beautiful thing I've heard, and some are just Crash&Burn. It seems like people like Richter and Horowitz prefer the inflamed Scriabin, whereas I prefer the quieter stuff. Yea, I really don't care for all that Romantic ANGST.- so, it's interesting when Scriabin replaces the crash/bang in his LateWorks with a more scampering capriciousness.

He certainly IS King of the Miniature,... more so than Satie (two totally different manifestations of the same thing?)...


Anyhow, Scriabin dying from a pimple on his lip seems to fit his "crime" of overstepping God? Seems fitting, and he didn't make it to the end of WWI like the other ArchOccultist Debussy... interesting 'invisible' stuff here, imo...

[zamyrabyrd]

I've been reeeally digging into Scriabin- what a complex and fascinating Composer! I'm even surprised by his EarlyWorks,... great melodic  and harmonic invention, so tuneful!

I've finally mapped out all the PRELUDES- some are the most beautiful thing I've heard, and some are just Crash&Burn. It seems like people like Richter and Horowitz prefer the inflamed Scriabin, whereas I prefer the quieter stuff. Yea, I really don't care for all that Romantic ANGST.- so, it's interesting when Scriabin replaces the crash/bang in his LateWorks with a more scampering capriciousness.

He certainly IS King of the Miniature,... more so than Satie (two totally different manifestations of the same thing?)...

Anyhow, Scriabin dying from a pimple on his lip seems to fit his "crime" of overstepping God? Seems fitting, and he didn't make it to the end of WWI like the other ArchOccultist Debussy... interesting 'invisible' stuff here, imo...

Can you give some examples of the quieter stuff?  I'd like to hear other than variations of the Poem of Ecstasy.

PS He actually succumbed in Moscow in 1915, so also missed the Revolution. Interesting to speculate what would have happened with him.

[Cato]

I've been reeeally digging into Scriabin- what a complex and fascinating Composer! I'm even surprised by his EarlyWorks,... great melodic  and harmonic invention, so tuneful!

I've finally mapped out all the PRELUDES- some are the most beautiful thing I've heard, and some are just Crash&Burn. It seems like people like Richter and Horowitz prefer the inflamed Scriabin, whereas I prefer the quieter stuff. 

Can you give some examples of the quieter stuff?  I'd like to hear other than variations of the Poem of Ecstasy.

How about the Mazurkas, Opus 3 ?  #5, #9, and #10 might be to the liking of both of you. 0:)  Also, the later set of Mazurkas, Opus 25 has several "meditative" pieces.

https://www.youtube.com/v/bynx_QnvYtw

PS He actually succumbed in Moscow in 1915, so also missed the Revolution. Interesting to speculate what would have happened with him.

An enemy of the people, undoubtedly!  To be sure, he was a revolutionary, but a musico-theological one!  Scriabin and Socialist Realism?  As they say these days, "I'm not feeling that one!"