Alfred Schnittke (1934-1998)

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Off the top of my head and in chronological order: Violin Sonata #2, Piano Quintet, Concerto for Piano and Strings, Peer Gynt, Symphony #8.

Great list, Edward. Really enjoy all of these works.

[Mirror Image]

Off the top of my head:
Symphonies nos. 2 & 4, Faust Cantata, Requiem & Choir Concerto

Yet, you have so much to explore.

[Mirror Image]

Currently:
Symphonies No.3 & 4, Concerto for piano and strings, Viola Concerto, Labyrinths.

All nice works, Ilaria. Surprised to see Labyrinths make it's way onto your list. Not that I don't enjoy the work, but it seems to be one of those lesser-known Schnittke works that people don't talk about much like one of his other ballets, Sketches.

[Karl Henning]

Off the top of my head:
Symphonies nos. 2 & 4, Faust Cantata, Requiem & Choir Concerto

I see that I have a recording of the Faust Cantata!  But have not yet listened.  Soon!

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I see that I have a recording of the Faust Cantata!  But have not yet listened.  Soon!

Which performance? DePreist? Boreyko? Rozhdestvensky?

[Karl Henning]

DePreist, I suppose!

[asin]B000027EI2[/asin]

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DePreist, I suppose!

[asin]B000027EI2[/asin]

Sweet! I love that whole recording. Enjoy, my friend.

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BTW, Karl, remind me, have you listened to Peer Gynt yet? Such an awesome work.

[Karl Henning]

I have, but only once, and I need to get back to it.

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I have, but only once, and I need to get back to it.

Wonderful! I'd love to hear your impressions of it whenever you've absorbed it again, Karl.

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Yes. Schnittke's father was a Volga German, and his mother a Russian Jew.That--plus his spending some of his teens in the Russian sector of Vienna--might explain a lot of the cultural cross-cutting in his work.

A correction: Schnittke's father was a German Jew and his mother was a Volga German.

[Karl Henning]

Okay, inspired by John's av . . . what will our playlist be for A Very Schnittke Christmas?

[Mirror Image]

Okay, inspired by John's av . . . what will our playlist be for A Very Schnittke Christmas?

Excellent question, Karl! Nice avatar, BTW.

Here would be a cool program:

Stille Nacht (naturally since this is a Holiday favorite)
(K)ein Sommernachtstraum
Four Hymns for chamber ensemble
Choir Concerto

[Karl Henning]

The av is from last year and (IIRC) by courtesy of Greg.

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The av is from last year and (IIRC) by courtesy of Greg.

Very nice, indeed.

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Excellent question, Karl! Nice avatar, BTW.

Here would be a cool program:

Stille Nacht (naturally since this is a Holiday favorite)
(K)ein Sommernachtstraum
Four Hymns for chamber ensemble
Choir Concerto

You know what? I should be ashamed of myself, I never followed-up with this A Very Schnittke Christmas program. Perhaps I'll do this over the weekend. Better late than never I always say.

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I'm not sure if any of my fellow Schnittkians have seen this performance of Gogol Suite with Rozhdestvensky, so here is the full performance:

https://www.youtube.com/v/YO5cVoA4j-U

[Brian]

BIS founder and CEO Robert von Bahr says he wants the final movement of Schnittke's cello sonata played at his funeral.

[snyprrr]

After being in DSCHland for so long, and lately listening to both the VCs, I was massively put off by Schnittke's VCs just now, how interesting. I was going with VC4, and I was rolling my eyes at all the editing and cut and paste and so forth, whilst, of course, at the same time enjoying just the aural spectacle (Kremer/Teldec). But, with DSCH's VC2H was


oh, sheeet, I just accidentally Deleted everything, oh well,

DSCH = beautiful

Schnittke = bitter and ugly



I also compared Penderecki's VC1, which seemed like a middle ground almost, although it's exhausting in its relentlessness, and very monolithic. The two Russians are much more colourful. But DSCH is purely musical, whereas Schnittke, well,...maybe I just don't approve, mmm. maybe I think he panders?


I mean, I  certainly like listening to this kremer set, it sounds great, so, you know, it's all good, I'm just being critical.

carry on (Benny Hill)

[lescamil]

I'm not sure if any of my fellow Schnittkians have seen this performance of Gogol Suite with Rozhdestvensky, so here is the full performance:

https://www.youtube.com/v/YO5cVoA4j-U

That is not the Gogol Suite, but rather another suite that Rozhdestvensky assembled based on some of Schnittke's film music.