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

[AnotherSpin]

Having never heard a note of his music, where would you all recommend I start?

I started with some early ECM recordings of Silvestrov, such as Bagetellen und Serenaden.

[AnotherSpin]

Well I can't understand the words. It's obviously not late Feldman, it's obviously very different from late Feldman,  but my experience of listening shows something in common. For one thing, there's the very Feldmanesque feeling of wondering whether this is a repeat of music you heard before, and not being sure at all. A strange disorienting effect of memory. Feldman was also preoccupied by quietness in his later music, and egoless performance.

I approached this cycles from a different angle, through poetry. Some of the poems are very close to me, and it seems that Silvestrov's music not only perfectly suits the mood and meaning of the poems, but enhances them.

[Mandryka]

I approached this cycles from a different angle, through poetry. Some of the poems are very close to me, and it seems that Silvestrov's music not only perfectly suits the mood and meaning of the poems, but enhances them.

Yes, I've heard that point of view elsewhere but it's not accessible to me. Interesting music though, no doubt about it.

[AnotherSpin]

Yes, I've heard that point of view elsewhere but it's accessible to me. Interesting music though, no doubt about it.

Also, some of the songs are written to poems that have already been put to music, and in the previous version(s) are not only famous, but also popular. Which does not prevent Silvestrov from creating his own version, and making it better, as I hear it.

[foxandpeng]

Having never heard a note of his music, where would you all recommend I start?

Symphonies 4 and 5 

[brewski]

Having never heard a note of his music, where would you all recommend I start?

If you like choral works, this recent recording of his song cycle Maidan is quite moving.

https://ecmrecords.com/product/valentin-silvestrov-maidan-kyiv-chamber-choir-mykola-hobdych/

-Bruce

[AnotherSpin]

[Mandryka]

This is presumably Bruno Maderna conducting the creation of the third symphony at Darmstadt.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5v6HAWy8xo&ab_channel=NiniHampo

[Mandryka]

https://silvestrov.bandcamp.com/album/silent-songs-1974-1977

This collection of Silent Songs is interesting for Track 15 -- which has Silvestrov singing. This is what he wanted!  He certainly didn't get it from the singer in all the other tracks -- Yuriy Oleynik.  Sergey Yakovenko's closer though, on the ECM release.

There's more songs with Silvestrov singing here  -- Kitsch songs this time.

https://silvestrov.bandcamp.com/album/kitsch-songs-1973

[AnotherSpin]

I have a mixed feelings of Valentin Silvestrov's singing.

Of the some available recordings of Silent Songs I return to the version with Yakovenko. Some songs are achingly beautiful, also because of the lyrics.

[Mandryka]

I have a mixed feelings of Valentin Silvestrov's singing.

Of the some available recordings of Silent Songs I return to the version with Yakovenko. Some songs are achingly beautiful, also because of the lyrics.

According to  Peter Schmelz (Sonic Overload), Silvestrov has expressed some reservations about Yakovenko - there are times when he's too heroic, too forceful for the composer. But yes, that ECM recording is magic.

[Mandryka]

Live performance of the second piano sonata from Hayk Melikyan here - to complement Evgeny Gromov's on bandcamp (Gromov seems  less forceful and heroic, more self effacing - hence better. But it could be a sound thing.)

Having never heard a note of his music, where would you all recommend I start?

The second piano sonata.

[AnotherSpin]

According to  Peter Schmelz (Sonic Overload), Silvestrov has expressed some reservations about Yakovenko - there are times when he's too heroic, to forceful for the composer. But yes, that ECM recording is magic.

Well, in comparison with Martynov with Lyubimov and Krimmel with Grimaud, Yakovenko sounds the best for me.

[Mandryka]

Well, in comparison with Martynov with Lyubimov and Krimmel with Grimaud, Yakovenko sounds the best for me.

Agreed

[foxandpeng]

Huh. Silvestrov on Bandcamp. Wouldn't have guessed that.

Listening to Symphony 1 from there now, with Volodimir Sirenko conducting the National Philharmonic of Ukraine back in May 2001.

I like Silvestrov, and this is another helpful way to hear him. 17 minute symphony with lots of atmosphere and looking nervously over your shoulder - very much in my wheelhouse.

[Mandryka]

https://silvestrov.bandcamp.com/album/space-of-memory-and-time-live-at-khanenkiv-museum-2023

Interesting to contrast the performance of the 3rd piano sonata here, from Evgeny Gromov, with Lubimov's (sweeter?) recording. This bandcamp release looks valuable. Sylvestrov's three piano sonatas seem to me to be magnificent!  Gromov also a great new discovery.

[Mandryka]

Nice Qt 1 from Matangi. More than nice - they make the music sound like a masterpiece. How crude and vulgar the Schnittke Qt 3 sounds by comparison.

But what does the last chord mean?

[Mandryka]

@AnotherSpin Do you know if Silvestrov was aware of Giya Kancheli? Superficially at least, there's something similar about what they do. 

[André]

Late Kancheli and late Silvestrov do have a degree of similarity to them. Early-mid: not at all. I don't know why their respective aesthetics converged over time.

[AnotherSpin]

@AnotherSpin Do you know if Silvestrov was aware of Giya Kancheli? Superficially at least, there's something similar about what they do. 

Yes, both composers were well-acquainted with each other's work. Silvestrov has a cycle dedicated to Kancheli, titled Five Melodies for the New Year.