Part VII of a massive series on examining the concept of a symphony, widely considered the most important form of classical music. Our exploration of the symphony continues with a look at Russia’s contributions, from Anton Rubinstein and Rimsky-Korsakov through Glazunov and lastly, touching on the long and complex nature of Alexander Scriabin’s Symphony No. 2 and No. 3.
Symphony, Part 07 (Russian)
Playlist
Episode 1
Anton Rubinstein: Symphony No. 1 in F major, Op. 40, I, II, IV
Slovak State Philharmonic Orchestra (Kosice)/Stankovsky
Rubinstein: Symphony No.1 / Ivan the Terrible
Naxos 8.555476; :52, 2:43, 9:07
Anton Rubinstein: Symphony No. 2 in C Major, Op. 42, Ocean, I, IV, VI, VII
Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra/Gunzenhauser
Symphonies Vol 2 – Symphony No. 2 ‘Ocean’
Marco Polo 8.220449; 11:47, 24:31, 1:38
Anton Rubinstein: Kamennoi-Ostrow Op. 10, No. 22
Josef Lhévinne, piano
The Welte Mignon Mystery Vol XVI / Josef Lhévinne
Tacet 180; 1:38 excerpt
Episode 2
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov: Symphony No. 1, Op. 1 in E Minor, I, III
Philharmonia Orchestra/Butt
Rimsky-Korsakov: Symphonies 1 & 2
ASV 1024; 9:15, 5:00
Mily Balakirev: Symphony 1 in C, I (excerpt), II (excerpt), III
Philharmonia Orchestra/Karajan
Herbert von Karajan Edition
EMI 63316; 1:22, 1:07, 3:47, 6:44, :36
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov: Symphony No. 2 in F Sharp Minor, Op. 9, Antar, I, IV, II (excerpt at end of program)
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra/Maazel
Classics – Tchaikovsky, Rimsky-Korsakov
Telarc 80131; 12:44, 8:20, 1:48
Episode 3
Alexander Borodin: Polovtsian Dances from Prince Igor (excerpt)
Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Ozawa
Borodin: String Quartet 1 & 2/ Borodin Quartet
EMI 47617; 1:27
Alexander Borodin: Symphony No. 1, I, IV
Toronto Symphony Orchestra/Davis
Borodin: Symphonies 1, 2 & 3
Sony 62406; :39, 13:18
Alexander Borodin: Symphony No. 2 in B Minor
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra/Kubelik
Borodin: Symphony 2, Polovtsian Dances; Mussorgsky
Seraphim 69021; 27:10, 1:08
Alexander Borodin (completed post. by Glazunov): Symphony No. 3, I
Toronto Symphony Orchestra/Davis
Borodin: Symphonies 1, 2 & 3
Sony 62406; 8:04
Episode 4
Alexander Glazunov: Symphony No. 1 in E major, Op. 5, Slavyanskaya, I
Royal Scottish National Orchestra/Serebrier
Glazunov – Symphonies 1, 2, 3 & 9 – Jose Serebrier
Warner 2564-68904-2; 10:11
Alexander Glazunov: Symphony No. 7 in F Major, Op. 77, Pastoral, II & III
Royal Scottish National Orchestra/Serebrier
Glazunov – Symphonies 1, 2, 3 & 9 – Jose Serebrier
Warner 2564-63236-2; 16:46
Reinhold Glière: Russian Sailor’s Dance from The Red Poppy (excerpt)
Philadelphia Orchestra/Ormandy
Sabre Dance
Columbia Masterworks MS 6958; :28
Reinhold Glière: Symphony No. 3 in B minor, Op. 42, Ilya Muromets, I & III
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra/Downes
Glière: Symphony No. 3
Chandos 9041; 15:11
Sergei Lyapunov: Symphony No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 66
USSR Symphony Orchestra/Svetlanov
Symphony No. 2 in B Flat Minor, Op. 66
Melodiya 10 00173; 6:59
Episode 5
Alexander Scriabin: Symphony No. 2 in C minor, Op. 29, III, IV, V
USSR Symphony Orchestra/Svetlanov
Scriabin – Symphony No. 2 Reverie
Russian Disc RDCD 11057 ; 2:21, 13:25, 2:49
Alexander Scriabin: Symphony No. 3 in C minor, Op. 43, The Divine Poem
I. Introduction & III. Jeu Divin
Philadelphia Orchestra/Muti
Scriabin * / Tchaikovsky *, The Philadelphia Orchestra , Riccardo Muti – Symphony No. 3 / Romeo & Juliet
EMI 49115; 35:53
