Russian Five: The Mighty Handful

November 15, 2021, 7:00 pm

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Five prominent composers; Balakirev, Mussorgsky, Cui, Borodin, and Rimsky-Korsakov all worked to help form the Russian National School of Composers, which later was named The New Russian School. These five composers, led by Mily Balakirev, all lived in Saint Petersburg and collaborated from 1856 to 1870. Throughout these five episodes, Bill will research each of these composers and demonstrate some of their most prominent works. Monday, Mussorgsky; Tuesday, Rimsky-Korsakov; Wednesday, Borodin; Thursday, Cui; Friday, Balakirev.

Playlist

Episode 1

Sherernetiev, Alexander: “Nine sili nebesniye” (excerpt)
Chorovaya Akademia/Sedov
Ancient Echoes
RCA Victor Red Seal – 09026-68055-2
2:25

Glinka, Mikhail: Life for the Tsar; Overture to a
USSR Symphony Orchestra/ Svetlanov
Orchestral Works
Melody 74321 53461 2
9:23

Glinka, Mikhail: A Life for the Tsar; Act IV (excerpt)
Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra/ Errnler; Nesterenko, baritone
Glinka: A Life for the Tsar (Ivan Susanin)
Mel 74321 39505 2
11:48

Glinka, arr. Balakirev: Karnarinskaya (excerpt)
Paley, piano
Balakirev: The Complete Piano Music, Volumes 3 and 4
Essay 1030/31
7:19

Balakirev, Mili: Kamarinskaya; Islamey (excerpt)
Arrau, piano
Claudio Arrau I
Phil 456 706-2
7:46

Borodin, Alexander: In the Steppes of Central Asia Philharmonia
Philharmonia Orchestra / Simon
Requiem
Cala 1029
6 :13

Cui, Cesar: Orientale, Op. 50, No. 9 from Kaleidoscope
Midori, violin, McDonald, piano
Encore!
Sony 52568
1:34

Cui, Cesar: “Ici-bas”
Bonynge, piano; Sutherland, soprano
Concertos
Lon 430 006-2
2:06

Episode 2

Balakirev, Mily: Symphony No. 2 (excerpts) 
BBC Phil/ Sinaisky
Balakirev: Symphony No. 2 · Piano Concerto
Chan 9727
:55

Borodin, Alexander: Symphony No. 1, I
Toronto Symphony/ Davis
Symphonies 1, 2 & 3, Overture & Polovtsian Dances from “Prince Igor”, In the Steppes of Central Asia
Sony 62406
13 :14

Balakirev, Mily: Symphony No. 2 (excerpts) 
BBC Phil/Sinaisky
Balakirev: Symphony No. 2 · Piano Concerto
Chan 9727
7:42

Borodin, Alexander: Symphony No. 2, I
USSR Symphony Orchestra/Svetlanov
Symphony No. 1, No. 2
Mel 10-00154
9:05

Borodin, Alexander: String Quartet No. 2, II
Borodin Quartet
String Quartet No. 1 in A; String Quartet No. 2 in D
Mel 47795 2
4:46

Borodin, Alexander: Prince Igor; Polovtsian Dances
Opera Orchestra and Chorus Kirov/Gergiev
Tchaikovsky 1812 • Borodin • Glinka
Phil 442011
11 :24

Bortnyansky, Dmitri: “Retche Gospod Gospodevi moyemu” (excerpt)

Corovaya Akademia/Sedov
Ancient Echoes
RCA Victor Red Seal – 09026-68055-2
2:17

Episode 3

Mussorgsky, Modest: The Nursery
Leiferkus, baritone; Skigin, piano
Mussorgsky Songs
Conifer 51229 2
1:54

Dargomyzhsky, Alexander: “The Night is Still”
Sharonova, soprano; Yurigin-Klevke, piano
Dargomyzhsky Cui
Russian Disc 11 021
1:56

Mussorgsky, Modest: The Nursery
Leiferkus, baritone; Skigin, piano
Mussorgsky Songs
Conifer 51229 2
14:35

Mussorgsky, Modest: The Nursery: Beetle
Leiferkus, baritone; Skigin, piano
Mussorgsky Songs
Conifer 51229 2
00:16

Mussorgsky, Modest: Pictures at an Exhibition
Horowitz, piano
Pictures At an Exhibition
RCA 60526-2
:39

Mussorgsky, Modest: Pictures at an Exhibition
Horowitz, piano
Pictures At an Exhibition
RCA 60526-2
29 :33

Episode 4

Mussorgsky, Modest: Khovantschin: Dawn on the Moskva River
USSR Symphony Orchestra/ Svetlanov
Orchestral Pictures from Russia
Mel 34167 2
6 :13

Mussorgsky, Modest: Boris Godunov (excerpts)
National Symphony Orchestra/ Rostropovich
Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov
Erato 45418-2
17 :30

Beethoven, Ludwig: Quartet for Strings No. 8, Op. 59 No. 2, Razumovsky (excerpt)
Guarneri Quartet
The Five Middle Quartets
RCA 60457
:28

Mussorgsky, Modest: Boris Godunov (excerpts)
National Symphony Orchestra/Rostropovich
Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov
Erato 45418-2
11 :04

Mussorgsky, Modest: Boris Godunov (excerpts)
National Symphony Orchestra/Rostropovich
Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov
Erato 45418-2
16 :29

Episode 5

Nikolsky, Alexander: “Lord, you are my enlightenment” (excerpt)
Chorovaya Akademia/ Sedov
Ancient Echoes
RCA Victor Red Seal – 09026-68055-2
:47

Rimsky-Korsakov, Nikolai: Scheherazade (excerpts)
Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Reiner
Scheherazade
RCA 7018
2:07

Rimsky-Korsakov, Nikolai: Symphony 2, “Antar”
Philharmonia Orchestra / Yondani Butt
Rimsky-Korsakov: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 2; Tsar’s Bride Overture; Fantasia
ASV CDDCA1024
11 :40

Rimsky-Korsakov, Nikolai: The Maid of Pskov; Overture
Kirov Theatre Orchestra and Chorus/ Gergiev
The Maid of Pskov (Ivan The Terrible)
Phil 446478
6:49

Rimsky-Korsakov, Nikolai: Capriccio Espagnole, IV & V
LSO/Mackerras; Gaehler, violin
Rimsky Korsakov: Scheherazade & Capriccio espagnol
Telarc 80208
8:07

Rimsky-Korsakov, Nikolai: Scheherazade (excerpts)
Chicago Symphony Orchestra/ Reiner
Scheherazade
RCA 7018
5 :39

Rimsky-Korsakov, Nikolai: The Flight of the Bumblebee
Philharmonia Orchestra/Ashkenazy
Scheherazade
Lon 417301-2
1:14

Rimsky-Korsakov, Nikolai: Scheherazade (excerpts)
Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Reiner
Scheherazade
RCA 7018
5 :39

Rimsky-Korsakov, Nikolai: Symphony 2, “Antar” (excerpt)

Philharmonia Orchestra /Yondani Butt
Rimsky-Korsakov: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 2; Tsar’s Bride Overture; Fantasia
ASV CDDCA1024
:30