“I have spoken Russian all my life. I think in Russian, my way of expressing myself is Russian. Perhaps this is not immediately apparent in my music, but it is latent there, a part of its hidden nature.” —Igor Stravinsky, Russian born, naturalized French, and then American, spoke these words in a emotionalvisit to his homeland after an almost fifty-year absence. 2017 marks the 100th anniversary of Vladimir Lenin’s return to Russia, arriving at the Finland Station in St. Petersburg, and changing the course of history. For the next two weeks, we will follow the lives of some of our favorite Russian musicians, and how the revolution changed them and their music. Starting a decade before the Revolution, we will then spend a little time on the period 1918 to 1924, Lenin’s reign, featuring all sorts of avant-garde composers and poets and playwrights, and then plunge on into the era of Stalin, with the music of Shostakovich and many others. We will pay attention to Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes, which featured Rimsky-Korakov, Stravinsky, Prokofiev, and Rachmaninov among others. The latter three remained in the West after the revolution, and Prokofiev returned to the USSR in the Thirties. Hop on this train!
To the Finland Station, Part I
Playlist
Episode 1
Rachmaninoff, Sergei: Aleko Introduction; Intermezzo; Men’s Dance
USSR State Symphony Orchestra/ Evgeny Svetlanov, conductor
Anthology of Russian Symphony Music:
Rachmaninov – Symphonic Dances / 6 Choirs / Aleko Svetlanov
Melodiya 10-00144
11:14
Rachmaninoff, Sergei: Aleko (excerpt)
USSR State Symphony Orchestra/ Evgeny Svetlanov, conductor
Anthology of Russian Symphony Music:
Rachmaninov – Symphonic Dances / 6 Choirs / Aleko Svetlanov
Melodiya 10-00144
1:59
Rachmaninoff, Sergei: Piano Concerto No. 3 in D Minor, Op. 30
1. Allegro Ma Non Tanto
Sergei Rachmaninoff, piano
Rachmaninoff Plays Rachmaninoff
RCA 61658
13:57
Rachmaninoff, Sergei: The Bells (Kolokola) Op.35
I. Allegro ma non tanto (‘The Silver Sleigh Bells’)
III. Presto (‘The Loud Alarum Bells’)
Rundfunkchor Berlin, Berlin Philharmonic/Sir Simon Rattle
Rachmaninov
Warner 84519
14:10
Rachmaninoff, Sergei: Vespers, Op. 37:
I. Come, let us worship; XV. O queen victorious
Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir/Paul Hillier, conductor
All Night Vigil
HMU 907384
4:23
Rachmaninoff, Sergei: Etudes-Tableaux Op. 39, No. 3, F# minor Allegro Molto
Alexander Romanovsky, piano
Etudes Tableaux Op. 33; Variations On A Theme Of Corelli Op. 42
London 4763334
2:51
Episode 2
Stravinsky, Igor: Symphony No. 1 in E-Flat, Op. 1
II. Scherzo. Allegretto
London Symphony Orchestra/Dorati, conductor
Symphony N° 1 in E Flat Major – Scherzo fantastique Op. 3
London 414456
1:00
Stravinsky, Igor: Fireworks, Op. 4
Columbia Symphony Orchestra/Stravinsky, conductor
Stravinsky Conducts Stravinsky: The Firebird
CBS 42432
3:38
Stravinsky, Igor: Firebird “Infernal Dance of King Kashchei,” “Berceuse,” “Finale”
Minnesota Orchestra/Eiji Oue, conductor
Stravinsky: The Song of the NIghtingale • The Firebird Suite • The Rite of Spring
RR 70
11:02
Stravinsky, Igor: Petrouchka IV. Fourth Tableau: The Shrovetide Fair
Columbia Symphony Orchestra/Igor Stravinsky, conductor
Stravinsky Conducts Stravinsky: Petrushka / Le Sacre Du Printemps
CBS 42433
13:04
Stravinsky, Igor: Le Sacre Du Printemps – Part 1
“The Adoration Of The Earth,” “Introduction,” “Dances of the Young Girls,”
“Mock Abduction,” “Round Dance”
Cleveland Orchestra/Pierre Boulez, conductor
Pétrouchka · Le Sacre Du Printemps
DG 435769
11:26
Stravinsky, Igor: Le Sacre Du Printemps – Part 2
“The Sacrifice,” “Summoning Of The Ancients,”
“Le Ritual of The Ancients,” “Sacrificial Dance”
Cleveland Orchestra/Pierre Boulez, conductor
Pétrouchka · Le Sacre Du Printemps
DG 435769
7:15
Episode 3
Prokofiev, Sergei: Juvenilia II. Allegretto In A Minor
Frederic Chiu, piano
Works For Piano, Vol. V
HMU 907169
1:22
Prokofiev, Sergei: Symphony No.1 (excerpt)
Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra/Hugh Wolff, conductor
HUGH WOLFF, SAINT PAUL CHAMBER ORCHESTRA-FIRST SYMPHONIES
Teldec 77309
1:08
Prokofiev, Sergei: 4 Pieces For Piano, Op. 4 “Suggestion Diabolique”
Frederic Chiu, piano
Works For Piano, Vol. V
HMU 907169
2:31
Prokofiev, Sergei: Toccata in D Minor, Op. 11
Frederic Chiu, piano
Works For Piano, Vol. V
HMU 907169
4:09
Prokofiev, Sergei: Piano Concerto No. 1 in D Flat, Op.10:
Allegro brioso; III. Allegro scherzando
Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal/Charles Dutoit, conductor
Martha Argerich, piano
Piano Concertos Nos.1 & 3 / Piano Concerto No.3
EMI 56654
11:15
Prokofiev, Sergei: Scythian Suite, Op. 20 –
“Night,” “The Adoration Of Veless & Ala,”
“The Enemy God,” “Dance of The Spirits of Darkness”
Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Abaddo, conductor
Alexander Nevsky – Lieutenant Kijé – Scythian Suite
DG 447 419
8:57
Prokofiev, Sergei: Symphony No.1
I. Allegro;
II. Larghetto
III. Non Troppo Allegro;
IV. Allegro Molto Vivace
Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra/Hugh Wolff, conductor
HUGH WOLFF, SAINT PAUL CHAMBER ORCHESTRA-FIRST SYMPHONIES
Teldec 77309
13:18
Episode 4
Rimsky-Korsakov, Nikolai: Scheherazade, Op. 35 Excerpt
Chicago Symphony Orchestra/ Fritz Reiner, conductor
Scheherazade
RCA 68168
0:20
Rimsky-Korsakov, Nikolai: Scheherazade, Op. 35
“Festival At Baghdad,” “The Sea,” “Shipwreck”
Chicago Symphony Orchestra/ Fritz Reiner, conductor
Scheherazade
RCA 68168
11:45
Liadov, Anatoly: The Enchanted Lake, Op. 62
Russian National Orchestra/Mikhail Pletnev, conductor
The Enchanted Kingdom
DG 447084
7:04
Liadov, Anatoly: Baba-Yaga, Op. 56
Russian National Orchestra/Mikhail Pletnev, conductor
The Enchanted Kingdom
DG 447084
3:35
Scriabin, Alexander: Etude, Op. 65/3
Sviatoslav Richter, piano
Scriabin: Etudes · Sonata No. 6 · Myaskovsky: Sonata No. 3 · Prokofiev: Sonata No. 7
Melodiya 74312 29470
1:31
Scriabin, Alexander: Symphony No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 29
IV. Tempestoso
V. Maestoso
London Symphony Orchestra/Valery Gergiev, conductor
Symphonies Nos 1 & 2
LSO 0770
13:23
Glazunov, Alexander: Concerto for Violin, Op.82, in A moll
I. Moderato
IV. Allegro
London Philharmonic Orchestra/John Barbirolli; Jascha Heifetz, violin
The Heifetz Collection, Volume 2: 1925-1934
RCA 61733-2
10:06
Taylor/J. Ragovoy: Romance of a Young Gypsy
Nicolai Gedda, tenor
Nicolai Gedda
Melodiya 74312 29470
1:42
Episode 5
Pierre De Geyter/Eugène Pottier: Internationale
USSR Radio Choir and Orchestra, State Academic Russian Choir
Songs of the World Revolution 1 / Various
Itunes
0:43
Mosolov, Alexander: Iron Foundry
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra/Riccardo Chailly, conductor
Symphony No.3 / Arcana / Iron Foundry
London 436640
3:35
Mosolov, Alexander: Turkmenian Nights III. Allegro
Olga Andryushchenko, piano
Complete Works for Solo Piano
Grand Piano GP743-44
2:18
Theremin, Leon: playing his own composition
Leon Theremin
Youtube
1:33
Shostakovich, Dmitri: “Odna” (Alone), Op.26 –
Music from the film – Storm Scene: Storm Breaks
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra/ Riccardo Chailly, conductor
The Film Album
London 460792
1:00
Rózsa, Miklós: Spellbound “Gambling Dream”
Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, Allan Wilson, conductor
Spellboun
Intrada Excalibur Collection MAF 7100
2:39
Feinberg, Samuil: Piano Sonata No. 12, Op. 48
III. Epilogue. Tempo
Christophe Sirodeau, piano
FEINBERG: Piano Sonatas Nos. 7-12
Bis 1414
2:24
Avraamov, Arseny: The Workers’ Funeral March
Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra/N. Malko
Itunes
4:17
Shostakovich, Dimitri: Symphony No. 1
1. Allegretto; 2. Allegro; 3. Lento, Largo
Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra/Valery Gergiev
Symphonies Nos. 1 & 15
MARO502
22:03
Vincent Youmans/Shostakovich: “Tahiti Trot” (Tea For Two)
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra/Riccardo Chailly
The Jazz Album
London 433702
2:46
