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Home , Carlo Colombara, Carmen Giannattasio, Yuri Temirkanov

St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra St Petersburg on 2 CDs Philharmonic Signumclassics Orchestra

Verdi

Yuri Temirkanov Giannattasio Veronica Simeoni Alexander Timchenko Carlo Colombara www.signumrecords.com Mikhailovsky Available through record stores and at www.signumrecords.com For more information call +44 (0) 20 8997 4000 Theatre Chorus '

Verdi Requiem Verdi Requiem

Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901) CD 1 1 No.1 Requiem 8.39 By the time Verdi came to compose Aïda in he did not quite follow Rossini’s example of 2 No.2 (i) Dies Irae 2.15 1870, it seemed as if his time as a composer laying down his pen for the latter part of his 3 (ii) Tuba Mirum 3.25 was nearing its end. With some 23 to adult life. 4 (iii) Liber scriptus 5.34 his name, he was the grand old man of the 5 (iv) Quid sum miser 3.45 6 (v) Rex tremendae 3.54 genre in and was revered throughout his The death of the poet and novelist Alessandro 7 (vi) Recordare 4.27 homeland and much of the rest of Europe as Manzoni in 1873 spurred Verdi immediately 8 (vii) Ingemisco 3.47 one of the most important musical figures of back into compositional action. He proposed 9 (viii) Confutatis 5.20 the age. His first great operatic success story to the Mayor of , via his publisher bl (ix) Lacrymosa 6.02 Total timings 47.10 was , which had catapulted him to Ricordi, that he would like to compose a instant fame as a young man, 30 years before requiem for the great man to commemorate CD 2 1 No.3 Offertorio 4.38 Aïda and, after the incredible trio of , the first anniversary of his death. That 2 Hostias 6.15 and La Traviata in the early 1850s, the proposition was so readily agreed is 3 No.4 Sanctus 2.43 4 No.5 Agnus Dei 4.42 Verdi’s star never looked likely to fade. But, testament not only to Manzoni’s popularity as 5 No.6 Lux aeterna 6.25 in the early 1870s and fast approaching the writer of Italy’s most widely read novel, 6 No.7 Libera me 13.58 60 years of age, the composer appeared I promessi sposi, but to his position as an Total timings 38.43 to be happy enough adopting the life of a ardent Italian nationalist and prime literary country squire, pottering about on his farm supporter of the movement for the liberation at Sant’Agata, outside Milan and overseeing and unification of Italy -il Risorgimento. Still St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra various productions of his stage works. He regarded as one of Italy’s most cherished Yuri Temirkanov conductor completed only two more operas in the last artistic treasures and, indeed, a paradigm 20 years of his life, but as these happened to for the modern Italian language, I promessi www.signumrecords.com be a pair of masterpieces, Otello and Falstaff, sposi was an instant and runaway success 2 3 from its first publication in 1827. It remains a national hero and sublime author, but by early April the following year. With throughout his adult life, and so only an the most popular historical novel in Italy also a stellar personality and humanitarian Rossini and Manzoni dead, he was now the event of the magnitude of Manzoni’s passing and has undergone numerous treatments without parallel. Such was his admiration only survivor of the revered Italian artistic could trigger the desire to complete the mass in film, and other media. While its that he appears to have deliberately avoided triumvirate. Verdi had suggested that a and record his personal debt to the writer. subject matter seems innocent enough - meeting Manzoni and when his wife, after requiem mass be commissioned from leading Lombardy under oppressive Spanish rule in a meeting with Manzoni, brought back a Italian composers a few years earlier, on The first performance of the Messa da the early Seventeenth Century – readers of portrait signed, ‘to , a glory of Rossini’s death in 1868. While the composite Requiem took place as planned on the the day were quick to seize on the parallels Italy, from a decrepit Lombard’ he returned work was finished by all parties, it was never first anniversary of Manzoni’s demise, on between the Spanish overlords and their the favour, inscribing his own portrait with performed due to various disagreements, 22 May 1874 in the church of San Marco, own eighteenth-century predicament under the words, ’I esteem and admire you as much and so Verdi’s contribution – the concluding Milan, with a chorus of 120, the female Austrian rule. Verdi was an enormous fan as one can esteem and admire anyone on Libera me - lay unsung in the archives of his choristers apparently gaining special of the novel and his earliest operas reflect this earth, both as man and true honour of publisher, Ricordi. Noticed a couple of years dispensation from the church authorities in as much – picking up on the growing our country so continually troubled. You are a later by a perspicacious conductor, Alberto order to sing in a clerical building. Fittingly, nationalist sentiment of the times. Even saint, Don Alessandro’. Verdi did eventually Mazzucato, Verdi was soon in receipt of a the work was performed at opera the redoubtable Sir Walter Scott, supplier overcome his shyness and the two Italian letter, Mazzucato describing the movement house three days later, and again the or inspirer of some of the most popular masters met in 1868 in Milan. The composer, as, ‘the finest, the greatest and the most mass was a triumph. Not everybody was song lyrics and opera libretti of the century, though, was still overawed, writing, ‘What vastly poetic piece of music that could be happy, though. The esteemed conductor thought I promessi sposi unrivalled as the can I say of Manzoni? How to describe the imagined’. At the time he was relatively and oftentimes colleague of Wagner, Hans finest romance of the day. extraordinary, indefinable sensation of that unmoved, claiming that while, ‘Your remarks von Bülow was in Milan at the time of the saint ... produced in me’. Verdi could not would almost have planted the desire in me initial performances and announced that Despite Manzoni’s advanced age (he was 88 bear to attend Manzoni’s funeral and instead to set the mass in its entirety at some later he should not be considered among the when he fell down some church steps to his visited the burial site alone at a later date to date ... It’s a temptation that will pass like ‘foreigners’ in the city to hear the work and, death), when Verdi heard of his death he was pay his respects. so many others. There are so many Requiem more infamously, in the Allgemeine Zeitung, distraught: ‘Now all is over, and with him ends Masses; there’s no point in adding one that the Requiem was ‘Verdi’s latest opera, the most pure, the most holy, the greatest of By late June 1873, Verdi was already at work more’. Never the most religious of men, Verdi in ecclesiastical robes’. Nonetheless, the our glories’. To Verdi he was more than just on the Requiem and the mass was complete veered between atheism and agnosticism Requiem met with major success in its many

4 5 subsequent European performances, and But the softer, poignant passages that founded to perform in the ‘imperial presence’ Serge Koussevitsky. In 1917 the Orchestra though the Italian press were scandalised abound in the piece are testament to the - at receptions and official ceremonies and became the State Orchestra and following by von Bülow’s remarks, he was swiftly put deep conviction with which Verdi was at the balls, plays and concerts at the the Decree of 1921 it was incorporated into in his place by none other than the mighty composing – not necessarily a religious Imperial Court. The pinnacle of this type of the newly founded Petrograd Philharmonic, Brahms: ‘Bülow has made an almighty fool conviction, but the fervour of a final farewell activity was the participation of the choir in the first of its kind in the country. Shortly of himself. Only a genius could have written to two beloved Italians - Rossini, and most 1896 in the coronation ceremony of Nicholas afterwards an unprecedented number of such a work’. especially Manzoni. As to whether the II. In 1897 the Court Choir became the great Western conductors began to come Requiem can truly ever escape the world Court Orchestra, its musicians having been to conduct the orchestra. Their names enjoy Of course, there are many who would still of opera when written by a man who spent transferred from the military and given the unquestioned authority in today’s musical claim that von Bülow has a point. The mass his life composing for the theatre, let’s same rights as other actors of royal theatres. world: Otto Klemperer (who also conducted does include extremes of dynamic markings leave the last word to Verdi himself: ‘One In the early 20th century the orchestra was the subscription concerts), Bruno Walter, (from the ppp with which the work opens and must not sing this Mass in the way that one permitted to perform at commercial concerts Felix Weingartner and many more. Soloists closes, to the fff, tutta forza of the famously sings an opera, and therefore phrasings and for the general public. The series of concerts Vladimir Horowitz and Sergey Prokofiev awe-inspiring Dies irae repetitions) and a dynamics that may be found in the theatre ‘Orchestral Collections of New Music’ saw (the latter performing his piano concertos) multitude of tempo indications producing won’t satisfy me at all, not at all’. the first Russian performances of Richard appeared with the orchestra. On the initiative a fair amount of drama which could be Strauss’ symphonic poems Ein Heldenleben of foreign conductors, the orchestra began said to have its roots in the operatic world. © M Ross and Also sprach Zarathustra, Mahler’s First to play modern repertoire - Stravinsky, Symphony, Bruckner’s Ninth Symphony and Schoenberg, Berg, Hindemith, Honegger, Skryabin’s Poem of Ecstasy. There was a Poulenc and continued to premiere the music ‘historical series’, concerts featuring the of contemporary Russian composers. Back in St Petersburg PhilharmonicOrchestra works of a single composer and a series of 1918, directed by the composer, the orchestra subscription concerts, some of which were had premiered the Classical Symphony of The St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, was established - the prototype of today’s accompanied by a lecture or an introductory Prokofiev, and in 1926 Shostakovich made ’s oldest symphonic ensemble, was Honoured Collective of the Russian Federation. address. Among the conductors were world- his debut when Nikolay Malko conducted founded in 1882. In that year, by Order Thus, in 2007, the orchestra celebrated its renowned musicians such as Richard Strauss, Shostakovich’s First Symphony in the Great of Alexander III, the Court Musical Choir 125th anniversary. The Musicians’ Choir was Arthur Nikisch, Alexander Glazunov and Hall of the Philharmonia. In 1934 the

6 7 orchestra was the first in the country to performed in this period and beyond with orchestra celebrating its 125th anniversary Concert for the International Music Day and receive the title of the Honoured Orchestra other famous conductors including Leopold and in December 2008 Yuri Temirkanov’s celebrated the 125th anniversary of Igor of the Republic. Four years later Evgeny Stokowski, Igor Markevich, Kurt Sanderling, 70th birthday. In the newly refurbished Stravinsky. The orchestra also visited the Mravinsky, the First Prize winner of the Arvid Jansons, Mariss Jansons, Gennady Philharmonic Hall the orchestra gave with USA with a major concert tour, including National Conductors Competition, joined Rozhdestvensky and Evgeny Svetlanov. Krzysztof Penderecki the first St. Petersburg several performances in Carnegie Hall. the orchestra and for the next 50 years he performance of his Polish Requiem, took In March 2009 the orchestra inaugurated gradually transformed it into one of the best In 1988 on the initiative of the orchestra, Yuri part in a concert with Rodion Shchedrin in the recording studio of the St Petersburg orchestras in the world. Temirkanov became the principal conductor which the composer played his First Piano Philharmonia with a performance in the of the most famous national orchestra. So Concerto, performed at the Marathon- Great Hall of Verdi’s Requiem. For the performance of Tchaikovsky and began the ‘Temirkanov era’, the period of Shostakovich symphonies, the orchestra collaboration with one of the most sought- rapidly became ‘the model’. The orchestra’s after conductors of our times. In the last virtuosity put it on a par with the orchestras few years the orchestra has given many YURI TEMIRKANOV of von Karajan and Walter and the Royal world premieres and opened the 2005-2006 Concertgebouw Orchestra as the best season at Carnegie Hall, the culmination of Yuri Temirkanov became the artistic director toured internationally and performed with interpreters of Mozart during the Viennese its performances in all the most prestigious and chief conductor of the St. Petersburg orchestras from the US, France and Germany. festival dedicated to Mozart’s 200th concert halls of the world. In 2006/7, after Philharmonic Orchestra in 1988. Looking In early 1967 Temirkanov conducted a anniversary. Unique in the musical world was a long gap, the orchestra went for the first back to Temirkanov’s early career, a key concert in the Philharmonic Hall and after also the creative alliance of Mravinsky and time on a large-scale concert tour around event was his victory at the 2nd National this performance Evgeny Mravinsky offered Shostakovich. Many of the symphonies were Russia. It performed in Siberia in Irkutsk, Conductors’ Competition in 1966. From that him the position of assistant conductor. From premiered by Mravinsky and they became Surgut, Khanty-Mansiysk and took part in moment onwards, Temirkanov, a graduate 1968 the maestro was head of the Academic the centerpieces of the repertoire, both at the 2nd International Music Festival ‘Stars student of the Leningrad Conservatory (from Symphony Orchestra of the Philharmonia. He home and abroad on tour. We may imagine at Baikal’. The tour finished with great the class of Professor Ilia Musin) overnight widened the orchestra’s repertoire and took how deeply Shostakovich appreciated this success in Moscow where in June 2007 the entered the ranks of the most sought-after them on tour to Europe, Japan and the US. collaboration when he dedicated the Eighth orchestra closed the 2nd Festival of the conductors of his generation. Together with In 1976 Temirkanov became the artistic Symphony to Mravinsky. The orchestra also World Symphony Orchestras. 2007/8 saw the and he director and chief conductor of the Kirov

8 9 (Mariinsky) Theatre. Here he created classic he has been principal guest conductor of birthday brought to Temirkanov the President nurturing of St. Petersburg’s spiritual and productions of Eugene Onegin and Queen the Bolshoi Theatre and Music Director of the of Russia award and the Abbiati award, The cultural inheritance a personal priority. of Spades by Tchaikovsky as well War and Teatro Reggio in Parma. Best Conductor of the Year. Last season the He founded the Temirkanov International Peace by Prokofiev and more recently Peter I maestro was elected Honorary Academic of Foundation for Cultural Initiatives and in by Petrov and Dead Souls by Shchedrin. The main focus, however, of his career for Academy of Santa Cecilia and was awarded 1998 created the Temirkanov award for At this time Kirov also started actively almost 20 years has been the St. Petersburg the St. Petersburg Government Award. talented young musicians, granted on yearly performing abroad. The theatre toured the Philharmonic Orchestra. He regularly Despite the intensity of his concert schedule, basis to outstanding students of Musical US, Japan and many countries of Europe, performs in St. Petersburg to conduct the Temirkanov has made the preservation and School of St. Petersburg Conservatory. including England, for the first time in traditional opening and closing concerts of history. Temirkanov inititated symphony the season. He also tours extensively with concerts by the theatre orchestra both in the orchestra and took them to Carnegie Hall Russia and abroad. in 2005 in as part of the official ceremony of the UN General Assembly in commemoration • In the same period Temirkanov began his of the 60th anniversary of Victory day. Under Recorded at the Great Philharmonic Hall, St Petersburg, on 2 March 2009 collaboration with many world famous the direction of Temirkanov, St. Petersburg Engineer - Neil Hutchinson orchestras. In 1978 Temirkanov worked Philharmonic became the first Russian Assistant Engineers - Ilya Petrov and Alexander Gerutsky for the first time with Royal Philharmonic orchestra to perform at the opening concert Producer - Anna Barry Orchestra and in 1992 became its chief of the season in this famous New York Photo credit - Vadim Yegorovsky conductor. From 1992 until 1997 he was also concert hall. Design - Andrew Giles principal guest conductor of the Dresden www.signumrecords.com www.saintpetersburgphilharmonic.com Philharmonic. In 1998 he moved from the Temirkanov’s activities have been recognized RPO to Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra by numerous awards and titles. Yuri where he remains principal guest conductor. Temirkanov holds the title of the People’s 2010 The copyright in this recording is owned by St Petersburg Philharmonic © 2010 The copyright in this CD booklet, notes and design is owned by Signum Records Ltd. For 6 seasons (2000-2006) Temirkanov Artist of the USSR, he has received several Any unauthorised broadcasting, public performance, copying or re-recording of Signum Compact Discs constitutes an infringement of copyright and will render the infringer liable to an action by law. Licenses for public performances or broadcasting may be obtained from Phonographic Performance Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this booklet may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, was the chief conductor of the Baltimore State Awards and Orders (including the Order or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission from Signum Records Ltd. Symphony Orchestra and from 2007-2008 of Merit of the 2nd grade). The year of his 65th SignumClassics, Signum Records Ltd., Suite 14, 21 Wadsworth Road, Perivale, Middx UB6 7JD, UK. +44 (0) 20 8997 4000 E-mail: [email protected]

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