GeorGy sviriDov Cast aDrift

DE 1631

WorlD Premiere, orCHestral version st. PetersburG state symPHony orCHestra style of five ensemble

Constantine orbelian1 , conductor ORIGINAL DELOS DE 1631 SVIRIDOV: RUSSIA CAST ADRIFT • HVOROSTOVSKY DIGITAL

The Virgin in the City* in the ♦ The Virgin , BARITONE , CONDUCTOR , CONDUCTOR STYLE OF FIVE ENSEMBLE Total Playing Time: 36:34 Total , a vocal poem , a vocal Petersburg * From ARRANGED BY EVGENY STETSYUK EVGENY BY ARRANGED DMITRI HVOROSTOVSKY WORLD PREMIERE, ORCHESTRAL VERSION ORCHESTRAL WORLD PREMIERE, CONSTANTINE ORBELIAN CONSTANTINE GEORGY SVIRIDOV: GEORGY ST. PETERSBURG STATE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA STATE PETERSBURG ST. RUSSIA CAST ADRIFT ADRIFT CAST RUSSIA Autumn ♦ I LeftAutumn Me, Before Behind ♦ Open My Home Autumn ♦ Oh, I Believe, I Believe in Happiness! ♦ O My I Believe Autumn ♦ Oh, I Believe, O My Guardian Angel ♦ Silver Path ♦ Russia Cast Adrift ♦ Russia Cast ♦ Path Angel ♦ Silver O My Guardian It Sounds, It Sounds, the Fateful Trumpet! ♦ An Owl Cries in Trumpet! the Fateful It Sounds, It Sounds,

O My Father’s House? ♦ Beyond the Hills of the Milky Way ♦ the Milky Way the Hills of Beyond House? ♦ O My Father’s

Simon, Peter ... Where Are You? Come to Me ♦ Where Are You, You, Are Me ♦ Where Come to You? Are ... Where Simon, Peter Homeland, O Joyful And Eternal Hour! Homeland, O Joyful And Eternal

ORIGINAL DIGITAL

DELOS DE 1631 SVIRIDOV: RUSSIA CAST ADRIFT • HVOROSTOVSKY GEORGY SVIRIDOV: RUSSIA CAST ADRIFT WORLD PREMIERE, ORCHESTRAL VERSION ARRANGED BY EVGENY STETSYUK

1. Autumn (2:22) 9. It Sounds, It Sounds, the Fateful Trumpet! (3:05) 2. I Left My Home Behind (2:22) 10. An Owl Cries in Autumn (2:42) 3. Open Before Me, O My Guardian Angel (3:23) 11. Oh, I Believe, I Believe in Happiness! – O My Homeland, O Joyful and 4. Silver Path (2:31) Eternal Hour! (5:23)

5. Russia Cast Adrift (2:00) 12. Bonus track: The Virgin In the City* (4:15) 6. Simon, Peter ... Where Are You? Come to Me (4:04) Total Playing Time: 36:34 7. Where Are You, O My Father’s House? (2:46) 8. Beyond the Hills of the Milky Way * From Sviridov’s Petersburg, a vocal poem (1:41)

DMITRI HVOROSTOVSKY, BARITONE ST. PETERSBURG STATE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA STYLE OF FIVE ENSEMBLE CONSTANTINE ORBELIAN, CONDUCTOR 2 his recording once again reunites Dmitri a great father. He was a man of outstanding Hvorostovsky with the music of one of intellect and humor, and his knowledge This most admired , Georgy and admiration for Russian poetry was Sviridov (1915-1998). Personally knowing enormous. I will remember him all my life.” Sviridov, working with him and performing They became friends, and Sviridov wrote his music, was, in the singer’s words, “an Petersburg (1995) for Dmitri: nine songs on enormous epoch” in his life. verses by . That composition was later recorded by Delos together with They first met in 1994: a 79-year-old icon Sviridov’s first masterpiece, Six Romances of Russian music and a rising international on verses by (1935) – star singer, born almost half a century later. and with Russia Cast Adrift, all three works The occasion was Dmitri’s performance of became an important part of Hvorostovsky’s Russia Cast Adrift (Otchalivshaya Rus) in concert repertoire. . Written for tenor and in 1977 on verses by (1895-1925), it “Working on Sviridov’s music was a very was known in Russia, most notably due to important educational experience for me,” said performances by the great mezzo-soprano Hvorostovsky. “At first glance, his songs seem Elena Obraztsova. For Hvorostovsky the simple. However, they demand the deepest performer, however, it was his first encounter emotional involvement. It is not enough to just with Sviridov’s songs. sing them beautifully. From the first note you are immersed in his whole world. The music The , usually strict and demanding colors each word with pain and unspeakable (especially when it came to performances purity … it tortures you emotionally. I always of his own music), took a liking to Dmitri go through very strong, very dramatic inner right away and enthusiastically approved his conflicts while performing it.” interpretation. A few days later, Hvorostovsky and pianist Michail Arkadiev performed Fearlessly, Hvorostovsky has now decided Russia Cast Adrift at the Los Angeles to return to Sviridov’s music, specifically to a standing ovation, and then to great to Russia Cast Adrift. He embarked again acclaim around the world. Their recording of on this emotionally charged journey not it on Philips was released in 1996. only because of his experiences over the twenty-plus years since his first recording; As Hvorostovsky later recalled, “Sviridov was one that had enormously enriched both his an austere man, but to me he was kind, like expressive palette and musical perspective.

3 He also did it to realize Sviridov’s unfulfilled During his lifetime, Sviridov turned to wish to orchestrate Russia Cast Adrift. The Yesenin’s poetry a few more times: in a composer had mentioned his plans for four-movement cantata, Wooden Russia orchestration in his diary as early as in 1981- (Dereviannay Rus’, 1964) for orchestra and 82 – but his intentions were left unrealized. chorus (it exists also in a later version as a song cycle for two voices and piano with the The new version offered here – brilliantly same title), and in Two Choruses (1967). Only adapted by Evgeny Stetsyuk for orchestra poetry by Yesenin’s contemporary Alexander and Style of Five, an ensemble of Russian folk Blok (1880-1921) got more musical settings instruments, and conducted by Constantine by Sviridov, who also set literature by Orbelian – closely reflects the sonic effects Pushkin, Lermontov, Shakespeare, Robert and colors of the vividly depictive piano Burns, Avetik Isaakyan, Mayakovsky and score. Bells ring, winds blow, waves “whisper,” many others. geese cry, wings flap, and the magnificent stillness of expansive Russian landscapes The composer was not only drawn to alternates with sweeping flights through Yesenin’s verses – musical, sincere and time and space. Russian in soul and sound – but also to the tragic and rebellious personality of This new orchestration also dramatically this village-born genius who committed magnifies both the epic scope and profound suicide in 1925 at the age of thirty. There is philosophical meaning of the work. Not by a 1976 entry in Sviridov’s diary – not long chance did the composer define the genre before he created Russia Cast Adrift – about of Russia Cast Adrift as a “vocal poem,” Yesenin and his poetry: ”… everything is thus stressing its conceptual unity and deep, from the soul. Everything is simplicity connecting the work to his monumental itself; everything is truth, not a shadow of Poem in Memory of Sergey Yesenin for tenor, pretentiousness or self-adoration … He gave chorus and orchestra. Written in 1956, this his heart to people. He will live on until the “Poem“ (as well as its close predecessor My last Russian is alive on earth”. Father is a Peasant (Moi otetz krestianin for tenor, baritone and piano, 1955) was crucial Always perfectly attuned to language and in bringing Yesenin’s name back onto the poetry and thoughtful in his selections, list of the “officially accepted” artists after Sviridov chose a few short poems for Russia decades of harsh ideological criticism by Cast Adrift – along with some excerpts Soviet cultural authorities. from Yesenin’s larger works – to build a

4 philosophical narrative about the soul and Having been strongly influenced by church fate of a poet and his beloved country. singing since childhood, he dedicated All were written between 1914 and 1920, his entire creative life to music for voice – during the most dramatic and turbulent both in the choral and chamber genres, period in modern Russian history: the years and incorporated many features of Russian of World War One, the Bolshevik revolution folk and church music into his own organic and the devastating Civil War. Although musical language. In Russia Cast Adrift, he is Yesenin explored his favorite topics here – at the peak of his mastery, bringing together the beauty of Russian landscape, love for the best qualities of his style: seemingly Mother Russia, Christian faith, loneliness traditional yet recognizably original, laconic and longing – they all seem to take on an yet immensely rich, austere yet emotionally especially dark tone. intense.

The verses also overflow with religious Sviridov is celebrated and admired in Russia, symbolism: Jesus and other biblical figures but remains relatively unknown beyond its appear, sad premonitions are felt, and borders. Dmitri Hvorostovsky has taken on cosmic fires burn. Moments of intimacy, the personal mission of making his music lyricism and strong melancholy contrast more widely known. This album is yet with images of tragic destruction – but there another vital and lasting contribution from are also evocations of hymn-like, epic, and Hvorostovsky – and it is as deep, personal triumphant grandeur. At the end, Russia and sincere as the music itself. – “My golden land,” as the poet calls it, watched over by God, is seen through the — Maya Pritsker eyes of someone who loves it passionately and believes in its special destiny and in its survival in the eternal battle of good and Editor’s note: A bonus track (No. 12: The Vir- evil. gin in the City) has been added to the pro- gram. This is the ninth and final song from Sviridov, whose songs were often a means Sviridov’s Petersburg, a vocal poem (see of expressing his spiritual independence above program notes, p. 3). and inner resistance to Soviet officialdom, not only shared these sentiments; he also identified to some degree with the poet.

5 1. Osen’ Autumn

Tikho v chashche mozhevelya pa abryvu, In the juniper thicket by the cliff, osen’- ryzhaya kabyla cheshet grivu, autumn, like a chestnut mare, Nad rechnym pakrovom beregof softly shakes her mane. slyshen sinii liask yiyo padkof. Over the river’s veiled banks, one hears the blue ring of her hooves.

Veter – skhimnik shagom astarozhnym Like a monk, with careful steps, mnyot listvu pa vystupam darozhnym, the wind tramples the leaves i tseluet na ryabinovom kustu on the rutted road, yazvy krasnye nezrimomu Khrisru. and, on a rowan bush, kisses the unseen Christ’s scarlet wounds.

2. Ya pakinul radimyi dom I Left My Home Behind

Ya pakinul radimyi dom I left my home behind, galubuyu astavil Rus’. renouncing blue Russia. F tri zvezdy bereznyak nat prudom Dangling over the pond, Teplit materi staroi grust. three stars of birch melt my old mother’s grief.

Zalatoyu liagushkoi luna Like a golden frog, the moonshine rasplastalas’ na tikhoi vade. dapples the still water. Slovno yablonnyi tsvet, sedina Sprinkles of gray, like apple blossoms, u atsa pralilas v barade. show in my father’s beard.

Ya ne skoro, ne skoro vernus’! I won’t return for a very long time! Dolga pet’ i zvinet’ purge. Singing blizzards will long ring. Sterizhot zalatuyu Rus’ An ancient, one-legged maple staryi klion na adnoi nage. keeps vigil over blue Russia.

I ya znayu, est radost’ v nyom, And I know that I would tem, kto listyef tseluyet dosht’, kiss its rain of leaves with joy, attavo, shto tot staryi klion for the maple tree’s head golovoi na menya pakhosh. is much like my own.

6 3. Atvari mne, strash zaoblachnyi Open Before Me, O My Guardian Angel

Atvari mne, strash zaoblachnyi, Open before me, O my guardian angel, Galubye dveri dnya. the day’s blue gates. Belyi angel etoi polnochyu Yesterday at midnight, a white angel maivo uvyol kanya. took my horse from me. Bogu lishnivo ni nadabna, God doesn’t need him – kon’ moi – moshch maya i krep’. my horse, my power and strength. Slishu ya, kak rzhot on zhalabna, I hear his pathetic whinny, zakusif zlatuyu tsep’. as he champs his golden bit.

Vizhu, kak on byotsa, mechitsa, I see him struggling and flailing, teribya tugoi arkan, tugging at his tight halter, i letit s nivo, kak s mesitsa, his dark hair flying into the mist, sherst bulanaya f tuman. as if from the moon.

4. Seribristaya daroga Silver Path

Seribristaya daroga, Silver path, ty zaviosh minya kuda? where do you lead me? Svechkoi chistochetvirgovoi Above me shines a star, Nada mnoi garit zvizda. like a burning candle in holy week.

Grust’ ty ili radost’ teplizh? Is there joy or grief in your warmth? Il’ k bizumyu pravish bek? Or do you lead straight into madness? Pamagi mne sertsem veshnim Help me to love your bitter snow dalubit’ tvoi zhostkiy snek. with a heart of spring.

Dai ty mne zariu na drovni, And bring me dawn on a wooden sleigh, Vetku verby na uzdu. a sprig of willow in the horse’s bridle. Mozhet byt’, k vratam gaspodnim Perhaps I can find sam sibya ya prividu. heaven’s gates alone.

7 5. Atchalifshaya Rus’ Russia Cast Adrift

Zemlya maya zlataya! My golden earth! Asenniy svetlyi khram! Shining temple of autumn! Gusei kriklivykh staya A flock of noisy geese nisyotsa k ablakam. flies up to the clouds.

To dush priobrazhennykh A countless host neschislimaya rat’, of transformed souls, s azior padnyafshis’ sonnykh rises from the sleepy lake, litit v nibesnyi sat. ascending to heaven’s garden.

A fpiridi ikh lebit’, And a swan leads them, v glazakh, kak roshcha, grust’. a grove of sorrow in its eyes. Ni ty li plachish v nebe, Is that you wailing in the heavens, atchalifshaya Rus’? Russia cast adrift? Leti, leti, ni beisya, Fly, fly, don’t worry, fsimu svoi chas i brek. there’s a time and place for everything. Vitra stekayut f pesniu, The wind descends, flowing into my song, a pesnya kanet v vek. and my song fades away into time.

Leti, zlataya Rus’! Fly, golden Russia!

6. Simone, Pyotr… Gde ty? Pridi… Simon, Peter ... Where Are You? Come to Me

“Simone, Pyotr… Gde ty? Pridi…” “Simon, Peter ... Where are you? Come here Vzdrognuli vyotly: “Tam, fperidi!” to me ... “ “Simone, Pyotr… Gde ty? Zavu!” The willows quivered: “There, just ahead!” Shepchitsa kto-to: “Krichi f sinivu!” “Simon, Peter ... Where are you? I call to you!” Kriknul – I gromko vzdybilsya mrak. Someone whispers: “Call into the blue!” Vyshel s katomkoi ryshiy rybak. He called out, and the darkness bristled loudly. “Druk… ty atkuda?” “Shol za taboi…” Out came a redheaded fisherman with a “Kto ty?” – “Iuda”, – shamknul priboi. knapsack. “My friend ... where did you come from? I followed you ... who are you?” “Judas,” murmured the surf.

8 7. Gde ty, gde ty, otchiy dom Where Are You, O My Father’s House?

Gde ty, gde ty, otchiy dom Where are you, where are you, grefshiy spinu gad bugrom? O my father’s house, Siniy, siniy moi tsvitok, as it warms your back on the hill? niprikhozheniy pisok. My blue, blue flower, untracked sand.

Gde ty? Za rekoi payot pitukh – Where are you? Beyond the river, a tam stada stiryok pastukh, cock crows – a shepherd guards his flock, i svitilis’ iz vady and three faraway stars Tri dalyokie zvizdy. glow in the water.

Vremya – melnitsa s krylom Time, on a windmill’s wings, apuskait za silom swings the moon down behind the village mesyats mayatnikom v rosh like a pendulum, streaming lit’ chisof nizrimimyi dosht’. an unseen rain of hours into the rye.

Etot dozhdik s sonmom strel The rain, with arrows flying, f tuchakh dom moi zavirtel, spun my house in the clouds. Galuboi skasil tsvitok, It mowed down the blue flower, zalatoi primyal pisok. flattening the golden sand.

Gde ty, gde ty, Where are you, where are you, otchiy dom? O my father’s house?

8. Tam, za mlechnymi khalmami Beyond the Hills of the Milky Way

Tam, za mlechnymi khalmami, Beyond the Milky Way’s hills, Sred’ nibesnykh topolei, amid the heavenly poplars, aprakinulsia nad nami silver-stringed Aquarius srebrostrunnyi Vadalei. stumbled from the sky above.

On Midveditsei s lazuri – He ladled the Great Bear kak iz bochki chirpakom. up from the blue, like water from a barrel. V nebo prygnufshaya burya A storm, springing into the sky, sela mesiatsu virkhom. straddled the moon.

9 V vikhre snitsa sonm umershikh, In the maelstrom I dream of hosts molokom dymyashchiy sat. of dead men, of a garden steaming Vizhu, det moi tyanit vershei like milk. I see my grandfather sontse s poldnya holding the sun in a net na zakat. from noonday to sundown.

9. Trubit, trubit pagibelnyi rok! It Sounds, It Sounds, the Fateful Trumpet!

Trubit, trubit pagibelnyi rok! It sounds, it sounds, the fateful trumpet! Kak zhe byt’, kak byt’ tiper’ nam What are we going to do now, what to do na izmyzgannykh liashkakh darok? along the road’s muddied thighs?

Skoro zamoros’ izvestiu vybelit The frost will soon whiten this village, Etot pasiolok i eti luga. and wash these meadows white. Nikuda nam ni skrytsa at gibeli, Nowhere can you go to escape death, nikuda ni uyti at vraga. nowhere can you escape the enemy.

Vot on, vot on s zhileznym bryukhom, There he is, there he is, with belly of iron, tyanit k glotkam ravnin pyaterniu… splaying out his fingers to the plains’ throats ...

Trubit, trubit pagibelnyi rok! It sounds, it sounds, the fateful trumpet!

10. Pa-asennimu kychet sava An Owl Cries in Autumn

Pa-asennimu kychet sava In autumn, an owl cries nad razdol’em dorozhnoi rani. over the stretches of the early morning road. Abletayet maya galava, My head drops its leaves, kust valos zalatistyi vyanit. the golden bush of my hair fades.

Palivoe, stipnoe “ku-ku,” The owl cry of the field and steppe, zdrastvui, mat’ galubaya asina! I greet you, my mother - blue aspen! Skoro mesyats, kupayas’ f snigu, The moon, as it swims in snow, siadit v retkie kudri syna. will soon set amid your son’s scant curls.

10 Skoro mne bez listvy kholodet’, Soon, bare of leaves, shall I freeze, zvonom zviost nasypaya v ushi. as the stars’ ringing fills my ears. Bez minya budut unoshi pet’, Without me, the young will still ring – ni minya budut startsy slushat’. but the old will no longer hear me.

Novyi s polya pridyot paet, From the field, a fresh poet will arise, v novom les aglasistsa sviste. A new pipe will resound in the forest. Pa-asennimu syplet vetr, The winds of autumn blow, pa-asennimu shepchut listya. and autumn’s leaves whisper.

11. O veryu, veryu, shchastye est’! Oh, I Believe, I Believe in Happiness! – O Rodina, shchaslivyi i neiskhodnyi chas! – O My Homeland, O Joyful and Eternal Hour!

O veryu, veryu, shchastye est’! Oh, I believe, I believe in happiness! Yishcho i sontse ne pagaslo. The sun isn’t snuffed out yet. Zarya malitvenikom krasnym With its red book of prayer, the dawn Prarochit blagosnuyu vest’. foretells the wondrous news.

Zveni, zveni zlataya Rus’, Ring out, ring out, O golden Russia, Valnuisya, niuemnyi veter! Rage on, tumultuous wind! Blazhen, kto radastiu atmetil Blessed is he who answered Tvayu pastusheskuyu grust’. your shepherd’s grief with joy.

Liublu ya ropot buinykh vot I love the thunder of stormy waters I na volne zvizdy siyanie. and a star’s twinkle on a wave. Blagoslovennoe stradanye, Blessed suffering Blagoslavlyaushchiy narot. from a blessing nation.

• •

O Rodina, shchaslivyi O my homeland, i neiskhodnyi chas! O joyful and eternal hour! Net luchshe, net krasivei Nothing could be better or lovelier tvaikh karovyikh glas. than your cowlike gaze.

11 Tibe, tvaim tumanam To you, your mists i oftsam na palyakh, and the sheep in your fields, nisu, kak snop afsyanyi, I bring in my arms the sun, ya sontse na rukakh. like a bundle of oats.

Sviatis’ pripoloveniem, May the liturgy sanctify you, i rozhdestvom sviatis’, may Christmas bless you, shtop zhazhdushchie bdeniya so that the thirsty vigils bessmertiem napilis’. may drink their fill of immortality.

Tibe, tvaim tumanam To you, your mists i oftsam na palyakh, and the sheep in your fields, nisu, kak snop afsyanyi, I bring in my arms the sun, ya sontse na rukakh. like a bundle of oats.

I ni edinyi kamen’, And not one single stone, cheris prashu i luk, whether from sling or bow, ne padabyot nad name, will reach God’s arms, padyatie Bozhikh ruk. that stretch above us.

Tibe, tvaim tumanam To you, your mists i oftsam na palyakh, and the sheep in your fields, nisu, kak snop afsyanyi, I bring in my arms the sun, ya sontse na rukakh. like a bundle of oats.

12. Bogomater’ v gorode The Virgin In the City (bonus track from Petersburg)

Ty prokhodish’ bez ulybki, You are passing by without a smile, opustivshaya resnitsy, your eyes are cast down, i vo mrake nad Soborom and in the darkness above the Cathedral zolotyat’sa kupola. the golden domes are shining.

Kak litso tvoyo pokhozhe Your face resembles so vividly na vechernykh Bogorodits, the evening Virgins,

12 opuskayushchikh resnitsy who cast down their eyes, Propadayushchikh vo mgle... who disappear in the darkness...

No s toboi idyot kudryavyi But there is a little boy with you, Krotkii mal’chik v beloi shapke, a curly-haired, gentle boy, wearing a white cap. ty vedyosh’ evo za ruchku, You are leading him by the hand, ne dayosh’ emu upast’. you do not allow him to fall.

Ya stoyu v teni portala, I am in the shade of the portal, tam, gde duet rezkii veter, where the sharp wind blows, zastilayushchyi slyozami and my strained eyes napriazhennye glaza. are clouded with tears.

Ya khochu vnezapno vyiti I would like to spring up before your eyes i vosckliknut’: “Bogomater’! and to exclaim “Oh, Virgin! diya chevo v moi chiornyi gorod Why have you brought the Infant ty mladentsa privela?” to my black city?”

No yazyk bessilen kriknut’, But my tongue is powerless to shout; ty prokhodish’, za toboyu, you are passing by, and, behind you, nad svyashchennymi sledami, above the blessed footprints, pochivaet sinii mrak. the blue darkness slumbers.

I smotryu ya, vspominaya, And I remain, watching, remembering kak opushcheny resnitsy, your downcast eyes, kak tvoi mal’chik v beloi shapke and how your little boy with a white cap ulybnulsa na tebya. smiled at you.

13 to the Middle East, from Australia to South America — Dmitri has appeared at such venues as Wigmore Hall, London; Carnegie Hall, New York; the Teatro alla Scala, Milan; the Tchaikovsky Conservatoire, Moscow; the Liceu, Barcelona; the Suntory Hall, Tokyo; and the Musikverein, Vienna.

Dmitri retains a strong musical and person- al contact with Russia. He became the first opera singer to give a solo concert with or- chestra and chorus on Red Square in Mos- cow, a concert televised in over 25 countries. Dmitri has gone on to sing a number of prestigious concerts in Moscow as a part of his own special series, "Dmitri Hvorostovsky and Friends." He has invited such celebrated artists as Renée Fleming, , Eli- na Garanca, Sumi Jo, , Internationally acclaimed Russian baritone Jonas Kaufmann, Marcello Giordani and Ildar Dmitri Hvorostovsky was born and stud- Abdrazakov. In 2005 he gave a historic tour ied in Krasnoyarsk, Siberia. From the start, throughout the cities of Russia at the invita- audiences were bowled over by his cultivated tion of President Putin, singing to crowds of voice, innate sense of musical line and natu- hundreds of thousands of people to com- ral legato. His career has taken him to all the memorate the soldiers of the Second World world’s major opera houses and renowned War. Dmitri has major annual tours through- international festivals, including Royal Opera out Russia and C.I.S. countries. House, Covent Garden, New York’s Metropol- itan Opera, Paris Opera, Bayerische Staatsop- Dmitri’s extensive discography spans recitals er Munich, Salzburg Festival, La Scala Milan, and complete . He has also starred Vienna State Opera and Chicago Lyric Opera. in Don Giovanni Unmasked, an award-win- ning film (by Rhombus Media) based on the A celebrated recitalist in demand in every Mozart opera, tackling the dual roles of Don corner of the globe — from the Far East Giovanni and Leporello. Recent CD record-

14 ings include Wait for Me (Russian War Songs Opera News calls Orbelian “the singer’s with orchestra conducted by Constantine Or- dream collaborator,” and commented that belian) and Simone Boccanegra (with Barbara he conducts vocal repertoire “with the sensi- Frittoli, Ildar Abdrazakov, Stefano Secco and tivity of a lieder pianist.” The California-based Constantine Orbelian), which have been met conductor tours and records with American with much critical acclaim. For a complete stars such as Sondra Radvanovsky and Law- discography, please visit his website. rence Brownlee, and with Hvorostovsky and other renowned Russian singers in - Dmitri has established great collaboration an, North American, Russian and Asian mu- with the Russian popular composer Igor Kru- sic centers. He is the founder and Music Di- toi, with very successful concerts in Moscow, rector of the annual Palaces of St. Petersburg St Petersburg, Sochi, Kiev and New York. International Music Festival.

www.hvorostovsky.com

Grammy-nominated conductor Constantine Orbelian “stands astride two great societies, and finds and promotes synergistic harmony from the best of each.” (Fanfare) For over 20 years the brilliant American pianist /conductor has been a central figure in Russia’s musical life — first as Music Director of the Moscow Chamber Orchestra and the Philharmonia of Russia, and more recently as guest conductor with a number of illustrious Russian orchestras. Currently Chief Conductor of the Kaunas City Symphony Orchestra in Lithuania, Orbelian leads concerts and recordings there with some of the world’s greatest singers, in projects such as a recording of Simon Boccanegra, with Dmi- tri Hvorostovsky in the title role. In 2016 he be- came Artistic Director of the State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater in Yerevan, Armenia.

15 “Orbelian has star quality, and his orchestra tra was a breakthrough event: he is the first plays with passion and precision,” The Audio American ever to become music director of Critic wrote of his acclaimed series of over an ensemble in Russia. A tireless champion 50 recordings on Delos. Among his concert of Russian-American cultural exchange and and televised appearances are collabora- international ambassadorship through his tions with stars Renée Fleming and Dmitri worldwide tours, he was awarded the coveted Hvorostovsky, and with in Cl- title “Honored Artist of Russia” in 2004, a title iburn’s sentimental return to Moscow, the never before bestowed on a non-Russian cit- great pianist’s last performance. Orbelian’s izen. In May 2010, Orbelian led the opening frequent collaborations with Hvorostovsky Ceremonial Concert for the Cultural Olympics include repertoire from their Delos record- in Sochi — the first event setting the stage ings of universal sentimental songs Where for Russia’s hosting of the Olympic Games in Are You, My Brothers? and Moscow Nights, 2014. In 2012 the Consulate in as well as their 2015 recording in the same awarded him the Russian Order of Friendship series, Wait for Me. On several occasions Or- Medal, whose illustrious ranks include pianist belian has conducted historic live telecasts Van Cliburn and conductor , from Moscow’s Red Square, with such artists and which singles out non- whose as Hvorostovsky and . work contributes to the betterment of inter- national relations with the Russian Federation Born in San Francisco to Russian and Arme- and its people. nian emigré parents, Constantine Orbelian made his debut as a piano prodigy with the From his 1995 performance at the 50th An- at the age of 11. Af- niversary Celebrations of the United Nations ter graduating from Juilliard in New York, he in San Francisco, to his 2004 performance embarked on a career as a piano virtuoso that at the U.S. State Department commemorat- included appearances with major symphony ing 70 years of diplomatic relations between orchestras throughout the U.S., U.K., Europe, Washington and Moscow, and a repeat State and Russia. His recording of the Khachaturian Department appearance in 2007, all with piano concerto with conductor Neeme Järvi the Moscow Chamber Orchestra, Orbelian won “Best Concerto Recording of the Year” continues to use his artistic eminence in the award in the . cause of international goodwill. He and his orchestras have also participated in cultur- Orbelian’s appointment in 1991 as Music al enrichment programs for young people, Director of the Moscow Chamber Orches- both in Russia and the U.S. In 2001 Orbelian

16 was awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, an award given to immigrants, or children of immigrants, who have made outstanding contributions to the .

An accomplished composer, arranger and performing member of the Style of Five folk ensemble, Ukrainian-born Evgeny Stetsyuk graduated in 1990 from the St. Petersburg Conservatory, where he stud- ied composition. A member of the Union of Composers of Russia, his works include two symphonies and a rock opera, as well as music for chamber ensembles, folk en- sembles and the theater. His highly original works and unique arrangements have been performed internationally to great acclaim. applications of Russian folk instruments. The group’s unique distinction is that, apart from He has also produced widely varied ar- using traditional Russian instruments (gusli, rangements of music for orchestras, cham- domra, bayan [accordion], double-bass and ber groups and his own Style of Five folk balalaika) the ensemble uses electronic key- ensemble that add uniquely Russian sounds boards as well. and stylistic flavors. We at Delos have been particularly honored to feature his arrange- The ensemble’s high degree of collective ments for orchestra with Style of Five in sev- and individual mastery has earned them top eral of our releases starring revered Russian prizes in All-Russia as well as international baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky — including competitions. Its members — all graduates the present album. of the St. Petersburg Conservatory — are able to perform almost every kind of musi- Russian folk ensemble Style of Five was cal composition. Their appearances on tour founded in 1994, when five leading St. Pe- have won the hearts of audiences across tersburg musicians came together to de- Russia, as well as in nations around the velop musical programs that explore fresh globe. They also remain in steady demand

17 at leading international festivals. Unless you’ve heard them, you’ll hardly believe the virtuosity, imagination, sheer joy and fun of their programs. The group has long collaborated with su- perstar baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky, as they have in this release. In addition to touring ex- tensively with him and Maestro Constantine Orbelian in highly visible concerts — including a fifteen-concert series celebrating the 60th anniversary of Russia’s victory in WW II — they have helped to add Russian spirit and soul on performed throughout the as four of his CDs (also a DVD) for Delos. The la- well as in many foreign countries, attended bel has also released a separate CD of their prestigious festivals, and made many record- unique and charmingly idiomatic playing. ings for the Soviet Melodiya label. Then the Style of Five’s musicians are Evgeny Stetsyuk city’s third-ranked orchestra, it still attracted (piano, keyboards, composer/arranger), Na- many renowned conductors and soloists. talia Shkrebko (domra), Irina Ershova (gus- li, alto domra), Victor Semenkin (bayan-ac- Considering the ensemble’s vital role in Len- cordion), and Sergey Rouksha (balalaika, ingrad’s artistic life, the orchestra’s status was contrabass). elevated in 1985, when it was renamed the www.styleoffive.com Leningrad State Orchestra. From then until 2004, the ensemble flourished under the pri- mary leadership of its chief conductor Ravil Founded in 1967 in the city then known as Martynov, who guided the orchestra into the Leningrad, the St. Petersburg State Sym- post-Soviet era. From 2004 until 2007, the phony Orchestra has long been a promi- orchestra was headed by Martynov’s distin- nent fixture in St. Petersburg’s musical scene. guished protégé Vasily Petrenko, then by the The ensemble was originally known as The equally prominent conductor Alexander Titov. Orchestra of Ancient and Modern Music. Under the decade-long leadership of Rus- The orchestra’s repertoire is truly limitless: sian conductor Edward Serov, the orchestra they continue their tradition of performing music of every epoch, genre, and style. They

18 continue to perform throughout Russia, the orchestra has made recordings for the tour extensively worldwide, and participate world’s leading labels, including releases on extensively in festivals and other important Delos of cello concertos by Shostakovich musical events. and concertos for cello and clarinet by Sean Hickey. Since 2014, Belgian maestro Walter Vladimir Lande, a prominent American Proost has been the orchestra’s principal musician, became the orchestra’s principal guest conductor. guest conductor in 2008. Under his baton, www.spb-orchestra.ru/en/about/

Recorded July 15 – 20, 2016, at the House of Radio in St. Peterburg, Russia

Special Thanks to Svetlana Efimova, pianist and vocal coach, who contributed greatly to this recording

Executive Producer: Carol Rosenberger Recording Producer and Engineer: Danil Zosin Booklet Editors: Lindsay Koob and Anne Maley Art Design/Layout: Lonnie Kunkel

© 2017 Delos Productions, Inc., P.O. Box 343, Sonoma, CA 95476-9998 (707) 996-3844 • Fax (707) 320-0600 • (800) 364-0645 [email protected] • www.delosmusic.com Made in USA

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