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Home , Alexander Dargomyzhsky, Mitrofan Belyayev, Sadko, Yuri Temirkanov

St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra St Petersburg Philharmonic St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra St Petersburg Signumclassics Philharmonic Signumclassics Orchestra St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra OrchestraSt Petersburg St Petersburg Philharmonic Philharmonic Orchestra KHACHATURIAN St Petersburg PROKOFIEV Orchestral Suites from excerpts from Orchestra Cinderella Spartacus and Philharmonic Romeo & Juliet Gayane Yuri Temirkanov St Petersburg Philharmonic OrchestraTchaikovsky OrchestraSt Petersburg RIMSKY-KORSAKOV SIGCD229 RAVEL orchestral suite from swan Lake Philharmonic SIGCD214 Daphnis et Chloé PROKOFIEV SIGCD194 St Petersburg PhilharmonicRachmaninov Orchestra OrchestraSt Petersburg excerpts from Yuri Temirkanov excerpts2 CD froms SIGCD184 symphonic Dances Philharmonic www.signumrecords.com Cinderella shostakovich Available through record stores and at www.signumrecords.com For more information call +44 (0) 20 8997 4000 Yuri Temirkanov Romeo & Juliet Orchestra The Invisible City symphony No.7 SIGCD310 Yuri Temirkanov ‘Leningrad’ Verdi of requiem Yuri Temirkanov SIGCD229 Yuri Temirkanov Sheherazade Carmen Giannattasio Veronica Simeoni SIGCD214 Alexander Timchenko Carlo Colombara Mikhailovsky SIGCD194 Theatre Chorus Yuri Temirkanov SIGCD184 www.signumrecords.com Available through record stores and at www.signumrecords.com For more information call +44 (0) 20 8997 4000 RIMSKY-KORSAKOV RIMSKY-KORSAKOV The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh The Invisible City of Kitezh Sheherazade Sheherazade

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844 – 1908) Had I ever studied at all, had I possessed By the time he was offered the position, Excerpts from a fraction more knowledge than I the 27-year-old Rimsky-Korsakov was The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh and the Maiden Fevroniya actually did, it would have been obvious already celebrated as a most innovative 1 Paean to the Wilderness [4.38] to me that I could not and should not orchestrator, by virtue of the brilliance of his 2 Wedding Procession and Tartar Invasion [3.24] accept the proffered appointment, that early works in the genre, and . 3 Battle of Kershenets [4.09] it was foolish and dishonest of me to However, his natural talent had received no become a professor... I was a dilettante real thorough-going compositional guidance Sheherazade, Symphonic Suite, Op.35 and knew nothing. in his early years, save the odd tutor and 4 The Sea and Sinbad’s Ship [10.10] the rather bizarre methods employed by 5 The Story of the Kalendar Prince [12.28] The older, wiser Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov his single mentor of note, the esteemed 6 The Young Prince and Princess [10.10] recalling his acceptance of the professorship composer . Despite musical 7 The Baghdad Festival, Sea, Shipwreck & Conclusion [13.08] of composition and orchestration at the St leanings as a child, Nikolai was sent to Petersburg Conservatory in 1871. Once Naval Cadet College in St Petersburg, where, Total timings: [58.10] installed, the position proved a steep learning his studies aside, he was able to attend curve as the young composer found himself and concerts in the big city. In 1862 having to learn of the most basic musical he was called to Naval duty and toured for St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra conventions and traditional musical training the next three years as midshipman on the Yuri Temirkanov conductor from his own pupils – ‘having undeservedly military clipper Almaz, visiting London and become a Conservatory professor, I soon Rio de Janeiro among other places, whilst www.signumrecords.com www.saintpetersburgphilharmonic.com became one of its best students’. studying Berlioz’s treatise on orchestration, 2 3 buying scores (and even a piano on which Slavic and Russian folksong and folklore and Borodin’s are just two of the time, and not least the all-pervasive Richard to play them) and devouring the classics characters as well as inflections from the unfinished that Rimsky-Korsakov Wagner. The year after Rimsky-Korsakov of literature. However, after a time the music of the Orthodox Church. Avowedly prepared as editions – and unusually completed Sheherazade, he was able to exoticism of his travels and extra-musical anti-conservatoire in their stance, it was for his time, he archived the original hear a work which had been absorbing activities led him to somewhat neglect his a blow to the group when Rimsky-Korsakov materials from which he worked, so that him for some time – Wagner’s Der Ring musical studies. accepted his professorship – a move which they might be inspected or re-interpreted des Nibelungen. The great Wagnerian Carl Balakirev, in particular, found difficult in the future. Other projects which fed the Muck conducted the cycle in St Petersburg Returning home in 1865, music again to stomach. composer’s musical imagination in the during the 1888-89 operatic season and loomed large in Rimsky-Korsakov’s life, 1870s included editing Glinka’s operas, Rimsky-Korsakov sat through the rehearsals as did a cluster of composers soon to be Nevertheless, the young professor immersed orchestrating Dargomyzhsky’s The Stone and saw his view of music-drama radically dubbed (not entirely seriously, it seems) as himself in academia, largely setting aside Guest, and transcribing and harmonizing altered. From the early 1890s until his death ‘The Mighty Handful’ or ‘’. Under his own creative urges for a handful of two collections of folksong – this latter task in 1908 he produced a dozen operas which Balakirev’s often despotic leadership the years in the 1870s and 80s in order to being of particular use in the understanding range from the historical epic, through group, which included César Cui, Modest gain the tools that would see him emerge of Russian folk idioms. His knowledge of legend, fairytale and folk treatments to Mussorgsky and as well a composer secure enough in his technique the orchestral palette was further enhanced fascinating experiments in the genre. His as Rimsky-Korsakov, dedicated itself to to more effectively communicate his ideas. in 1873, when the navy created a post for masterful penultimate opera, The Legend the progress of a more purely Russian art These ‘dry’ years were also products of a him as their band inspector. The position of the Invisible City of Kitezh and the music, and was determined to challenge lack of self-confidence, no doubt due to afforded him the freedom to delve deeper Maiden Fevroniya fits into almost all of the Austro- musical dominance of his late conversion to academia, and he into the sound-world of wind instruments, these categories at some point or other. the time. Their starting point was naturally was ever-after obsessed with revising his a good many of which he learned to play, The rather nonsensical plot centres on whose opera, A Life for own works. He was also of immense value and an experience which can be heard to the myth of the miracle which rescued the the Tzar had effectively kick-started a in revising, completing and editing the wonderful effect in the composer’s output. city of Great Kitezh from invasion by the native Russian school of classical music. works of other composers, and was often Mongol hordes, whereby the city is rescued ‘The Mighty Handful’ took the music of of invaluable help to the reputations of his ‘The Mighty Handful’ were ever suspicious by being submerged in great fountains of Glinka and Alexander Dargomyzhsky as former colleagues in ‘The Mighty Handful’ of the conservatoire system, but also of the water, brought about through the fervent their starting point, employing aspects of in this fashion. Mussorgsky’s status quo of European musical life at the belief of its non-violent population, divine

4 5 intervention and the restorative power of instruments shine with an almost fiery he instituted the Glinka Prize, awarded only the Russian variety. The composer’s nature. The music recalls Wagner at points, glare; when there is water the waves annually to a Russian composer, following experience of travelling great distances by Rimsky-Korsakov summoning up memories ripple and splash audibly through this up in 1885 with the Russian Symphony sea in a navy of the 19th century undoubtedly of the ‘Forest Murmurs’ from Siegfried the orchestra, and this effect is not Concerts series and, more important still, informed the exotic nature of much of in the opera’s Prelude, the ‘Paean to the achieved by the comparatively cheap he was granted permission to establish his music. The model for Sheherazade is Wilderness’, a depiction of the woodland and means of a harp glissando; the sound his own publishing house in , thus certainly far flung, emanating from orally its multifarious attractions and dangers. The is cool and glassy when he describes securing a form of international copyright transmitted stories from the folklore of the ‘Wedding Procession and Tartar Invasion’ is a calm winter’s night with a glittering for Russian composers. Registered as Middle East, Asia and North Africa over no less evocative of nuptial bliss, darkened starlit sky. He was a great master of M.P. Belaieff, the company would publish many centuries, and eventually notated by by the clouds of the incoming invasion, orchestral sound painting … who scores of the most important Russian Arabic scholars in numerous collections while the ‘Battle of Kershenets’ fizzes with handled the secrets of the orchestra compositions, from Glinka through ‘The of varying sizes. Known in English as ‘One the promise of battle, building up into a in so masterly a fashion, down to the Mighty Handful’ to Skriabin and beyond, in Thousand and One Nights’ or ‘Arabian finale of titanic proportions, presaging the smallest detail[.] luxurious editions. The house continued to Nights’, the stories all emerge from a single battle march in Shostakovich’s Seventh do so after Belyayev’s death until the Soviets over-riding construct whereupon a Persian Symphony. Hints of Wagner aside, Rimsky- By the time Rimsky-Korsakov came to appropriated it after the revolution. This potentate, Sultan Shahryar, discovers that Korsakov’s super-sophisticated ear for tone- compose his symphonic suite, Sheherazade, vital catalogue passed over to Edition Peters his brother’s wife, and then his own spouse, colour and effect are all his own invention. Op.35 in the winter of 1878-88, he had been of Leipzig in 1971. Rimsky-Korsakov’s three have been unfaithful. In his horror and grief, The symphonic description of the dense co-opted into the circle of Mitrofan Belyayev, most popular orchestral compositions the Sultan assumes that all wives will be forest, its flora, fauna and climate recalls the son of a wealthy timber merchant who, were early and most worthy beneficiaries the same and so vows to marry a succession Rachmaninov’s recollection of Rimsky- after achieving great success in his father’s of Belyayev’s publishing largesse: the so- of virgins who will be executed the morning Korsakov’s orchestral wizardry: firm, turned his mind and money to his called ‘Russian Easter Festival’ Overture, after nuptial rites are fulfilled. Soon the main desire – music, and the future of Capriccio espagnole and, the most widely Sultan’s Grand Vizier runs out of virgins When there is a snowstorm, the flakes Russian music in particular. Belyayev’s known of all his works, Sheherazade. and is aghast, but accepting, when his seem to dance and drift from the contribution to the music of his homeland daughter offers her services. Sheherazade woodwinds and the soundholes of is an extraordinary labour of love, resolute Sheherazade is suffused in orientalism, avoids the morning beheading by telling the violins; when the sun is high all industry and high-end production. In 1884, as Rimsky-Korsakov perceived it, and not the Sultan a tale, but not finishing it. And

6 7 in the succeeding nights she continues in of the Kalendar Prince; The Young Prince a similar manner, either not ending, or only and Princess; and The Baghdad Festival, St Petersburg PhilharmonicOrchestra just beginning a fascinating, kaleidoscope Sea, Shipwreck & Conclusion. It seems clear of tales which range over a bewildering from the work that the stark, strong opening The St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, of concerts ‘Orchestral Collections of New array of topics, from myth and medicine to motif represents the angry, sorrowful Sultan, ’s oldest symphonic ensemble, Music’ saw the first Russian performances adventure and erotica. The common factor, while Sheherazade’s thread is the beautiful, was founded in 1882. In that year, by of Richard Strauss’ symphonic poems Ein as in all effective serial drama, is that the sinuous solo violin telling its tales with Order of Alexander III, the Court Musical Heldenleben and Also sprach Zarathustra, Sultan retires to bed wanting more. And fervour and abandon. Both ‘characters’ are Choir was established – the prototype of Mahler’s First Symphony, Bruckner’s Ninth Sheherazade keeps her head. evident, in one form or another throughout today’s Honoured Collective of the Russian Symphony and Skryabin’s Poem of Ecstasy. the work, until the high violin at the finale Federation. Thus, in 2007, the orchestra There was a ‘historical series’, concerts Rimsky-Korsakov’s response to this seems to calm the Sultan’s anger as his ire celebrated its 125th anniversary. The featuring the works of a single composer extraordinary creation is to produce his own sinks beneath her eloquence and charm. Musicians’ Choir was founded to perform in and a series of subscription concerts, kaleidoscope of grand invention and swirling, the ‘imperial presence’ – at receptions and some of which were accompanied by a ecstatic storytelling. Originally entitling the Setting out in his youth to promote the official ceremonies and at the balls, plays lecture or an introductory address. Among four movements Prelude, Ballade, Adagio advancement of a purely Russian musical and concerts at the Imperial Court. the conductors were world-renowned and Finale, the composer was persuaded art, Rimsky-Korsakov’s devotion to constant musicians such as Richard Strauss, Arthur to add descriptive titles, but withdrew them learning, and the clarity instilled through The pinnacle of this type of activity was the Nikisch, and Serge because for him the piece was essentially a revising, editing and arranging both his participation of the choir in 1896 in the Koussevitsky. In 1917 the Orchestra became symphonic work which evoked oriental and own musical thoughts, as well as those of coronation ceremony of Nicholas II. In 1897 the State Orchestra and following the fairytale images and character. Writing in his other composers, ensured that his influence the Court Choir became the Court Orchestra, Decree of 1921 it was incorporated into marvellous autobiography, ‘My Musical Life’, extended far beyond his homeland, spreading its musicians having been transferred the newly founded Petrograd Philharmonic, he maintains that these titles were to ‘direct forward into the European avant-garde of from the military and given the same the first of its kind in the country. Shortly but slightly the hearer’s fancy on the path the following generation – to Debussy, Ravel, rights as other actors of royal theatres. afterwards an unprecedented number of along which my own fancy has travelled’. Stravinsky and beyond. In the early 20th century the orchestra great Western conductors began to come Despite this, the movements have inherited was permitted to perform at commercial to conduct the orchestra. Their names titles: The Sea and Sinbad’s Ship; The Story © M Ross concerts for the general public. The series enjoy unquestioned authority in today’s

8 9 virtuosity put it on a par with the orchestras Philharmonic Orchestra are something of von Karajan and Walter and the Royal unique in world music panorama … Concertgebouw Orchestra as the best Amazing musicians, everyone is a soloist, interpreters of Mozart during the Viennese but in perfect ensemble and confluence festival dedicated to Mozart’s 200th with others”. Highlights of recent years anniversary. Unique in the musical world was include: performing Shostakovich’s Seventh also the creative alliance of Mravinsky and Symphony in the U.N.O. at a concert Shostakovich. Many of the symphonies were dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the premiered by Mravinsky and they became WWII Victory; opening the Carnegie Hall the centerpieces of the repertoire, both at season (the first among soviet orchestras), home and abroad on tour. We may imagine participation in the 2nd Moscow World musical world: Otto Klemperer (who also his debut when Nikolay Malko conducted how deeply Shostakovich appreciated this Orchestras Festival and opening of the conducted the subscription concerts), Shostakovich’s First Symphony in the Great collaboration when he dedicated the Eighth Rostropovich Week Moscow Festival; Bruno Walter, Felix Weingartner and many Hall of the Philharmonia. In 1934 the Symphony to Mravinsky. The orchestra also participation in Enescu Festival (Rumania) more. Soloists Vladimir Horowitz and Sergey orchestra was the first in the country to performed in this period and beyond with and in MiTo (Italy). Traditionally, busy tour Prokofiev (the latter performing his piano receive the title of the Honoured Orchestra other famous conductors including Leopold schedule: concerts in Le Théâtre des Champs concertos) appeared with the orchestra. of the Republic. Four years later Evgeny Stokowski, Igor Markevich, Kurt Sanderling, Elysées (Paris), Musikverein (Vienna), La On the initiative of foreign conductors, the Mravinsky, the First Prize winner of the Arvid Jansons, Mariss Jansons, Gennady Scala (Milan), Carnegie Hall (NY). The orchestra began to play modern repertoire National Conductors Competition, joined Rozhdestvensky and Evgeny Svetlanov. repertoire of the orchestra was enriched by – Stravinsky, Schoenberg, Berg, Hindemith, the orchestra and for the next 50 years he Russian premiers: Il canto sospese by Nono, Honegger, Poulenc and continued to gradually transformed it into one of the best In 1988 on the initiative of the orchestra, The Third and the Last Testament by Obukhov, premiere the music of contemporary orchestras in the world. Yuri Temirkanov became its principal Fifth Symphony by Grechaninov, Polish Russian composers. Back in 1918, conductor. Recently Milanese “Corriere Requiem by Penderecki (under the author’s directed by the composer, the orchestra For the performance of Tchaikovsky and della sera” eloquently indicated the result baton); and world premieres: …al niente had premiered the Classical Symphony of Shostakovich symphonies, the orchestra of the more than twenty-year collaboration: by Kancheli, Symphonies by Segerstam, Prokofiev, and in 1926 Shostakovich made rapidly became ‘the model’. The orchestra’s “Yuri Temirkanov and the St.Petersburg Slonimsky and Tishchenko.

10 11 YURI TEMIRKANOV

Since 1988 Yuri Temirkanov has been the and the United States with legendary Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of violinist and the Moscow the St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, Philharmonic Orchestra. with whom he regularly undertakes major international tours and recordings. Yuri Temirkanov made his debut with the Other positions he holds include Music St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra Director of the Teatro Regio di Parma, and (formerly the Leningrad Philharmonic) in Music Director Emeritus of the Baltimore early 1967 and was then invited to join Symphony Orchestra. the orchestra as Assistant Conductor to . In 1968, he was Born in the Caucasus city of Nal'chik, Yuri appointed Principal Conductor of the Temirkanov began his musical studies Leningrad Symphony Orchestra where he at the age of nine. When he was 13, he remained until his appointment as Music attended the Leningrad School for Talented Director of the Kirov Opera and Ballet Children where he continued his studies (now the Mariinsky Theatre) in 1976. He in violin and viola. Upon graduation, he remained in this position until 1988 and his attended the Leningrad Conservatory productions of Eugene Onegin and Queen where he completed his studies in viola of Spades have become legendary in the and later returned to study conducting, theatre’s history. graduating in 1965. After winning the prestigious All-Soviet National Conducting Maestro Temirkanov is a frequent guest Competition in 1966, Mr. Temirkanov was conductor of major orchestras in Europe, invited by Kiril Kondrashin to tour Europe Asia and the United States. He holds the © Sasha Gusov 12 13 distinction of being the first Russian artist of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra permitted to perform in the United States from 2000 till 2006, and Principal Guest after cultural relations were resumed with the Conductor of the Bolshoi Theatre until 2009. St Petersburg PhilharmonicOrchestra Soviet Union at the end of war in Afghanistan Yuri Temirkanov conductor in 1988. He has appeared with leading His numerous recordings include European orchestras including the Berlin collaborations with the St Petersburg Philharmonic, Vienna Philharmonic, Dresden Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic Staatskapelle, London Philharmonic, London and Danish National Radio Symphony The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh Symphony, Philharmonia Orchestra, Royal Orchestras, and the Royal Philharmonic recorded at the Great Philharmonic Hall, St Petersburg, October 2009. Concertgebouw Orchestra, Accademia di Orchestra with whom he recorded Santa Cecilia, Rome and La Scala, Milan. the complete Stravinsky ballets and Sheherazade Tchaikovsky symphonies. For ten days over recorded at the Great Philharmonic Hall, St Petersburg, March 2011. After making his London debut with the the Christmas holiday, Maestro Temirkanov Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in 1977, he hosts the annual International Winter Recording Engineers - Ilya Petrov and Alexander Gerutsky was appointed Principal Guest Conductor, Festival Arts Square in St Petersburg, Editing and Postproduction - Neil Hutchinson and then in 1992 named Principal Russia, to which he invites many of the Producer - Anna Barry Conductor, a position he held until 1998. world’s leading soloists. From 1992 to 1997 he was also the Cover image - Shutterstock Principal Guest Conductor of the Dresden He has received many distinguished awards Design - Andrew Giles Philharmonic Orchestra and from 1998 in Russia. In 2003, President Vladimir to 2008 Principal Guest Conductor of the Putin bestowed the President’s Medal on www.signumrecords.com www.saintpetersburgphilharmonic.com Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra. Maestro Temirkanov. In 2002, he received

A regular visitor to the USA, he conducts the the Abbiati Prize for Best Conductor, and 2013 The copyright in this recording is owned by St Petersburg Philharmonic © 2013 The copyright in this CD booklet, notes and design is owned by Signum Records Ltd. major orchestras of New York, Philadelphia, in 2003 was named Conductor of the Year 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. Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, San Francisco in Italy. Recently, he was made an Honorary 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, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission from Signum Records Ltd. and Los Angeles. He was the Music Director Accademician of Santa Cecilia. 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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