CHAN 10024 Front.qxd 24/4/07 1:05 pm Page 1 CHAN 10024 CHANDOS CHAN 10024 BOOK.qxd 24/4/07 1:06 pm Page 2 Anton Stepanovich Arensky (1861–1906) 1 Overture to ‘Un songe sur le Volga’, Op. 16 7:03 A Dream on the Volga Maestoso – Moderato assai – Allegro – Maestoso 2 Introduction to ‘Nal and Damayanti’, Op. 47 6:48 Lebrecht Collection Lebrecht Andante sostenuto – Allegretto – Allegro moderato – Presto – Andante sostenuto – Allegretto Suite No. 3 ‘Variations’, Op. 33 28:27 À Monsieur le Baron N. de Korff 3 Theme. Andante con moto 1:34 4 I Dialogue. Andante sostenuto 2:20 5 II Valse. Allegro 1:27 6 III Marche triomphale. Maestoso 2:18 7 IV Menuet (XVIIIème siècle) 1:22 8 V Gavotte. Allegro 4:07 9 VI Scherzo. Presto 3:54 10 VII Marche funèbre. Adagio non troppo 4:26 11 VIII Nocturne. Andantino 3:37 12 IX Polonaise. Allegro moderato 3:11 Darius Battiwalla piano Anton Stepanovich Arensky 13 Intermezzo for Orchestra, Op. 13 3:06 Dedicated to the Moscow Musical Circle in G minor • in G-Moll • en sol mineur Presto – Meno mosso – Presto – Coda. Prestissimo 3 CHAN 10024 BOOK.qxd 24/4/07 1:06 pm Page 4 Arensky: Symphony No. 2 and other works Symphony No. 2, Op. 22 21:55 Anton Arensky belongs to that unique band of 1895 to 1901 and then retired with a in A major • in A-Dur • en la majeur Russian composers (Glazunov, Lyadov, comfortable pension of six thousand roubles. 14 I Allegro giocoso 6:20 Grechaninov, Ippolitov-Ivanov and others) who Although this gave him more time to compose, 15 II Romance. Adagio ma non troppo 6:28 were the product of Rimsky-Korsakov’s his health was already failing. A lifelong Peter Dixon cello teaching at the St Petersburg Conservatory addiction to drinking and gambling only 16 III Intermezzo. Allegretto 3:57 during the 1870s and 1880s. From the very exacerbated the consumption that eventually beginning of his career as a composer, carried him to the grave five years later. 17 IV Finale. Allegro giocoso e poi fuga 4:09 however, Arensky showed himself to be an Rimsky-Korsakov’s notorious verdict on his TT 66:33 eclectic with diverse musical tastes and former pupil, ‘He will soon be forgotten…’, is sympathies. This tendency became even more less than generous. Arensky may sometimes BBC Philharmonic pronounced when, after his graduation in lack a sharply individual voice, but his best Yuri Torchinsky leader 1882, he was invited to teach harmony and works have the melodic charm, refined counterpoint at the Moscow Conservatory, elegance and clarity of texture that have Vassily Sinaisky where he became increasingly influenced by assured them a worthy place in the repertoire. Tchaikovsky and often emulated his musical Among the finest of them are his works for style. During the years spent in Moscow the stage, the orchestra, and his chamber Arensky occupied several important posts. In works. 1888 he was appointed conductor of the In 1891, two years after the première of Russian Choral Society and the following year his second symphony, Arensky scored a great he was invited onto the supervisory board of success with his four-act opera A Dream on the Synodal School. Nonetheless, his most the Volga, Op. 16 based on the historical important work was associated with the play by Alexander Ostrovsky. In the mid-1860s Conservatory and his numerous pupils Tchaikovsky had also turned to the same included Rachmaninov, Scriabin, Glière, Konyus, subject, but in Arensky’s version far greater Koreshchenko and others. During the last emphasis is placed on the Russian elements of period of his career Arensky returned to the plot. The opera as a whole is still awaiting St Petersburg to replace Balakirev as head of its resurrection, but the orchestral introduction the Imperial Cappella. He remained there from clearly shows the composer’s dramatic flair 4 5 CHAN 10024 BOOK.qxd 24/4/07 1:06 pm Page 6 and his gift for melody, colour and skilful (also rearranged for string orchestra). The Arensky’s Symphony No. 2 in A major, strings and horn. Fulfilling the function of orchestration. With the section marked earlier suite includes descriptive titles in the Op. 22 was completed in 1889. Its strong the usual symphonic scherzo is an Intermezzo Moderato assai (a theme on the high strings Schumannesque manner, but in Suite No. 3 it and confident opening is a reflection, perhaps, in which Arensky employs his favourite over a pedal on E that comes in the middle of is dance rhythms that predominate. Although of the growing reputation that Arensky was quintuple time. This movement comes close in the Overture) the music takes on unmistakably some of the outward features of the baroque beginning to enjoy both as a teacher (that character to ballet music and is very Russian colouring. suite are retained (the Minuet and Gavotte), same year he received his professorship at the reminiscent of certain episodes in Egyptian Arensky’s third and last opera, Nal and they are treated very much in the late Conservatory) and as a successful composer. Nights, his ballet that Fokin produced in Damayanti, Op. 47, was produced at the romantic manner, whilst the addition of One of the most remarkable features of the 1900. The short Finale that concludes the Bolshoi Theatre in January 1904. The libretto movements such as a waltz (Valse), funeral symphony is its original handling of a work turns out to be none other than the was by Modest Tchaikovsky (brother of the march (Mache funèbre) and Polonaise makes traditional form. The work is laid out in the recapitulation missing from the first movement composer) after a Russian translation by this a hybrid creation. In this world of rich usual four movements, but Arensky seemed to Allegro, here bringing the symphony to a V. Zhukovsky of the ‘Mahabharat’, an oriental musical fantasy, Chopin (Nocturne) rubs be searching for a new approach to the idea triumphant close. poem by Friedrich Rückert in which the shoulders with Handel to the strains of an of symphonic unity, perhaps attempting to heroine, Damayanti, is liberated from the urbane salon waltz, whilst the glittering synthesise the best achievements of the © 2003 Philip Taylor clutches of Kali, the god of Hell, with the aid Polonaise that ends the suite is the very St Petersburg and Moscow schools of of the forces of light, and is reunited with her epitome of Russian imperial splendour. composition. The opening Allegro giocoso Universally recognised as one of Britain’s betrothed, Nal. The Introduction to the opera Whereas the suites had first appeared in follows textbook rules for sonata form with finest orchestras, the BBC Philharmonic is clearly features the ethereal music of the gods their piano form and were orchestrated later, contrasting subjects – the first a brisk, based in Manchester where it performs who descend to earth to bless the union, the an early work, the Intermezzo for Orchestra, assertive melody reinforced by the brass, and regularly in the magnificent Bridgewater theme of Damayanti’s fidelity (the descending Op. 13 was originally conceived as an the second a more gentle, lyrical theme on the Hall as well as touring all over the world clarinet phrase Allegretto is very similar to the orchestral work and was later transcribed by strings. The exposition is repeated and the and recording programmes for BBC Radio 3. lullaby that concludes Tchaikovsky’s opera the composer for keyboard. It was written at development section that follows incorporates It has built an international reputation for Mazeppa), the storm conjured up by Kali, and about the time of Arensky’s move to Moscow techniques that owe much to the Rimsky- outstanding quality and committed the final triumph of good over evil. in 1882 and was dedicated to the Moscow Korsakov School. But at the point where we performances over an immensely wide- Arensky’s Suite No. 3 ‘Variations’, Op. 33 Musical Circle. It is an unpretentious piece in would expect the recapitulation to occur, ranging repertoire. Gianandrea Noseda (like Suite No. 2 ‘Silhouettes’) exists in ternary form with bustling outer sections Arensky suddenly breaks off and changes the became Principal Conductor in September versions for two pianos and for full orchestra. (Presto), mostly entrusted to the tremolando mood entirely by neatly dovetailing the music 2002 when Yan Pascal Tortelier, who was It consists of a theme and nine characteristic strings, and a contrasting middle section (Meno into the ensuing Romance. An autumnal Principal Conductor from 1991, became variations, a technique that Arensky used mosso) in the tonic major. For all its brevity, the melancholy casts its veil over this wistful music Conductor Laureate. Vassily Sinaisky is the again in the celebrated Variations on a theme Intermezzo is a neatly crafted piece that may in which a solo cello takes centre stage, its orchestra’s Principal Guest Conductor, and by Tchaikovsky that form the second well have served Rachmaninov as a model for serene and heartfelt melody supported by Sir Edward Downes (Principal Conductor movement of the String Quartet in A minor his early symphonic Scherzo in D minor. much evocative writing for the woodwind, 1980–91) is Conductor Emeritus. The BBC 6 7 CHAN 10024 BOOK.qxd 24/4/07 1:06 pm Page 8 Philharmonic has worked with many the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, distinguished conductors and its policy of Principal Guest Conductor of the Netherlands Arenski: Sinfonie Nr. 2 und andere Werke introducing new and adventurous repertoire Philharmonic Orchestra, Music Director and into its programmes has meant that many of Principal Conductor of the Russian State the world’s greatest composers have Orchestra and, since 1995, Principal Guest Anton Arenski gehört zu jener zu übernehmen, bevor er sich schließlich conducted the orchestra.