Wednesday, November 30, 2022

CDLV. BRUCKNER, Anton: Symphony #5 in B-Flat Major

CDLV. BRUCKNER, Anton (1824-1896)

Symphony #5 in B-Flat Major (1875-6)
1. Introduction: Adagio -- Allegro
2. Adagio: Sehr langsam
3. Scherzo: Molto vivace
4. Finale: Adagio -- Allegro moderato
Münchner Philharmoniker
Sergiu Celibidache, cond.
(1:29:27)


First movement

This really sounds like someone creeping down the staircase:



































A huge climax on A Major (can he get any further from the tonic?) and the texture thins until only a violin tremolo remains -- on A, then D. Of course, Bruckner immediately launches into a completely unprepared B-Flat Minor!




































Next comes a second theme in F Minor, D-Flat Major



and back to F Minor:




































and a third theme in D-Flat Major, jumping up a semitone from the quiet C Major chord:




































Beautiful writing for brass:




































Reduced:














Final bars:



































Second movement

Lovely oboe; two-against-three rhythm:




































and then a gorgeous string chorale:




































Ending in a quiet D Major:



































Third movement

Duplicating the exact same bass line from the previous movement, Bruckner opens this movement with a fast-moving motivic theme in D Minor:




The second theme -- still using the same bass line -- is slower with an arching melody which touches the third, fourth and fifth degrees of F:



Development, recap, and finally the Trio -- a third theme:




































The Scherzo is repeated ...

Fourth movement

Opening exactly like the first movement:




































An unusual fugal exposition. Note the staggered entrances (three bars, five bars, three bars):




































This episode is based on the second theme of the Scherzo:




































A third theme:



































The exposition closes with another beautiful brass chorale, recalling the Dresden Amen:



































This second clever fugue is unusually answered at the third (C to E); then D-Flat to A-Flat!



































Both fugal subjects are presented simultaneously:




































and again in the recap:




































The symphony concludes, creeping its way back to the tonic, and concludes with tutti orchestral grandeur:






Tuesday, November 29, 2022

CDLIVd. RIMSKY-KORSAKOV, Nikolai: The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh and the Maiden Fevroniya (Act IV)

CDLIVd. RIMSKY-KORSAKOV, Nikolai (1844-1908)

The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh and the Maiden Fevroniya (1905)
Act IV
Mikhail Kazakov, Prince Yuri Vseolodovich
Vitaly Panfilov, Hereditary prince Vsevolod Yuryevich
Tatiana Monogarova, Fevronya
Mikhail Gubsky, Grishka Kuterma
Gevorg Hakobyan, Fyodor Poyarok
Marika Gulordava, Page
Gianluca Floris, Notable
Marek Kalbus, Notable
Valery Gilmanov, Bedyay
Alexander Naumenko, Burunday
Orchestra e Coro del Teatro Lirico di Cagliari
Alexander Vedernikov, cond.
(3:07:42)



Stage set design for Act IV, Scene 2

Act IV

Fevroniya, Kuterma. Oh, I can't go on, Grishenka





Kuterma, Fevroniya. I'm not a sinner



Fevroniya, Kuterma. Earth, our merciful mother!



Kuterma. What's happening to me?



Fevroniya. Grishenka!



Fevroniya
. Let me see: what pretty flowers





































Fevroniya
. Let me see: what pretty flowers




































Fevroniya, Voice of Alkonost
. The free birds are toning up their voices




































Fevroniya, Ghost of Prince Vsevolod
. Is that you, radiant light of my eyes?









































Fevroniya, Ghost
. My hope lives, beloved, you are intact!



































Voice of Sirin, Fevroniya, Ghost. The bridegroom has come




































Ghost, Fevroniya
. He who partakes of our bread



































Fevroniya
. Lord Jesus



































Voice of Sirin, Voice of Alkonost
. Transition to Scene 2



































Orchestral introduction



































Alkonost, Sirin, the people, Fevroniya
. The doors of paradise



































Fevroniya
. Radiant kingdom!



































The people, Fevroniya, Prince Vsevolod
. As on sky-blue flowers




































Prince Yury, Fevroniya
. May the grace of God be with you!




































Fevroniya, Prince Vsevolod, Prince Yury, Sirin, Alkonost, Page, Poyarok
. Why is the light here so brilliant



































The people, Fevroniya, Sirin, Alkonost, Prince Vsevolod, Prince Yury
. Stay with us here for ever more




































The people, Prince Vsevolod, Fevroniya, Prince Yury
. Stay with us here for ever more




































Fevroniya, Poyarok, Prince Yury, the people
. Grishenka, even though you are feeble in mind



INDEX to CLASSICAL BLOG A-M

N-Z ABRAHAMSEN, Hans / 10 Pieces for Orchestra / DCCCXCV ADAMS, John / Century Rolls / XXXVII ADAMS, John / Harmonielehre / CXXI ADAMS, John...