Russian National Orchestra - Russian Violin Concertos - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

This recording features the works of Russian composers who were outstanding personalities in the musical life of their country during their lifetime The Violin Concerto in D major, op. 35, by Tchaikovsky and the Violin Concerto in A minor, op. 82, by Glazunov. Each of the two composers wrote only one concerto for violin and orchestra respectively, as did Beethoven or Brahms as well. The two concertos by Tchaikovsky and by Glazunov each quickly gained admirers in the West. The image of Tchaikovsky is well-known, who closely emulated Western European music, especially music originating in Italy, France and Germany. Glazunov, who had no conservatory training, acquired his skills as a composer with Rimsky-Korsakov. He was one of the members of the InchMighty HandfulInch of five composers who banded together in Saint Petersburg in 1862 and called themselves novators, or innovators. They championed and strongly supported a national style of Russian classical music. There were therefore contrasts in style at the time. Yet Tchaikovsky, who was accused of InchWestern leaningsInch, was also an adherent of other contemporary Russian composers and his stance towards the novators was generally positive, though differentiated. And Glazunov, the pupil of Rimsky-Korsakov? The attitude he upheld was based on the maxim InchI am possessed by music.Inch To use the slightly overstated words of Vladimir Fédorov InchGlazunov can be seen as a type of musician who thinks only in musical terms, 'feels' through music and knows of no other interests than this music... to him in music there is nothing else but themes, rhythms, development, form, plasticity of the musical material and tonal color of the orchestra. He thus focused almost exclusively on instrumental music, which thanks to it's brilliance ensured him a special position among Russian composers of his day.Inch

The Concepts hailed from the street corners of Jersey City. Formed in 1962 at Ferris High School, the quartet consisted of Abraham Santiago, Juan Perez, Ed Rivera and Amed Valentine. In 1965, they released their one and only 45 on Catamount Records, which contained The Vow on the A-side and Yo Me Pregunto, a rare foreign language track, on the flip. A third recording, Our Anniversary, was featured on the second volume of I Dig Acappella. After decades of being available on vinyl only, the newly remastered single can finally be had in the digital domain. .

The First Violin Concerto was given as op. 99 on account of it's late appearance. This was not the wish of Shostakovich, who had composed it as op. 77. When asked What is the history of your relationship with Shostakovich's music? Why did you decide to record these particular works? Ivan Pochekin answered InchShostakovich's music very accurately conveys what was happening in the lives of people in my country until very recently. I feel it deeply and want to convey it to the audience, as if tracing the link between past and present, preserving authenticity. Together with Valentin Uryupin, we as individuals were formed in the very musical system where Dmitri Shostakovich worked several decades before. My father attended several premieres of Shostakovich's works, including the Violin Concerto No.2. There is a recorded telephone conversation between David Oistrakh and Dmitri Shostakovich in the public domain, where the composer points out the most important details of the interpretation and even hums the Concerto No.2 finale. For me, this is still live history.Inch