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Russia at War 1914-1917

Katie Derham introduces Russian music. Myaskovsky: Symphony No 4 in E minor. Rachmaninov: Vespers. Scriabin: Piano Concerto in F sharp minor, Op 20 (soloist: Nicolai Demidenko).

Today, continuing Radio 3's Music in the Great War season, Katie Derham takes a look at Russian composers, introducing music by Nikolai Myaskovsky and Sergei Rachmaninov. The afternoon opens with Myaskovsky's Symphony No. 4, written in 1918 when the composer was serving in the navy, and inspired by the horrors of the conflict. Then, Rachmaninov's Vespers, Op. 37, arguably one of his finest pieces, written in 1915 using texts taken from the Russian Orthodox All-night Vigil ceremony.
And returning to performances recently recorded by the Ulster Orchestra, the afternoon closes with another Russian masterpiece: Scriabin's Piano Concerto in F sharp minor with soloist Nicolai Demidenko, under the baton of JoAnn Falletta - part of her last recordings with the orchestra as she steps down as Principal Conductor at the end of this season.

N. Myaskovsky: Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 17
Russian Federation Academic Symphony Orchestra
Evgeny Svetlanov, conductor

2.45pm
S. Rachmaninov: Vespers, Op. 37
Leningrad Glinka Choir
Vladislav Chernushenko, conductor

3.50pm
A. Scriabin: Piano Concerto in F sharp minor, Op. 20
Ulster Orchestra
Nicolai Demidenko, piano
JoAnn Falletta, conductor.

2 hours, 30 minutes

Music Played

  • Alexander Scriabin

    Piano Concerto

    Performer: Nikolai Demidenko. Orchestra: Ulster Orchestra. Conductor: JoAnn Falletta.
  • Sergey Rachmaninov

    Vepres, Op. 37 (complete)

    Choir: Glinka Choir of Leningrad. Conductor: Vladislav Chernushenko.
    • Russian Disc.
  • Nikolai Yakovlevich Myaskovsky

    Symphony no. 4

    Orchestra: Russian Federation Academic Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Evgeny Fyodorovich Svetlanov.
    • Olympia.

Broadcast

  • Tue 1 Jul 2014 14:00