Kalinnikov: Orchestral Works

Kalinnikov's short composing career was dogged by ill health (he died of tuberculosis aged just 35), and the late symphonic poem Le Cedre et le Palmier which opens this album comes across as... — Katherine Cooper, Presto Music, July 2023 More…

Release Date: 28th Jul 2023
Catalogue No: MDG95222406
Label: MDG

Presto Editor's Choice

July 2023

This item is currently out of stock at the UK distributor. You may order it now but please be aware that it may be six weeks or more before it can be despatched.

Kalinnikov, Vasily: Le Cedre et le Palmier

Niederrheinische Sinfoniker
Mihkel Kutson

Kalinnikov, Vasily: Symphony No. 1 in G minor

Niederrheinische Sinfoniker
Mihkel Kutson

Kalinnikov, Vasily: Serenade for strings

Niederrheinische Sinfoniker
Mihkel Kutson

Kalinnikov, Vasily: Intermezzo No. 1 in F sharp minor

Niederrheinische Sinfoniker
Mihkel Kutson

Kalinnikov, Vasily: Intermezzo No. 2 in G major

Niederrheinische Sinfoniker
Mihkel Kutson

About
Reviews
Explore

About

Despite prominent advocates, Kalinnikov is little known outside of Russia today - a circumstance that Mihkel Kutson and the Niederrheinische Sinfoniker are now finally changing. Vasily Kalinnikov was not quite 35 years of age when he died of tuberculosis in 1901. Tchaikovsky was enthusiastic about his musical talents and Rachmaninoff even travelled to the Crimea especially to get his manuscripts prepared for publication before he died. Russian folk themes colour Kalinnikov's entire compositional output. His First Symphony is therefore frequently performed in Russia. The piece is orchestrated to great effect with finely crafted counterpoint and many beautiful solos in the woodwind and brass. The two Intermezzi include themes that could easily be mistaken for traditional Russian folk music. One of Kalinnikov's earliest works is Serenade for Strings and the symphonic poem Le Cedre et le Palmier ("Cedar and Palm") based on a poem by Heinrich Heine, represents his last completed work - one of the composer's few pieces of programmatic music. This recording by the Niederrheinische Sinfoniker under the baton of Mihkel Kutson reveals the great loss of Vasily Kalinnikov's untimely death - the music world was dearly robbed of more of his masterpieces! As a modest consolation, this production is produced in the very finest Super Audio CD technology, lovingly mixed and crafted with the utmost care - a musical gem that is as rare as it is precious! Also available: Balakirev: Works for Orchestra Niederrheinische Sinfoniker - Mihkel Kutson, conductor MDG95222366 Glazunov: Works for Orchestra Niederrheinische Sinfoniker - Mihkel Kutson, conductor MDG95222356

Reviews

July 2023

Kalinnikov's short composing career was dogged by ill health (he died of tuberculosis aged just 35), and the late symphonic poem Le Cedre et le Palmier which opens this album comes across as a poignant yet clear-eyed farewell. The Symphony No. 1, by contrast, is full of bushy-tailed exuberance, the first movement's sunny melodies developed with imaginative flair and the Finale transforming them still further; the Andante commodamente, with striking use of harp ostinato and cor anglais, is a gem.

Kalinnikov: Orchestral Works

SACD

Contents

Download queue