Cesar Cui

[JSK]

I have all but decided to do my senior research on chamber music of Russian composer Cesar Cui. To my knowledge, English-language research into his works has so far only covered the operas and, to an extent, the piano music and songs.

Unfortunately, to most musicians Cui is only known as the least talented of the Russian Five. Nevertheless, I feel like he did write some attractive music.

Of the chamber music, I am far more interested in his four works for larger forms than his typically salonish minatures, particularly the third string quartet and the delightful violin sonata. Sadly, none of the quartets have been recorded.

Foremost a composer of operas, only Cui's Feast in a Time of Plaugue is readily available on disc. I found the work somewhat unusual. Not the most memorable Russian opera I've heard, but interesting for its intimate quality more reminiscent of solo song than grand opera.

Anyone else familiar with his music? Opinions?

[Mark Thomas]

If I'm honest, I've always rather dismissed Cui as third rate and didn't even know that he had written any worthwhile chamber music.

[Alan Howe]

I too have always thought of him as a composer of little significance, but I shall be happy to be proved wrong...

[Amphissa]

 
As a student, finding a new and rewarding topic for research is always a challenge, and contributes to the experience of investigation and writing. So I commend you for doing some work on the music of Cui.

Maybe your efforts will help repair his legacy, which is currently based almost entirely on his role as a critic with a decidedly politicized agenda.

[Hovite]

Anyone else familiar with his music? Opinions?

He was the least mighty of the handful, but the Suite Concertante "is a well-constructed work full of contrasts and demonstrates this composer's good command of structure, and orchestration. The work also exists as a piece for violin and piano"

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classRev/2001/July01/Rubinsteinvc.htm

[Jonathan]

I have his preludes for piano on CD.  I think they are rather good!  He does have a habit of writing loud pieces, if these are anything to go by though.

[edurban]

"...He does have a habit of writing loud pieces..."

Oh, good!

David

[Jonathan]

Exactly what I thought! 

[eschiss1]

Skimmed the string quartets on IMSLP awhile back- they look worth a go... but I speak as a listener, not a performer.
Eric

[britishcomposer]

I have two recordings of the String Quartet No. 1 in C minor op. 45 but I couldn't find out if any of them is a commercial recording.
One played by the Amati Quartet, the other by the Reger Quartet. I like it very much. It's simple but tuneful.

Also the Overture "The Mandarin's Son".

[Christopher]

Also the Overture "The Mandarin's Son".

Where did you find this piece?

I found a very limited edition of his children's opera Puss In Boots, recorded by Junge Oper der Staatsoper Stuttgart.

[britishcomposer]

SWR Radio Broadcast, has been aired several times over the years.

[Christopher]

Dare I ask, is it something you would be able to post up here, if it's not commercially available?)

[Christopher]

I've found a few excerpts from Cui's opera "The Prisoner of the Caucasus" on youtube.  They hint at a rather fine opera, especially the overture (even despite it being a computer simulation version).  Maybe Cui was better at opera than at symphonic work, which I find rather mediocre.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9f8MJ8iPZyE - Overture (computer simulation)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqO5CmJRyls - Abubakr's aria (sung by Alexandr Mikhalev with the Krasnoyarsk Opera, 2017)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evZqeyPjijY - Lezginka (Krasnoyarsk Opera, 2017)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZhdxez1iq4 - Prisoner's aria.  Very Tchaikovsky-ish!  Sung by Mikhail Alexandrovich (who died 2002).


The two clips posted by the Krasnoyarsk Opera would imply that there is a complete recording somewhere.  I am researching....

The opera is based on Pushkin's poem.  You can read more about it here:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prisoner_of_the_Caucasus_(opera)  --  if you look at the top right of that link, you will see that someone has made an entry for each of Cui's 15 operas - synopsis, performance history, etc

[Christopher]

Some other Cui excerpts (opera and other) which I have found online:

http://www.russisches-musikarchiv.de/midi/cui_die-hauptmannstochter-pugatschows-rede-3-akt.mid   - Pugachev's speech, from Act III of The Captain's Daughter (after Pushkin) - computer simulation

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7c/CuiSarWedding.ogg - "Gloria Patri" and Wedding Recessional, from Act IV of The Saracen (after Dumas) - computer simulation

http://www.russisches-musikarchiv.de/midi/cui_william-ratcliff-introduktion.mid - Introduction to William Ratcliffe (after Heine) - computer simulation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSwd7cPUKKs - Overture to The Mandarin's Son (Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR, Alfons Rischner)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDx-kRbXoCU - Orientale - an arrangement by Carmen Dragon (Capitol Symphony Orchestra, Carmen Dragon)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WMal3007UE - Orientale - an instrumental version

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtzcZ5hkkuY - I touched a flower - song with orchestra


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEnbEQKCv8M - a 10-minute documentary about Cui, but in Russian only, no English subtitles


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1Yn-CtJB9M - a 12-minute documentary by Krasnoyarsk TV about the making of their performance of The Prisoner of the Caucasus - Russian-language only but interspersed with more clips from the performance.