Naxos have turned their attention to Lyapunov's Violin Concerto. A work not overrepresented in the catalogues.
http://www.naxos.com/catalogue/item.asp?item_code=8.570462 (http://www.naxos.com/catalogue/item.asp?item_code=8.570462)
Morten
I haven't yet heard the whole work - only the first five minutes or so allowed to signed-up (but not paid-up) Naxos subscribers. At first I wondered if my ears were playing tricks on me the style reminding me a little of Myaskovsky, but then i learned that the Violin Concerto is quite a late work (1915, revised 1921), buy which time, of course, Myaskovsky's music would have been quite firmly established in Russia.
It sounds worth a further listen ...
Unfortunately, it's only available as a download...
Yes, but Naxos' homepage says that the physical CD will be released in the future. Let's hope in the not so distant future!
Morten
Frustrating, though! I always end up downloading the music and then buying the physical CD!!
Anyway, the VC is certainly a gorgeous piece - somewhat in line of descent from Glazunov, being in one continuous movement. It's certainly not on the grand scale of Miaskovsky's VC and the idiom is more conservative overall.
I suppose it is no surprise that Lyapunov's violin concerto would be influenced by Glazunov's to some extent. But one would think that it might also display some influences from his teacher, Taneyev, whose Suite de Concert was completed in 1909, or even Taneyev's teacher, Tchaikovsky. Myaskovsky's Violin Concerto was not completed until 1938.
I'll be interested to hear the Lyapunov violin concerto. But I'm rather disappointed to see it coupled with the symphony. I would rather have companion pieces that are not previously recorded.
Julian Sitkovetsky has recorded the concerto.
In fact, Heifetz played it with piano accompaniment at a New York recital
in the 1930s. I stumbled across it reading old New York times reviews.
And by 1921 Myaskovsky had reached his 5th symphony, finished his 3rd piano sonata (early version, not the 1939 revision), but only begun his 6th symphony; his music too might be said at that point to still show more influences than it later did (or anyway different ones. His visit to Germany that influenced his A minor string quartet and 10th symphony was 9 or so years in the future, for instance.)
Eric
Quote from: M. Henriksen on Monday 12 July 2010, 13:02
Yes, but Naxos' homepage says that the physical CD will be released in the future. Let's hope in the not so distant future
Usually they say when that'll be. In the case of a recent Debussy release I need, it'll be April of next year*grumble grumble*
There was, I believe, a Melodiya Lp of this concerto issued some years ago. I have it in the basement but had back surgery recently so can't get at it at the moment.
:)I recently purchased a mono recording of the Lyapunov and Glazunov Concerti along with a very Romantic concerto by A. Lehman. This was on the Artek label with violinist Yulian Sitkovetsky. The Lyapunov is a one movement concerto, not what I had expected from him (compared to Hashish). The real find was the VC by A. Lehman (b 1915). I just googled Lyapunov and found this gem.
Quote from: Jerry Buszek on Monday 08 November 2010, 04:57
:)I recently purchased a mono recording of the Lyapunov and Glazunov Concerti along with a very Romantic concerto by A. Lehman. This was on the Artek label with violinist Yulian Sitkovetsky. The Lyapunov is a one movement concerto, not what I had expected from him (compared to Hashish). The real find was the VC by A. Lehman (b 1915). I just googled Lyapunov and found this gem.
Welcome, Jerry!
I don't see why you would be surprised that Lyapunov's VC would be in one movement. Both of his PCs are also.
... suspects there's an 'and' missing there :) (and not what I expected from him, not like his work Hashish, etc.)
ES
Finally, the Lyapunov disc i set for release in January 2011.
Details can be found on Naxos' website:
http://www.naxos.com/catalogue/item.asp?item_code=8.570462 (http://www.naxos.com/catalogue/item.asp?item_code=8.570462)
Morten
I am hoping it is better than the recently released recordings of the piano concertos which are a great disappointment both from the point of recording and performance and what a cheap trashy booklet cover!
Well, beggars can't really be choosers: there's no other modern performance available. Anyway, the violin playing is spectacularly good! A must-buy!
Quote from: giles.enders on Sunday 05 December 2010, 14:40
I am hoping it is better than the recently released recordings of the piano concertos which are a great disappointment both from the point of recording and performance and what a cheap trashy booklet cover!
Oh dear, I've just ordered this CD a few days ago.. I hope it's not too bad.
I cannot compare the Lyapunov PCs under Yablonsky (Naxos) with Brabbins (Hyperion), because I haven't got the Hyperion disc. Maybe that's the reason why I'm not disappointed. I think Shorena Tsintsabadze (try to pronounce her name...) did a good job. I don't like Hamish Milne's piano playing so much.
Now I'm awaiting the release of the Lyapunov VC.
I don't know what problem anyone could have with Milne's playing on the Hyperion disc. I found his performances highly idiomatic, fully up to the formidable technical challenges and appropriately poetic where required. I absolutely love the Ukrainian Rhapsody. I have no need to get any other disc.
Quote from: giles.enders on Sunday 05 December 2010, 14:40
I am hoping it is better than the recently released recordings of the piano concertos which are a great disappointment both from the point of recording and performance and what a cheap trashy booklet cover!
I can't say anything as I've no experience with Ponti or Hamish but I wouldn't say the cover was trashy.
Thomas
Well, I finally got this CD. I must say I'm impressed with Fedotov's playing. The concerto is similar to the Saint-Saëns VC 1 - a single sonata movement sandwiched around a contrasting slow section (with a sumptuous cadenza thrown in to boot). I'm somewhat impressed with the Symphony 1 - a strong first effort, with some adroit orchestration. Well, I've always found Lyapunov's strong point was his scoring. I particularly like his use of the bass clarinet in several passages.
The line of descent of the Lyapunov VC would seem to include the Arensky, Conus and Glazunov VCs - IIRC all one-movement pieces containing a variety of sections. Something of late-Romantic Russian speciality, maybe?
I actually edited out the Arensky and Glazunov concertos from my post, Alan. The structure of the Lyapunov is somewhat more similar to the Glazunov, but Glazunov tacks on a thematically unrelated finale. Arensky is also similar, but he adds on that waltz section after the slow 'movement'. As I said, the overwhelming similarity, structurally, is with Saint Saëns' 1st, except for the cadenza (which makes it actually more similar to the Glazunov).
I actually ought to pick up the Arensky from Hyperion. Doesn't it have a cadenza as well? I can't remember. And I wonder if the Lyapunov was also composed (as were the Arensky and Glazunov) for Leopold Auer? I believe he was still around in 1915.
A partial manuscript (http://catalog.nypl.org/record=b10095792~S1) (part of the first movement, up to page 35 of short score) at New York Public Library in their catalog mentions no dedication, fwiw. (The catalog entry- perhaps from a notation on the manuscript, as does happen; perhaps from external sources; I don't know- does mention that the original, unrevised version- remember that the concerto was revised in 1921- was premiered in Petrograd in 1916.)
I'm finding this concerto very enjoyable but not as memorable melodically as either of the piano concertos. But since others have speculated about influences, surely Sibelius' violin concerto is one?
Welcome, John!
Personally, I don't hear any Sibelius in the piece, but that may be my fault. To me its nearest relative is Glazunov's VC.