#Russian composer

[lesser-known-composers]

Alexander Borodin (1833–1887) - String Sextet in d minor

I. Allegro II. Andante

BIN CHAO, JORGE TEIXEIRA -violino

LU ZHENG, LEONOR BRAGA SANTOS -viola

VAROUJAN BARTIKIAN, MARCO PEREIRA -violoncelo

[vintage-russia]

Italian opera singer Nini Giani as Lubava in Rimskiy-Korsakov's opera "Sadko",Italy (XX century)

[stranger15]

No matter what you say,

I love him anyway...

Music: P. I. Tchaikovsky - Swan Lake Ballet op.20 (Dance of the Swans)

[menandwomanofhistory]

Boris Tchaikovsky

[ratt-fried-this-pasta]

I love all the monochrome candid photos of Shostakovich, it really captures his essence well

[kafka-ohdear]

why would you say i love you when rachmaninoff was the pallbearer at scriabin's funeral in 1915 and then, 28 years later when his death was coming in 1943, he wished to be buried in novodevichy cementary, besides scriabin.

[opera-ghosts]

OTD in Music History: Composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky (1840 - 1893) sits down and writes a letter to his friend, the famous Russian conductor Eduard Napravnik (1839 - 1916), letting him know that Tchaikovsky will unfortunately not be able to attend the final rehearsals for the St. Petersburg production of his new opera "Mazeppa," because he must instead stay in Moscow to oversee the final rehearsals of the production of the same opera in that city. Tchaikovsky composed "Mazeppa" between 1881 and 1883, and two related “world premieres” were arranged: Moscow (February 3, 1884) and St. Petersburg (February 6, 1884) -- the latter to take place under Napravnik´s baton. At both of these performances, the work was regrettably marred by uneven vocal and acting abilities within the two casts. The press and the public nevertheless responded warmly in Moscow, but "Mazeppa" received a harsh critical roasting in St. Petersburg. Tchaikovsky's brother, Modest, initially hid that fact from Tchaikovsky -- and when Tchaikovsky finally learned the truth some weeks later, he wrote the following to Modest: "You did well, because the truth might have killed me." PICTURED: The original letter that Tchaikovsky wrote to Napravnik, referenced above, dated less than two weeks before the world premiere of "Mazeppa". This letter reads in part (translated): "It is impossible for me to leave Moscow, where rehearsals are due to begin any moment now, too. My earnest request to you is to rehearse my opera without waiting for me . . . I am transferring all my rights of authorship concerning interference into studying for and performing the opera entirely with you . . . I nourish absolute trust in your friendly sympathy for the fate of my opera . . . be assured that I am not in the least exaggerating saying that I unconditionally trust your craftsmanship, experience, and friendship . . ." Given the poor reviews, perhaps Tchaikovsky placed too much faith in his friend?

[attendtobeauty]

It's a great pleasure to share the delightful performance by Le Off (musiciens de l'Orchestre de Paris) of Stravinsky's Pastorale, a composition so different from his ballet and orchestral works.

[itsmerachdn]

This joke was found from Twitter, then I try to adjust some dialogue. Here is the translation:

Sho: Oh no! Did you know where the water that you are drinking comes from!? It's from the dirty in Moscow's river, and then flows into this lake!

*Then he recognizes that the man whom he spoke with is Prokofiev. However the man still can't recognize him.*

Pro: Pardon me. Could you say it again? I can't hear you clearly.

Sho: Well, I just wanted to suggest you that... It's hot here, then why don't you go to swim into the lake!

Pro: I'm about to do it! Thanks!

Ps. I'm sorry... 🫣

[sarahtheflutist]

Born in Petrograd, Ustvolskaya studied from 1937 to 1939 at the college attached to the Leningrad Conservatory (later renamed the Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory). From 1947 till 1977 she taught composition at this college. In 1939 she entered Dmitri Shostakovich's composition class at the Conservatory as the only female student in his class. Her composition teacher said of her:

"I am convinced that the music of G. I. Ustvolskaya will achieve world fame, and be valued by all who hold truth to be the essential element of music."[1]

Shostakovich sent some of his own as yet unfinished works to Ustvolskaya, attaching great value to her comments. Some of these pieces contain quotations from his pupil's compositions; for example, he employed the second theme of the Finale of her clarinet trio throughout the Fifth String Quartet and in the Michelangelo Suite (no. 9).

Ustvolskaya was a pupil of Shostakovich from 1939 to 1941 and from 1947 to 1948, but her works from the 1950s onwards retain little influence of his style. Until 1961 none of her true works were performed other than patriotic pieces written for official consumption. The middle of the 1960s witnessed greater tolerance for modernist music, and interest in Ustvolskaya began to grow – the Leningrad Union of Composers organized in the 1970s evenings of her music, which received high praise from listeners and critics. Widespread recognition came after her music was performed in several concerts of the 1989 Holland Festival.

[nurhanarman]

Sergei Prokofiev: Visions Fugitive Nos 1, 3 & 4

[lesser-known-composers]

Alexander Borodin (1833-1887) - String Quartet №1

Klever Quartet:

Grigorii Tadtaev, Lev Mikhailovsky, Vladimir Shuliakovsky jr., Igor Botvin

[vintage-russia]

Scene from an unknown opera in the Nikolay Andreyevich Rimskiy-Korsakov Conservatory Hall,Saint Petersburg (1910s)

[hanakihan]

i absolutely beg that if one day Tchaikovsky will end up as a servant in FGO he’ll be an archer class purely because of his 1812 overture

‘Sir you can’t use canons in music’

‘Watch me’

[opera-ghosts]

OTD in Music History: Cesar Cui (1835 - 1913) is born in what was then the Russian Empire (now Lithuania) into a Roman Catholic family of French and Polish–Lithuanian descent. (The original French spelling of his family surname had been "Queuille".) An engineer and an academic military fortifications expert by training and profession -- he eventually attained the academic rank of "professor" in 1880, and the military rank of "general" in 1906 -- Cui is remembered today as a member of "The Five" or "The Mighty Handful," a historically important group of self-taught Russian Nationalist composers who studied and worked (and sometimes even lived) together from ~1856 - 1870. Other members of that group included Mily Balakirev (1837 - 1910), Alexander Borodin (1833 – 1887), Modest Mussorgsky (1839 - 1881), and Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844 - 1908). Frequently disparaged as the least musically gifted member of “The Five” (admittedly very little of his music is still heard today), Cui was unquestionably the most influential member of the group when it came to propagandizing their philosophy via the more dubious art of music criticism. As a prolific writer and polemicist on musical matters, between 1864 and 1918 he contributed almost 800 articles to various newspapers and other publications throughout Russia and Europe. This wide and frequently scathing coverage included reviewing concerts, recitals, musical life, new publications of music, and even prominent personalities. PICTURED: An 1895 autograph musical quotation written out by and signed by Cui to a fan, taken from his 1894 operatic comedy, "Le flibustier" ("The Pirate"). Although Cui was particularly proud of this work, it no longer holds the stage today.

[sixty-silver-wishes]

Shostakovich-Sollertinsky letter translations (Russian to English)

So, I finally finished formatting my translations of the Shostakovich-Sollertinsky letters from a few years ago! These are letters from Shostakovich to his close friend, the polymath and scholar Ivan Ivanovich Sollertinsky, from the late 1920s to 1943. They offer valuable insight on Shostakovich's opinions on subjects such as music, his personal life, and current events of the day.

The letters have been published in Russian and have also been translated and published in German; an official English translation does not exist as of posting this. I'm not a fluent Russian speaker and much of this was done with the help of a dictionary and the internet, but I believe I compiled a decent enough translation. I kinda had to rush the formatting towards the end, but it should be readable enough. Anyway, if anyone is interested, here it is!

For any Russian speakers who want to review my translations or would like to read the original letters, here is the PDF of the book.