Postcard from Moscow
Picture Moscow and you'll almost certainly see an image of St Basil's Cathedral with its brightly coloured onion domes towering over Red Square. The Kremlin has played host to plenty of political drama over the centuries, some – like 'Boris Godunov' – depicted in music.
Read more…- Mussorgsky•Khovanshchina•Overture (Prelude)
- Anonymous (Traditional)•Karabejniki (The Little Box) (Arr. by Fjodor Kozlov for voice and folk orchestra)•I. Karabejniki (The Little Box)
- Anonymous (Traditional)•Ochi chornyje (Dark Eyes) (Arr. by Fjodor Kozlov for voice and folk orchestra)•I. Ochi chornyje (Dark Eyes)
- Glinka•A Life for the Tsar (Ivan Susanin)•Epilogue • No. 24 Finale 'Glory, glory to our Russian Tsar'
- Glazunov•Kreml' (The Kremlin), Symphonic Pictures for Orchestra op. 30 (1890)•I. Popular Festival
- Glazunov•Kreml' (The Kremlin), Symphonic Pictures for Orchestra op. 30 (1890)•II. In the Cloister
- Glazunov•Kreml' (The Kremlin), Symphonic Pictures for Orchestra op. 30 (1890)•III. The Entrance and the Coronation of the Prince
- Minkus•Don Quixote•Act 4 • VI. Entree
- Minkus•Don Quixote•Act 4 • VII. Adagio
- Minkus•Don Quixote•Act 4 • VIII. Basilio's Variation
- Minkus•Don Quixote•Act 4 • IX. Quiteria's Variation
- Minkus•Don Quixote•Act 4 • X. Quiteria's Variation (The Fan)
- Minkus•Don Quixote•Act 4 • XI. Coda
- Tchaikovsky•Mazeppa TH 7: Cossack Dance (Act I) “Gopak”•Cossack Dance
- Rachmaninoff•Aleko•11. Intermezzo
- Rimsky-Korsakov•Zolotoi petushok (The Golden Cockerel): 'Otvet' mne, zorkoe svetilo' (Answer me, sharp-eyed sun) (Queen of Shemakha, Act II) (Hymn to the Sun)•Otvet' mne, zorkoe svetilo
- Glière•Krasnyi mak (The Red Poppy), Ballet-Suite op. 70a (1926-1927)•1. Heroic Coolie Dance
- Glière•Krasnyi mak (The Red Poppy), Ballet-Suite op. 70a (1926-1927)•2. Scene and Dance. Andante – Allegretto
- Glière•Krasnyi mak (The Red Poppy), Ballet-Suite op. 70a (1926-1927)•3. Chinese Dance
- Glière•Krasnyi mak (The Red Poppy), Ballet-Suite op. 70a (1926-1927)•4. Phoenix
- Glière•Krasnyi mak (The Red Poppy), Ballet-Suite op. 70a (1926-1927)•5. Valse
- Glière•Krasnyi mak (The Red Poppy), Ballet-Suite op. 70a (1926-1927)•6. Russian Sailor's Dance
- Shostakovich•Moskva, Cheryomushki (Moscow, Cheryomushki), Orchestral Suite op. 105 (1957-1958)•1. A Spin through Moscow (No. 7)
- Shostakovich•Moskva, Cheryomushki (Moscow, Cheryomushki), Orchestral Suite op. 105 (1957-1958)•2. Waltz (No. 2 & 3)
- Shostakovich•Moskva, Cheryomushki (Moscow, Cheryomushki), Orchestral Suite op. 105 (1957-1958)•3. Dances: Polka – Galop (No. 26 & 19)
- Shostakovich•Moskva, Cheryomushki (Moscow, Cheryomushki), Orchestral Suite op. 105 (1957-1958)•4. Ballet (No. 28)
- Shostakovich•Symphony No. 4 in C minor op. 43•I. Allegretto poco moderato – Presto
- Shchedrin•Carmen-Suite (1967) (after G. Bizet)•5. Carmen's Entrance and Habanera. Allegro moderato
- Shchedrin•Carmen-Suite (1967) (after G. Bizet)•6. Scene. Allegro moderato – Andante assai
- Shchedrin•Carmen-Suite (1967) (after G. Bizet)•7. Second Intermezzo. Larghetto
- Shchedrin•Carmen-Suite (1967) (after G. Bizet)•8. Bolero. Allegro vivo
- Shchedrin•Carmen-Suite (1967) (after G. Bizet)•9. Torero. Moderato con stoltezza
- Solovyov-Sedoi•Podmoskovnye vechera (Moscow Nights) (1956)•Ne slyshny v sadu dazhe shorokhi
Mussorgsky's 'Boris Godunov' is one of Russia's great operas, depicting the travails of the 17th-century tsar. The Coronation Scene – set in Red Square – has Boris delivering a brief monologue followed by choral rejoicing "Slava!" The Russian capital also features in Mussorgsky’s political saga 'Khovanshchina', the prelude depicting Dawn over the Moscow River. Glazunov's symphonic pictures "The Kremlin" depicts pomp and grandeur, but the middle section "In the cloister" is more meditative.
For a jaunty spin around Moscow, enjoy the suite from Shostakovich's operetta 'Cheryomushki', a Moscow district full of cheap housing.
The Bolshoi Theatre – literally "big" theatre – has played the premieres of important operas and ballets. 'Don Quixote', 'The Red Poppy' and Rodion Shchedrin's take on 'Carmen' were first danced at the Bolshoi, along with such operas as 'Mazeppa', 'Aleko' and Rimsky-Korsakov’s political satire 'The Golden Cockerel'. Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony was premiered in Moscow, as was Shostakovich's Fourth – hidden in the composer's bottom drawer for decades until after Stalin’s death. Shostakovich's final symphonic utterance – the 15th, with its enigmatic toyshop percussion – was also given its first performance in Moscow, conducted by the composer's son, in 1972.