Episode 3
Donald Macleod is joined by Alexander Ivashkin to explore three key Schnittke works from the mid-1970s: Four Hymns and the First Concerto grosso.
Donald Macleod presents a celebration of the music of the USSR's last great composer, Alfred Schnittke.
In 1975, Shostakovich, the titanic figure of Soviet music, died. Schnittke inherited the mantle of the USSR's premier composer - one whose music encapsulated the absurdity, the banality and the struggle of life under the Soviet dictatorship.
Donald is joined again Russian music expert Alexander Ivashkin to explore three key works from the mid-1970s: his tragic Piano Quintet, written after the death of his mother; the plangent Four Hymns for instrumental ensemble; and the First Concerto grosso, described by the composer as featuring 'a joyful children's chorus, a nostalgic atonal serenade, a piece of 100 per cent guaranteed Corelli - made in the USSR - and finally my grandmother's favourite tango played by my great-grandmother on a harpsichord'.
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Music Played
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Alfred Schnittke
Praeludium In Memoriam Dmitri Shostakovich, for two violins
Performer: Mateja Marinkovic Performer: Linn Hendry (violins)
- ASV CDDCA877.
- 7.
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Alfred Schnittke
Four Hymns (1974)
Performer: Soloists Ensemble Of The Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra: Performer: Yuri Rudometkin (Bassoon) Performer: Alexander Ivashkin (Cello) Performer: Valeri Bartsalkin (Double Bass) Performer: Irina Pashinskaya (Harp) Performer: Vera Chasovennaya (Harpsichord) Performer: Nikolai Grishin (Percussion) Performer: Victor Grishin (Percussion)
- MELODIYA SUCD 10 00061.
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Alfred Schnittke
Piano Quintet
Performer: Keller Quartett (piano) Performer: Alexander Lubimov (piano)
- ECM 4618152.
- 1.
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Alfred Schnittke
Concerto Grosso no.1, for two violins, prepared piano and string orchestra (1976-77)
Performer: Gidon Kremer (violin) Performer: Tatiana Grindenko (violin) Performer: Yuri Smirnov (harpsichord and prepared piano) Performer: Chamber Orchestra Of Europe Performer: Heinrich Schiff
- DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 445520.
Broadcasts
- Wed 13 Jan 201012:00BBC Radio 3
- Wed 13 Jan 201022:00BBC Radio 3
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