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PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY
Les Saisons, Op.37b (1875-76)
42:05
(The Seasons)
Twelve Characteristic Pieces for the Piano
1.
I
Janvier (January). Au coin du feu (By the Hearth)
5:09
in A major • in A-Dur • en la majeur
Moderato semplice, ma espressivo - Meno mosso - Tempo I
2.
2
Février (February). Carnaval (Carnival)
2:53
in D major • in D-Dur • en ré majeur
Allegro giusto - L'istesso tempo
3.
3
Mars (March). Chant de l'alouette (Song of the Lark)
2:52
in G minor • in g-Moll • en sol mineur
Andantino espressivo - Un pochettino più mosso
4.
4
Avril (April). Perce-neige (Snowdrop)
2:44
in B flat major • in B-Dur • en si bémol majeur
Allegretto con moto e un poco rubato
5.
5
Mai (May). Les Nuits de mai (May Nights)
4:18
in G major • in G-Dur • en sol majeur
Andantino - Allegretto giocoso - Poco meno mosso - A tempo - Andantino
6.
6
Juin (June). Barcarolle (Barcarolle)
4:57
in G minor • in g-Moll • en sol mineur
Andante cantabile - Poco più mosso - Allegro giocoso - Energico - Tempo I
7.
7
Juilet (July). Chant du faucheur (Song of the Reaper)
1:53
in E flat major • in Es-Dur • en mi bémol majeur
Allegro moderato con moto
8.
8
Août (August). La Moisson (The Harvest)
3:05
in B minor • in h-Moll • en si mineur
Allegro vivace - Dolce cantabile - Tempo I
9.
9
Septembre (September). La Chasse (The Hunt)
2:36
in G major • in G-Dur • en sol majeur
Allegro non troppo
10.
10
Octobre (October). Chant d'automne (Autumn Song)
4:34
in D minor • in d-Moll • en ré mineur
Andante doloroso e molto cantabile
11.
11
Novembre (November). Troïka (Troika)
2:52
in E major • in E-Dur • en mi majeur
Allegro moderato
12.
12
Décembre (December). Noël (Christmas)
4:09
in A flat major • in As-Dur • en la bémol majeur
Tempo di Valse - Trio - Da Capo al segno e poi Coda - Coda
MODEST PETROVICH MUSSORGSKY
Pictures at an Exhibition (1874)
in Commemoration of Viktor Hartmann
Original version
Dedicated to Vladimir Vasilievich Stasov
13.
Promenade. Allegro giusto, nel modo russico; senza allegrezza, ma poco sostenuto -
1:22
14.
1
Gnomus. Sempre vivo - Meno vivo - Sempre vivo - Poco meno mosso, pesante -
2:41
15.
Promenade. Moderato commodo assai e con delicatezza -
0:58
16.
2
Il vecchio castello. Andantino molto cantabile e con dolore
4:14
17.
Promenade. Moderato non tanto, pesamente -
0:28
18.
3
Tuileries (Children Quarrelling after Play).
1:02
Allegretto non troppo, capriccioso
19.
4
Bydlo. Sempre moderato, pesante
3:08
20.
Promenade. Tranquillo -
0:46
21.
5
Ballet of the Chicks in Their Shells. Scherzino - Trio -
1:04
Da capo il Scherzino, senza, Trio, e poi Coda - Coda -
22.
6
Two Polish Jews, One Rich, the Other Poor (Samuel Goldenberg and Schmuÿle).
2:14
Andante. Grave, energico - nel modo russico, poco sostenuto -
23.
Promenade. Allegro giusto, nel modo russico, poco sostenuto -
1:23
24.
7
Limoges, the Market Place. The Big News. Allegretto vivo, sempre scherzando -
1:24
Meno mosso, sempre capriccioso -
25.
8
Catacombae. Sepulcrum Romanum. Largo -
1:54
26.
Con mortuis in lingua mortua. Andante non troppo, con lamento
2:10
27.
9
The Hut on Fowl's Legs (Baba-Yaga). Allegro con brio, feroce -
3:21
Andante mosso - Allegro molto -
28.
10
The Great Gate of Kiev. Allegro alla breve. Maestoso. Con grandezza -
5:18
Meno mosso, sempre maestoso - Grave, sempre allargando
Total time: 75:46
About
Two of the most popular romantic Russian piano works from the mid-1870s are heard on this new album from the celebrated Barry Douglas.
Lyricism lies at the heart of the twelve movements of Tchaikovsky’s The Seasons (1875 – 76), commissioned by the periodical Nouvelliste to appear monthly, accompanied by poetic epigraphs. Tchaikovsky got his servant to remind him of his duty on a certain day in the month, and composed each piece in a single sitting. Each reflects characteristics of a different month, the style is simple, the mood introspective.
While the poetic aspect of The Seasons was prompted by the individual musical contributions, Pictures at an Exhibition (1874) was provoked by a visit which Mussorgsky made to an exhibition of sketches and paintings by his late friend Viktor Hartmann. The technically demanding memorial, a popular genre in Russian romanticism, is here played thoughtfully and sympathetically by Barry Douglas.
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Reviews
Recommended
“…This performance [Les Saisons] by Douglas, one of the best I have heard, stands alongside the greatest recordings of the work. He paints in bold primary colours, bringing each of the short vignettes vividly to life…. I have no doubt that this is a superb recording of Pictures …”
Robert Beattie – MusicWeb-International.com – 23 January 2019
****
Ates Orga – ClassicalSource.com – December 2018
“… I don’t know how long he has had these works in his repertoire but they sound like old friends, well played-in. From the opening bars of the Schmannesque ‘By the hearth’ (January from The Seasons), Douglas draws you in with his self-effacing, intimate approach and beguiling tone. Anyone who has heard his ‘Celtic Reflections’ and ‘Celtic Airs’ albums also Chandos) will know how eloquent he can be when presented with a simple, uncluttered melody line. Listen to ‘Barcolle’ (June) and ‘Autumn Song’ (October) and you’ll see what I mean. The more extrovert numbers (‘Carnaval’/February, ‘Troika’/November) are no less successful. There have been more viscerally thrilling Pictures that this … but few with such musical and textual integrity. I listened to it with great pleasure… nothing exaggerated, no tinkering with the text, each section deftly characterise and using the full tonal and dynamic range of the piano… distinguished and beautifully recorded account of this great score…”
Jeremy Nicholas – Gramophone magazine – December 2018
***** (Superb Disc) Technique: 3.5/5
Bertrand Boissard – Diapason magazine (France) – December 2018
Performance **** Recording *****
“This first release in a new series finds Barry Douglas at his most arresting … captures in thrillingly expansive sound …”
Julian Haylock - BBC Music magazine - Christmas Issue 2018
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