Kirill Kondrashin - Musiques du XXE Siecle (2012) [6CD Box Set]

• Title: Musique Du XXE Siecle
  
• Year Of Release: 2012
  
• Label: Lys
  
• Genre: Classical
  
• Quality: FLAC (Tracks)
  
• Total Time: 07:02:10
  
• Total Size: 1,8 GB (+3%rec.)
  
• WebSite: Album Preview
  

Kiril Kondrashin was perhaps the greatest conductor to emerge from the Soviet Union. Trained at the Moscow Conervatory, he led most of the Soviet Union's great orchestras although he is most well-known for his stints at the Bolshoi Theater and as principal conductor of the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra from 1960 to 1976. He defected to the west in 1979 during a tour in Holland. He was immediately named a principal conductor alongside Bernard Haitink to the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.

This massive six-disc compilation covers some of the best of Kondrashin's work while behind the iron curtain. It includes no less than four of Prokofiev's major works: the First and Third Piano Concertos, the Second Violin Concerto, and the October Cantata, Op. 74, a work for which he gave the original premiere performance in 1966.

This 1966 recording of the October Cantata is massive – involving full orchestra, mixed chorus, military band, accordian band, and several interesting sound effects (e.g. siren and the voice of Lenin heard over a loudspeaker.) While the recording skips two movements considered too politically incorrect given the proximity to Stalin's death, musically this is a seminal recording of one of Prokofiev's most neglected, misunderstood, and hauntingly powerful works. Compared to Neeme Järvi's 1992 recording, Kondrashin's is brisker, more powerful, and ultimately more effective.

The recording of the First Piano Concerto, with Rudolf Kerer as soloist, is no less monumental. Kerer, another little-known but important Soviet pianist, is brilliant. While his tempo is not as frenetic as Gavrilov or Argerich, Kerer is more resilient and the Moscow Philharmonic under Kondrashin's expert direction is impeccable. Marred only by relatively poor sound by today's standards, the recording is nevertheless one of the finest ever of the First concerto.

The best works on these discs are those of Leonid Kogan, the esteemed Soviet violinst, who like his compatriots on this disc (save Gilels and Kondrashin), performed in relative obscurity in the Soviet Union. Kogan's reading of Prokofiev's 2nd Violin Concerto is exquisite, easily surpassing the 2nd's most famous champion of the time (Heifetz), and rivalling the best this reviewer has ever heard. Although it suffers from the same sonic deficiencies as the other recordings on these discs, musically it is a performance of great import. Kogan's recording of the Shostakovich First Violin Concerto with Kondrashin is also beyond reproach.

The last Prokofiev work on this collection is somewhat of a letdown by comparison. It is Gilel's rarely heard recording of Prokofiev's Third Piano Concerto. The letdown is based on comparison with the other recordings in the collection and the expectation of hearing Prokofiev's most popular conerto at the hands of one of the greatest Prokofievian pianists ever backed up by the titanic Kondrashin. The results are mixed. Gilels takes a more restrained approach than one would expect from 1959 – perhaps the prime of Gilels' middle period. It is a fantastic recording to be sure, but I was hoping for so much more from two giants of Prokofiev's music. I can think of half a dozen other recordings that convey more emotional effect than Gilels.

Taken on the whole, this collection is a masterpiece for Prokofiev-o-philes. Kondrashin, Kogan, and Gilels represent three of the greatest in their respective disciplines to emerge from the Soviet Union at any time. Combined with Prokofiev's major works, along with many other important works (Rachmaninov's Third Piano Concerto, Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, and Shostakovich's two violin concertos), this is a must-own collection.


Tracks:

CD 1
01. Debussy - Ibéria (Images pour orchestre No. 2) - I. Par les rues et les chemins |6:52|
02. Debussy - Ibéria (Images pour orchestre No. 2) - II. Les parfums de la nuit |9:34|
03. Debussy - Ibéria (Images pour orchestre No. 2) - III. Le matin d'un jour de fête |4:26|
04. Ravel - La Valse |12:38|
05. Ravel - Rhapsodie Espagnole - I. Prélude à la nuit |5:05|
06. Ravel - Rhapsodie Espagnole - II. Malagueña |2:03|
07. Ravel - Rhapsodie Espagnole - III. Habanera |3:03|
08. Ravel - Rhapsodie Espagnole - IV. Feria |6:21|
09. Ravel - Tzigane |9:04|
10. Waxman - Carmen Fantasy |9:25|

CD 2
01. Hindemith - Symphonic Metamorphoses on Themes of Weber - Allegro |3:20|
02. Hindemith - Symphonic Metamorphoses on Themes of Weber - Turandot: Scherzo |7:12|
03. Hindemith - Symphonic Metamorphoses on Themes of Weber - Andantino |4:05|
04. Hindemith - Symphonic Metamorphoses on Themes of Weber - Marsch |4:00|
05. Casella - Paganiniana - Allegro agitato |4:01|
06. Casella - Paganiniana - Polachetta |3:43|
07. Casella - Paganiniana - Romanza |4:38|
08. Casella - Paganiniana - Tarentella |4:35|
09. Prokofiev - Piano Concerto No. 1 - Allegro brioso |6:46|
10. Prokofiev - Piano Concerto No. 1 - Andante assai |4:16|
11. Prokofiev - Piano Concerto No. 1 - Allegro scherzando |4:25|
12. Prokofiev - Violin Concerto No. 2 - Allegro Moderato |10:20|
13. Prokofiev - Violin Concerto No. 2 - Andante assai - Allegretto - Andante assai |9:52|
14. Prokofiev - Violin Concerto No. 2 - Allegro ben marcato |6:13|

CD 3
01. Rachmaninov - Piano Concerto No. 3 - 1. Allegro ma non tanto |17:43|
02. Rachmaninov - Piano Concerto No. 3 - 2. Intermezzo (Adagio) |10:41|
03. Rachmaninov - Piano Concerto No. 3 - 3. Finale (Alla breve) |14:19|
04. Rachmaninov - Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini - Introduction |0:50|
05. Rachmaninov - Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini - Variation II |0:19|
06. Rachmaninov - Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini - Variation III |0:24|
07. Rachmaninov - Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini - Variation IV |0:29|
08. Rachmaninov - Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini - Variation V |0:31|
09. Rachmaninov - Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini - Variation VI |0:59|
10. Rachmaninov - Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini - Variation VII |0:54|
11. Rachmaninov - Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini - Variation VIII |0:33|
12. Rachmaninov - Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini - Variation IX |0:32|
13. Rachmaninov - Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini - Variation X |0:50|
14. Rachmaninov - Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini - Variation XI |1:26|
15. Rachmaninov - Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini - Variation XII |1:11|
16. Rachmaninov - Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini - Variation XIII |0:30|
17. Rachmaninov - Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini - Variation XIV |0:44|
18. Rachmaninov - Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini - Variation XV |1:03|
19. Rachmaninov - Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini - Variation XVI |1:35|
20. Rachmaninov - Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini - Variation XVII |1:22|
21. Rachmaninov - Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini - Variation XVIII |2:38|
22. Rachmaninov - Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini - Variation XIX |0:26|
23. Rachmaninov - Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini - Variation XX |0:35|
24. Rachmaninov - Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini - Variation XXI |0:26|
25. Rachmaninov - Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini - Variation XXII |1:42|
26. Rachmaninov - Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini - Variation XXIII |0:48|
27. Rachmaninov - Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini - Variation XXIV |1:11|

CD 4
01. Shostakovich - The Execution of Stepan Razin, Op. 119 |28:09|
02. Shostakovich - The Sun Shines over Our Motherland, Op. 90 |12:27|
03. Prokofiev - Cantata for the 20th Anniversary of the October Revolution - I. Prelude |2:29|
04. Prokofiev - Cantata for the 20th Anniversary of the October Revolution - II. The Philosophers |2:33|
05. Prokofiev - Cantata for the 20th Anniversary of the October Revolution - III. Interlude |1:29|
06. Prokofiev - Cantata for the 20th Anniversary of the October Revolution - IV. 'A Tight Little Band' |2:17|
07. Prokofiev - Cantata for the 20th Anniversary of the October Revolution - V. Interlude |1:12|
08. Prokofiev - Cantata for the 20th Anniversary of the October Revolution - VI. Revolution |9:36|
09. Prokofiev - Cantata for the 20th Anniversary of the October Revolution - VII. Victory |5:50|
10. Prokofiev - Cantata for the 20th Anniversary of the October Revolution - VIII. Symphony |3:20|
11. Prokofiev - Cantata for the 20th Anniversary of the October Revolution - IX. The Philosophers |2:51|

CD 5
01. Shostakovich - Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 99 - I. Nocturne - Moderato |11:10|
02. Shostakovich - Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 99 - II. Scherzo - Allegro |6:16|
03. Shostakovich - Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 99 - III. Passacaglia - Andante |11:40|
04. Shostakovich - Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 99 - IV. Burlesque - Allegro con brio |4:46|
05. Shostakovich - Violin Concerto No. 2 in C-sharp minor, Op. 129 - I. Moderato |12:38|
06. Shostakovich - Violin Concerto No. 2 in C-sharp minor, Op. 129 - II. Adagio |8:51|
07. Shostakovich - Violin Concerto No. 2 in C-sharp minor, Op. 129 - III. Adagio - Allegro |8:06|

CD 6
01. Scriabin - Piano Concerto in F-sharp minor, Op. 20 - I. Allegro |7:07|
02. Scriabin - Piano Concerto in F-sharp minor, Op. 20 - II. Andante |8:16|
03. Scriabin - Piano Concerto in F-sharp minor, Op. 20 - III. Allegro |10:37|
04. Prokofiev - Piano Concerto No. 3 in C major, Op. 26 - I. Allegro |9:15|
05. Prokofiev - Piano Concerto No. 3 in C major, Op. 26 - II. Andantino con variazioni |8:57|
06. Prokofiev - Piano Concerto No. 3 in C major, Op. 26 - III. Allegro ma non troppo |9:37|
07. Khachaturian - Concerto-Rhapsody for violin and orchestra |22:07|

Personnel:

Rudolf Kehrer, Dmitri Bashkirov, Emil Gilels, Evgeny Mogilevsky, Yakov Zak - pianos, Leonid Kogan, David Oistrakh - violins
Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, USSR Radio Symphony Orchestra, USSR Symphony Orchestra, USSR State Symphony Orchestra, USSR RTV Large Symphony Orchestra, Kyrill Kondrashin

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