Naxos
Pavlova: Symphony No 5, Elegy For Piano And String Orchestra
$13.99
Details
- Composer
- PAVLOVA, ALLA
- Artist
- Soloists, Ziva
- Format
- CD
- Label
- Naxos
- Released
- Apr 24, 2007
- Catalog #
- 8570369
- UPC
- 747313036974
About
PAVLOVA Symphony No 5. Elegy for Piano and Strings • Vladimir Ziva, cond; Andrei Korobeinikov (pn); Moscow Tchaikovsky RS0 • NAXOS 8.570369 (52:04)
Alla Pavlova is a Russian-trained composer and musicologist who has lived in New York since 1990. Recordings of her previous four symphonies, as well as the suite from her ballet, Sulamith have been released by Naxos, some reviewed in these pages (see, for instance, Fanfare 29:6, pp. 174–175). This disc combines her most recent symphony with a shorter work, originally conceived as film music.
In the notes accompanying the CD, Pavlova describes her symphony, written in 2005–06, as having a “spiritual program.” The first movement expresses her personal feelings about life; the second is a meditation on a white lotus flower; the third suggests a startled return to the mundane; the fourth is a prayer; and the fifth is a realization that life is a path toward God. The crux of the musical argument in this 47-minute work is largely delegated to the strings. With the exception of occasional solos, the winds play a largely supportive and ornamental role. Horns are the only brass instruments employed and the percussion writing is discreet. The second and third movements feature extended violin solos of great sensual beauty, superbly performed here by Mikhail Shestakov.
Pavlova’s musical language is firmly grounded in tonality with, not surprisingly, certain unmistakable Russian characteristics, especially in terms of melodic inflection. Her sensitive and beautiful orchestration evokes a sense of vastness reminiscent of Sibelius or late Mahler. Nevertheless, Pavlova speaks with an original voice. She draws in the listener with the gentlest of means—no demands, nothing flashy or jarring. Her harmonic syntax would be perfectly suitable within a symphony written at the turn of the 20th century, or even earlier. Her rhythmical procedures are the subtlest imaginable, yet there’s always a strong sense of forward momentum. From the first hearing this music unfolds perfectly comprehensibly, if never predictably. But despite its disarming accessibility, this music strikes me as far from simplistic. The symphony’s dream-like textures, achieved with the utmost economy of means, traverse a vast terrain of emotional states. Pavlova’s compelling discourse, direct and unaffected, ends up being quite moving, even if it’s difficult to explain exactly why.
Rounding out the disc is Pavlova’s Elegy for piano and orchestra, which originated as title music for a 1998 film, The American Healys . Andrei Korobeinikov is the capable pianist in this most unobtrusive of obbligato parts.
The recording was made in June 2006 in a studio of the Russian State TV & Radio Company and seems to capture all the sonorous delicacy of Pavlova’s music perfectly. The excellent Vladimir Ziva conducts the Tchaikovsky SO of Moscow Radio with great sympathy and conviction. An excellent recording of unconventional and curiously fascinating music. Recommended.
FANFARE: Patrick Rucker
Tracklist 6 tracks
-
1 I. Adagio - Vivace 09:57
- Track
- 1
- Title
- I. Adagio - Vivace
- Duration
- 09:57
- Composer
- Alla Pavlova
- Performer
- Mikhail Shestakov
- Ensemble
- Moscow Radio Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra
- Conductor
- Vladimir Ziva
-
2 II. Adagio 07:44
- Track
- 2
- Title
- II. Adagio
- Duration
- 07:44
- Composer
- Alla Pavlova
- Performer
- Mikhail Shestakov
- Ensemble
- Moscow Radio Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra
- Conductor
- Vladimir Ziva
-
3 III. Adagio - Vivace 12:55
- Track
- 3
- Title
- III. Adagio - Vivace
- Duration
- 12:55
- Composer
- Alla Pavlova
- Performer
- Mikhail Shestakov
- Ensemble
- Moscow Radio Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra
- Conductor
- Vladimir Ziva
-
4 IV. Largo 09:55
- Track
- 4
- Title
- IV. Largo
- Duration
- 09:55
- Composer
- Alla Pavlova
- Performer
- Mikhail Shestakov
- Ensemble
- Moscow Radio Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra
- Conductor
- Vladimir Ziva
-
5 V. Vivace 06:52
- Track
- 5
- Title
- V. Vivace
- Duration
- 06:52
- Composer
- Alla Pavlova
- Performer
- Mikhail Shestakov
- Ensemble
- Moscow Radio Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra
- Conductor
- Vladimir Ziva
-
6 Elegy 04:41
- Track
- 6
- Title
- Elegy
- Duration
- 04:41
- Composer
- Alla Pavlova
- Performer
- Andrei Korobeinikov
- Ensemble
- Moscow Radio Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra
- Conductor
- Vladimir Ziva