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Russia - Eastern Europe III (2004)

Russia - Eastern Europe III

The 2004 season ended with programs of works by composers from Eastern Europe and Russia: languages often marginalized in discussions of Bach and Beethoven, but that nevertheless produced a tremendous treasury of chamber music. Bartók’s Contrasts, written for the Hungarian violinist Joseph Szigeti and clarinetist Benny Goodman, seamlessly incorporates Hungarian folk dances with American jazz stylings. Polish composer Karol Szymanowski’s Songs of an Infatuated Muezzin offer listeners a taste of one of Easter Europe’s lesser-known but most individual musical voices. Tchaikovsky’s Souvenir of Florence, though begun while the Russian composer visited Italy, is unmistakably Russian from its first measure. A tour de force for string sextet, the work shows off the composer’s innate melodic gift.

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Selections

“Allah, Akbar, Allah!” from Piesni muezina szalonego (Songs of the Infatuated Muezzin), op. 42 | Karol Szymanowski (2:43)

  • Derek Han, Piano
  • Dina Kuznetsova, Soprano

“O! Ukohana ma!” from Piesni muezina szalonego (Songs of the Infatuated Muezzin), op. 42 | Karol Szymanowski (1:59)

  • Derek Han, Piano
  • Dina Kuznetsova, Soprano

“W poludne miastao biale od goraca” from Piesni muezina szalonego (Songs of the Infatuated Muezzin), op. 42 | Karol Szymanowski (1:55)

  • Derek Han, Piano
  • Dina Kuznetsova, Soprano

“Olio! Odeszlas w pustynie zachodina” from Piesni muezina szalonego (Songs of the Infatuated Muezzin), op. 42 | Karol Szymanowski (3:40)

  • Derek Han, Piano
  • Dina Kuznetsova, Soprano

Contrasts | Béla Bartók (17:01)

  • Jorja Fleezanis, Violin
  • Derek Han, Piano
  • Anthony McGill, Clarinet

Souvenir de Florence, op. 70 | Piotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky (33:36)

  • David Finckel, Cello
  • Jorja Fleezanis, Violin
  • Sumire Kudo, Cello
  • Elmar Oliveira, Violin
  • Cynthia Phelps, Viola
  • Geraldine Walther, Viola

Artists

  • David Finckel, Cello
  • Jorja Fleezanis, Violin
  • Derek Han, Piano
  • Sumire Kudo, Cello
  • Dina Kuznetsova, Soprano
  • Anthony McGill, Clarinet
  • Elmar Oliveira, Violin
  • Cynthia Phelps, Viola
  • Geraldine Walther, Viola

Music@Menlo LIVE’s Origin/Essence series commemorates the festival’s second season, an exploration of the chamber repertoire of five distinct musical cultures.

Russia - Eastern Europe III Total Time: 1:01:14
Discs: 1
Price: $15.00
Year Recorded: 2004