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Rachmaninov - Symphony No.1, The Isle of the Dead, Youth Symphony

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Label: Chandos

Cat No: CHAN10475

Barcode: 0095115147528

Format: CD

Number of Discs: 1

Genre: Orchestral

Release Date: 2nd June 2008

Works

Rachmaninov, Sergei

Symphonic Movement in D minor 'Youth Symphony': I. Grave-Allegro-Moderato
Symphony no.1 in D minor, op.13
The Isle of the Dead, op.29

Artists

BBC Philharmonic Orchestra

Conductor

Gianandrea Noseda

Works

Rachmaninov, Sergei

Symphonic Movement in D minor 'Youth Symphony': I. Grave-Allegro-Moderato
Symphony no.1 in D minor, op.13
The Isle of the Dead, op.29

Artists

BBC Philharmonic Orchestra

Conductor

Gianandrea Noseda

About

Gianandrea Noseda writes of his journey with Symphony No.1: ‘Having conducted several times the Rachmaninov second and third symphonies, I’ve been wondering continuously why the first of his symphonies has been neglected or considered not as good as its later sisters. In the last couple of years the level of my curiosity has increased so much that I’ve taken seriously the task of studying, learning and finally performing Rachmaninov's first symphony. The result astonished me greatly: the symphony has such a beauty in the melodic line, the harmony is so refined, the structure is well controlled and yet everything seems naturally fluent.’

Regarded as one of the most remarkable composers of the twentieth century, Sergei Rachmaninov wrote three romantically inclined symphonies, two of which are now standard orchestral repertoire. However, the premiere of Symphony No.1 was such a disaster that Rachmaninov refrained from composing anything more for the next three years. The conductor, Glazunov, is reputed to have been drunk, and Rachmaninov was unable to attend the entire performance. He reacted by tearing up the score. Thankfully for posterity, the instrumental parts were preserved and rediscovered in 1945, permitting the work to be restored. It is a work full of youthful fervour, distinctive and sweeping themes, and nationalist sentiments, and is now widely regarded as a vivid example of his early talent.

It is complemented here by the ‘Youth Symphony’, the first movement of a projected but never completed symphony in D minor, composed when Rachmaninov was only seventeen, and the great symphonic poem The Isle of the Dead, inspired by Arnold Böcklin’s painting of the same name which Rachmaninov had seen on display in Paris in 1907. Composed in 1909, it is still a relatively early work, but contains some of the dark Russian spiritual qualities which Rachmaninoff was to develop further in his later compositions.

Gianandrea Noseda has a particular affinity for Russian music, which perhaps grew from his time with Gergiev at the Kirov. It is clear from his conducting that Rachmaninov's music is deeply personal to him.