An epic journey
5
By DCD Records
Gliere's sprawling symphony takes the listener on an epic sonic odyssey. From the somber opening bars that foreshadow the arrival of the heroic Il'ya Muromets, to the closing chords where Muromets and his brave Bogatyrs knights are defeated and turned to stone, Giere weaves a tightly-constructed narrative that's both coherent and immersive.
The first recording of this work was with Stokowski, who (with Gliere's permission) trimmed the work down from 70+ minutes to a svelte 38 minutes. Although it's a thrilling performance (it is Stoki, after all), it didn't do the work justice. Because Gliere's third symphony has no filler -- every note is there for a reason, and every note helps further the story.
Others have recorded the complete version of this work, but somehow failed to completely communicate overarching dramatic motion of the music. There are plenty of beautifully written sections that its tempting the linger over, but just as with the organic music of Wagner and Mahler, they're most effective in context.
And JoAnn Falletta understands that context. Her performance with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra is one that delivered new pleasures every time I listened to it. The story for this programmatic work is quite detailed -- but you really don't need to follow it with this recording. Falletta and the BPO effectively paint each scene completely.
The release is beautifully recorded, allowing the listener to hear Gliere's subtle orchestrations. A joy to listen to from start to finish.
You owe it to yourself . . .
4
By schweiTunes
. . . to discover this incredible early-twentieth-century masterpiece. Yes, it’s just over a century old.
Music lovers know of the great piano concerto nicknamed “Rach 3”, which few piano virtuosi have mastered. Glière’s Third ought to go by “Muromets” for short — and similarly, few orchestras have tackled it. It is “Rach 3”, writ large.
If you are becoming curious about this massive work of art in symphonic sound, start with this brand-spanking-new recording from our friends at NAXOS. You will remember the experience for the rest of your life, and maybe, just maybe, “Muromets” will become as well-known and well-loved as “Carmina Burana”, or Beethoven’s Fifth, or The Rite of Spring, or even perhaps, “1812”.
Gavin Dixon of “Classical CD Reviews” concurs: “It’s a symphony that should really be known much better than it is, so let’s hope that this excellent new recording puts it one step further in that direction.”
The incredible universe of Il’ya Muromets is just a click away . . .
[ecs]
