Andrei, Ivanov, Mark Reizen, B
Release Date: 30 April 2005
Label: Naxos - Historical / Naxos Historical
Packaging Type: Jewel Case
No of Units: 3
Barcode: 747313307128
Genres: Classical
Composer/Series: BORODIN
Description
Alexander Borodin (1834-1887)Prince IgorAlexander Borodin, the composer of Prince Igor, one ofthe greatest of all Russian operas, once said that for him'music was a pastime, a relaxation from more seriousoccupations'. These 'serious occupations' were thedisciplines of science and medicine, with which heachieved international fame. Born illegitimately to anaristocratic father in St Petersburg in 1833, by the startof adolescence he could play the piano, flute and celloand speak several languages. Although highly adept atmusic, his passion was for experimental chemistry. In1850 he entered the Medico-Surgical Academy atSt Petersburg. On graduation he spent a year as a housesurgeon in a military hospital, followed by three yearsof further study in western Europe. Here he met thebrilliant young pianist Ekaterina Protopova, whom hemarried in 1863, after succeeding to the professorship atthe Academy in 1862. He spent the rest of his lifelecturing and supervising student work, not only inSt Petersburg, but throughout Europe.Borodin was self-taught in composition, havingstarted as early as when he was nine, until he began totake lessons from Balakirev in 1862. Through Balakirevhe met the composers Cui, Mussorgsky and Rimsky-Korsakov, and together they became known as 'TheFive' or 'The Mighty Handful'. As a group they wereopposed to academic approaches to music; by contrastthey viewed themselves as Russian patriots, standingfor spontaneity and 'truth in music'. With his successfulmedical career, composition was little more than ahobby for Borodin. His opera Prince Igor, despiteoccupying him for eighteen years, remained unfinishedat his death in 1887. It was completed and orchestratedby Glazunov (who drafted the Overture based onrecollections of hearing Borodin play it on the piano)and Rimsky-Korsakov, and was first performed inSt Petersburg on 4th November 1890.Set in the twelfth century, Prince Igor is a vastnationalist epic, and describes the clash of culturesbetween the Russians, symbolised by Prince Igor, andthe Tartar Polovtski tribe, led by Khan Konchak. Theplot is relatively straight-forward. Following theOverture, in the Prologue Prince Igor sets off to wagewar against the Polovtski. In Act One his wife,Yaroslavna, forces his brother and rival, PrinceGalitsky, to curb his supporters. Word comes that Igorand his son Vladimir have been defeated and captured.Act Two is set in the Polovtsian camp. Vladmir hasfallen in love with Konchak's daughter, Konchakovna.Konchak offers to grant Igor his freedom if he ceaseshostilities. Igor refuses. In the Third Act (omitted in thisrecording as was the custom of the time) Igor escapes,but without his son. Konchak refuses to pursue Igor. Heretains Vladimir as a hostage and marries him toKonchakovna. Act Four brings the opera to a close: Igorreturns safely to Russia, is greeted with rejoicing, andvows to raise fresh troops with which to meet thePolovtski threat.This historic recording was made in Moscowduring 1951 an
Tracklisting
Kentner
Horowitz:Reiner
Holst:Vaughan Williams
Hofmann
HAYDN / MOZART: Symphonies
Glenn Gould
Gilels
Gilbert And Sullivan
