Soviet Russia (1917-1953)

Series

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Comments

2017

Out Of Chaos

20171106

How Scriabin and Prokofiev influenced early Soviet music. Donald Macleod talks to Russian music expert Marina Frolova-Walker.

As part of BBC Radio 3's 'Breaking Free: A Century of Russian Culture' season, Composer of the Week unravels the lives and masterpieces of the musicians who shaped musical life from the USSR's inception in 1917 through to its dissolution in 1991. In this first week, Donald Macleod explores a host of composers - from familiar names like Shostakovich and Prokofiev to lesser-known, though no less brilliant, figures like Gavriil Popov and Alexander Mosolov - whose music documents the turbulent and fascinating story of Russia up to Stalin's death in 1953.

Donald is joined by the Russian music expert Marina Frolova-Walker as they explore the tensions, censorship and cultural terror of the 1920s and 30s, followed by the trauma of the Second World War and finally the infamous Zhdanov affair of the late 1940s, which censured some of the USSR's foremost composers.

In this first programme, Donald explore two hugely influential - yet starkly different - composers of the USSR's early years: Alexander Scriabin, who had died in 1915 yet whose music was venerated, and the thrusting young prodigy Sergei Prokofiev.

Tempestuoso (Sarcasms, Op 19)

Matti Raekallio, piano

Prometheus: The Poem of Fire

Martha Argerich, piano

Berlin Singakademie

Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

Claudio Abbado, conductor

Piano Sonata No 7, Op 64, 'White Mass

Arcadi Volodos, piano

Largamente; Con eleganza; Allegretto tranquillo; Feroce (Visions Fugitives)

Steven Osborne, piano

Violin Concerto No.1 (3rd mvt)

James Ehnes, violin

BBC Philharmonic Orchestra

Gianandrea Noseda, conductor.

Marina Frolova-Walker discusses how Scriabin and Prokofiev influenced early Soviet music.

2017

Machines And Mutations: Roslavets And Mosolov

20171107

Machines and Mutations: the music of Alexander Mosolov and Nikolai Roslavets. Donald Macleod talsk to Russian music expert Marina Frolova-Walker.

As part of BBC Radio 3's 'Breaking Free: A Century of Russian Culture' season, Composer of The Week unravels the lives and masterpieces of the musicians that shaped musical life from the USSR's inception in 1917 through to its dissolution in 1991. In this first week, Donald Macleod explores a host of composers - from familiar names like Shostakovich and Prokofiev to lesser-known, though no less brilliant, figures like Gavriil Popov and Alexander Mosolov - whose music documents the turbulent and fascinating story of Russia up to Stalin's death in 1953.

Today, Donald and Marina tell the story of two composers whose brilliant, daring music fell tragically foul of the authorities: Alexander Mosolov and Nikolai Roslavets.

Zavod (The Iron Foundry)

Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra

Riccardo Chailly, conductor

Three Compositions for Piano (1914)

Marc-Andr退 Hamelin, piano

Piano Trio No 3

Trio Fontenay

Piano Concerto, Op 14

Stefan Schleiermacher, piano

Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra

Johannes Kalitzke, conductor.

Russian music expert Marina Frolova-Walker discusses Mosolov and Roslavets.

2017

Soviet Symphonica: Miaskovsky And Popov

20171108

Donald Macleod speaks to Russian music expert Marina Frolova-Walker about two giants of the Soviet symphony: Nikolai Myaskovsky and Gavriil Popov.

As part of BBC Radio 3's 'Breaking Free: A Century of Russian Culture' season, Composer of the Week unravels the lives and masterpieces of the musicians that shaped musical life from the USSR's inception in 1917 through to its dissolution in 1991. In this first week, Donald Macleod explores a host of composers - from familiar names like Shostakovich and Prokofiev to lesser-known, though no less brilliant, figures like Gavriil Popov and Alexander Mosolov - whose music documents the turbulent and fascinating story of Russia up to Stalin's death in 1953.

Today Donald and Marina unravel the legacy of two very different symphonists. First, Nikolai Myaskovsky, once described by Shostakovich as 'the Russian Vaughan Williams', whose prodigious output of symphonies (27 in all) blend dark Romanticism with shards of modernism. Then Gavriil Popov, author of only one symphony of real note (he completed six), yet whose first essay in the genre is amongst the most arresting, brilliant and chaotic musical creations of all Russian 20th-century music.

Prelude (Madrigal, Op 7)

Hibla Gerzmava, soprano

Ekaterin Ganilena, piano

Symphony No 10

State Academic Symphony Orchestra of Russia

Evgeny Svetlanov

String Quartet No 1 in A minor, Op 33 No 1 (3rd mvt)

Renoir Quartet

Symphony No 1 (1st mvt)

Moscow State Symphony Orchestra

Gennady Provatorov, conductor.

Donald Macleod speaks to Marina Frolova-Walker about Myaskovsky and Popov.

2017

A Tale Of Dmitri And Dmitry: Shostakovich And Kabalevsky

20171109

Donald Macleod talks to Marina Frolova-Walker about the 'two Dmitri/ys' - Shostakovich and Kabalevsky - and their very different relationships with the state.

In today's episode, Donald and Marina tell the story of Dmitri Shostakovich's infamous censure by the state in the mid-1930s, at which time he was accused of writing 'Muddle Instead of Music', and after which he lived in fear for his life. His story is juxtaposed with that of Dmitry Kabalevsky - a favourite of the state, yet whose music often dazzles with lyricism and imagination.

Galop from 'The Comedians

BBC Philharmonic Orchestra

Vassily Sinaisky, conductor

Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District, Op 29 (Scene 2 Interlude - opening of Scene 3)

Galina Vishnevskaya, soprano

Dimiter Petkov, bass

London Philharmonic Orchestra

Mstislav Rostropovich, conductor

Piano Concerto No 2, Op 23 (1st mvt)

Kathryn Stott, piano

Symphony No 4 (3rd mvt)

Scottish National Orchestra

Neeme J䀀rvi, conductor.

Donald Macleod and Marina Frolova-Walker discuss Dmitri Shostakovich and Dmitry Kabalevsky

2017

05 LAST

Zhdanovschina: Khrennikov And Prokofiev

20171110

Donald Macleod and Marina Frolova-Walker unravel the contrasting fates of Sergei Prokofiev - who died the same day as Stalin - and Soviet Composers' Union head Tikhon Khrennikov.

In the final episode of this week, Donald and Marina discuss the return of the 'prodigal son' of Soviet music, Sergei Prokofiev - and the grim reality of his final years in the USSR. As the week builds towards the pivotal events of 1948 - when Prokofiev, Shostakovich and others were officially denounced by the state - they explore the nebulous reputation, and sometime musical brilliance, of Tikhon Khrennikov, the infamous head of the Soviet Composers' Union.

Khrennikov: The Half-Moon Shines (Into the Storm)

Daniil Shtoda, tenor

Russian Philharmonia

Constantin Orbelian, conductor

Khrennikov: Piano Concerto No 1 (1st mvt)

USSR State Symphony Orchestra

Evgeny Svetlanov, conductor

Prokofiev: Revolution (Cantata for the 20th Anniversary of the Russian Revolution)

Philharmonia Orchestra and Chorus

Neeme J䀀rvi, conductor

Prokofiev: Piano Sonata No 7 (2nd and 3rd mvts)

Boris Giltburg, piano

Khrennikov: Scene of Kuzma and Glasha (Pig-Tender and Shepherd)

[film soundtrack, 1941]

Prokofiev: Symphony No 6 (2nd mvt)

London Symphony Orchestra

Valery Gergiev.

Donald Macleod unravels the contrasting fates of Sergei Prokofiev and Tikhon Khrennikov.

Episodes

Series	Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Comments
2017	01	Out Of Chaos	20171106	How Scriabin and Prokofiev influenced early Soviet music. Donald Macleod talks to Russian music expert Marina Frolova-Walker. As part of BBC Radio 3's 'Breaking Free: A Century of Russian Culture' season, Composer of the Week unravels the lives and masterpieces of the musicians who shaped musical life from the USSR's inception in 1917 through to its dissolution in 1991. In this first week, Donald Macleod explores a host of composers - from familiar names like Shostakovich and Prokofiev to lesser-known, though no less brilliant, figures like Gavriil Popov and Alexander Mosolov - whose music documents the turbulent and fascinating story of Russia up to Stalin's death in 1953. Donald is joined by the Russian music expert Marina Frolova-Walker as they explore the tensions, censorship and cultural terror of the 1920s and 30s, followed by the trauma of the Second World War and finally the infamous Zhdanov affair of the late 1940s, which censured some of the USSR's foremost composers. In this first programme, Donald explore two hugely influential - yet starkly different - composers of the USSR's early years: Alexander Scriabin, who had died in 1915 yet whose music was venerated, and the thrusting young prodigy Sergei Prokofiev. Tempestuoso (Sarcasms, Op 19) Matti Raekallio, piano Prometheus: The Poem of Fire Martha Argerich, piano Berlin Singakademie Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra Claudio Abbado, conductor Piano Sonata No 7, Op 64, 'White Mass Arcadi Volodos, piano Largamente; Con eleganza; Allegretto tranquillo; Feroce (Visions Fugitives) Steven Osborne, piano Violin Concerto No.1 (3rd mvt) James Ehnes, violin BBC Philharmonic Orchestra Gianandrea Noseda, conductor. Marina Frolova-Walker discusses how Scriabin and Prokofiev influenced early Soviet music.
2017	02	Machines And Mutations: Roslavets And Mosolov	20171107	Machines and Mutations: the music of Alexander Mosolov and Nikolai Roslavets. Donald Macleod talsk to Russian music expert Marina Frolova-Walker. As part of BBC Radio 3's 'Breaking Free: A Century of Russian Culture' season, Composer of The Week unravels the lives and masterpieces of the musicians that shaped musical life from the USSR's inception in 1917 through to its dissolution in 1991. In this first week, Donald Macleod explores a host of composers - from familiar names like Shostakovich and Prokofiev to lesser-known, though no less brilliant, figures like Gavriil Popov and Alexander Mosolov - whose music documents the turbulent and fascinating story of Russia up to Stalin's death in 1953. Donald is joined by the Russian music expert Marina Frolova-Walker as they explore the tensions, censorship and cultural terror of the 1920s and 30s, followed by the trauma of the Second World War and finally the infamous Zhdanov affair of the late 1940s, which censured some of the USSR's foremost composers. Today, Donald and Marina tell the story of two composers whose brilliant, daring music fell tragically foul of the authorities: Alexander Mosolov and Nikolai Roslavets. Zavod (The Iron Foundry) Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra Riccardo Chailly, conductor Three Compositions for Piano (1914) Marc-Andr退 Hamelin, piano Piano Trio No 3 Trio Fontenay Piano Concerto, Op 14 Stefan Schleiermacher, piano Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra Johannes Kalitzke, conductor. Russian music expert Marina Frolova-Walker discusses Mosolov and Roslavets.
2017	03	Soviet Symphonica: Miaskovsky And Popov	20171108	Donald Macleod speaks to Russian music expert Marina Frolova-Walker about two giants of the Soviet symphony: Nikolai Myaskovsky and Gavriil Popov. As part of BBC Radio 3's 'Breaking Free: A Century of Russian Culture' season, Composer of the Week unravels the lives and masterpieces of the musicians that shaped musical life from the USSR's inception in 1917 through to its dissolution in 1991. In this first week, Donald Macleod explores a host of composers - from familiar names like Shostakovich and Prokofiev to lesser-known, though no less brilliant, figures like Gavriil Popov and Alexander Mosolov - whose music documents the turbulent and fascinating story of Russia up to Stalin's death in 1953. Donald is joined by the Russian music expert Marina Frolova-Walker as they explore the tensions, censorship and cultural terror of the 1920s and 30s, followed by the trauma of the Second World War and finally the infamous Zhdanov affair of the late 1940s, which censured some of the USSR's foremost composers. Today Donald and Marina unravel the legacy of two very different symphonists. First, Nikolai Myaskovsky, once described by Shostakovich as 'the Russian Vaughan Williams', whose prodigious output of symphonies (27 in all) blend dark Romanticism with shards of modernism. Then Gavriil Popov, author of only one symphony of real note (he completed six), yet whose first essay in the genre is amongst the most arresting, brilliant and chaotic musical creations of all Russian 20th-century music. Prelude (Madrigal, Op 7) Hibla Gerzmava, soprano Ekaterin Ganilena, piano Symphony No 10 State Academic Symphony Orchestra of Russia Evgeny Svetlanov String Quartet No 1 in A minor, Op 33 No 1 (3rd mvt) Renoir Quartet Symphony No 1 (1st mvt) Moscow State Symphony Orchestra Gennady Provatorov, conductor. Donald Macleod speaks to Marina Frolova-Walker about Myaskovsky and Popov.
2017	04	A Tale Of Dmitri And Dmitry: Shostakovich And Kabalevsky	20171109	Donald Macleod talks to Marina Frolova-Walker about the 'two Dmitri/ys' - Shostakovich and Kabalevsky - and their very different relationships with the state. As part of BBC Radio 3's 'Breaking Free: A Century of Russian Culture' season, Composer of the Week unravels the lives and masterpieces of the musicians that shaped musical life from the USSR's inception in 1917 through to its dissolution in 1991. In this first week, Donald Macleod explores a host of composers - from familiar names like Shostakovich and Prokofiev to lesser-known, though no less brilliant, figures like Gavriil Popov and Alexander Mosolov - whose music documents the turbulent and fascinating story of Russia up to Stalin's death in 1953. Donald is joined by the Russian music expert Marina Frolova-Walker as they explore the tensions, censorship and cultural terror of the 1920s and 30s, followed by the trauma of the Second World War and finally the infamous Zhdanov affair of the late 1940s, which censured some of the USSR's foremost composers. In today's episode, Donald and Marina tell the story of Dmitri Shostakovich's infamous censure by the state in the mid-1930s, at which time he was accused of writing 'Muddle Instead of Music', and after which he lived in fear for his life. His story is juxtaposed with that of Dmitry Kabalevsky - a favourite of the state, yet whose music often dazzles with lyricism and imagination. Galop from 'The Comedians BBC Philharmonic Orchestra Vassily Sinaisky, conductor Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District, Op 29 (Scene 2 Interlude - opening of Scene 3) Galina Vishnevskaya, soprano Dimiter Petkov, bass London Philharmonic Orchestra Mstislav Rostropovich, conductor Piano Concerto No 2, Op 23 (1st mvt) Kathryn Stott, piano Symphony No 4 (3rd mvt) Scottish National Orchestra Neeme J䀀rvi, conductor. Donald Macleod and Marina Frolova-Walker discuss Dmitri Shostakovich and Dmitry Kabalevsky
2017	05 LAST	Zhdanovschina: Khrennikov And Prokofiev	20171110	Donald Macleod and Marina Frolova-Walker unravel the contrasting fates of Sergei Prokofiev - who died the same day as Stalin - and Soviet Composers' Union head Tikhon Khrennikov. As part of BBC Radio 3's 'Breaking Free: A Century of Russian Culture' season, Composer of the Week unravels the lives and masterpieces of the musicians that shaped musical life from the USSR's inception in 1917 through to its dissolution in 1991. In this first week, Donald Macleod explores a host of composers - from familiar names like Shostakovich and Prokofiev to lesser-known, though no less brilliant, figures like Gavriil Popov and Alexander Mosolov - whose music documents the turbulent and fascinating story of Russia up to Stalin's death in 1953. Donald is joined by the Russian music expert Marina Frolova-Walker as they explore the tensions, censorship and cultural terror of the 1920s and 30s, followed by the trauma of the Second World War and finally the infamous Zhdanov affair of the late 1940s, which censured some of the USSR's foremost composers. In the final episode of this week, Donald and Marina discuss the return of the 'prodigal son' of Soviet music, Sergei Prokofiev - and the grim reality of his final years in the USSR. As the week builds towards the pivotal events of 1948 - when Prokofiev, Shostakovich and others were officially denounced by the state - they explore the nebulous reputation, and sometime musical brilliance, of Tikhon Khrennikov, the infamous head of the Soviet Composers' Union. Khrennikov: The Half-Moon Shines (Into the Storm) Daniil Shtoda, tenor Russian Philharmonia Constantin Orbelian, conductor Khrennikov: Piano Concerto No 1 (1st mvt) USSR State Symphony Orchestra Evgeny Svetlanov, conductor Prokofiev: Revolution (Cantata for the 20th Anniversary of the Russian Revolution) Philharmonia Orchestra and Chorus Neeme J䀀rvi, conductor Prokofiev: Piano Sonata No 7 (2nd and 3rd mvts) Boris Giltburg, piano Khrennikov: Scene of Kuzma and Glasha (Pig-Tender and Shepherd) [film soundtrack, 1941] Prokofiev: Symphony No 6 (2nd mvt) London Symphony Orchestra Valery Gergiev. Donald Macleod unravels the contrasting fates of Sergei Prokofiev and Tikhon Khrennikov.