Mikhail Glinka: Waltz Fantasy (1995)
0h 59min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
This album presents four magnificent orchestral works by Mikahil Glinka, performed by the St. Petersburg Camerata under the baton of Saulius Sondeckis, which afford an insight into the composer's workshop at an early stage of his creative development. Although Glinka's great importance lies in the field of opera and singing, he composed a number of enchanting symphonic works. His Waltz Fantasy in B minor is one these beautiful miniatures. Originally written for piano, the musical design is quite dramatic right from the beginning. Glinka revised the work twice: the first new version was arranged for small orchestra and a second version for large orchestra, performed on this album, followed the year before his death in 1856. Glinka's Kamarinskaya, the name of a Russian folk dance, was composed in 1848 and it is the first orchestral composition to be based on Russian folk songs. There are two main themes in the piece: the first one is a bridal song with a slow tune, the second one, 'Kamarinskaya' is a nagriish (a fast and furious dance tune). From 1830, Glinka spent three years in Italy to enhance his knowledge of the Italian opera. During this time, he met both Vincenzo Bellini and Gaetano Donizetti. On March 6th, 1831, Glinka witnessed the premiere of Bellini's La Sonnambula in Milan and was immediately intrigued by the expressive and artful vocal lines which are inherent in the art of bel canto. It was the famous Italian publisher Ricordi who encouraged Glinka to compose the Divertimento brillante on themes from Bellini's Opera La Sonnambula. The Grand Sextet is also a result of Glinka's Italian journey. The musical flavour is bel canto-like, the design of the melodies and the formal structure reveal the influence of the Italian opera. - Aka:
- Glinka: Waltz Fantasy, Kamarinskaya, Divertimento brillante on themes from Bellini's 'La Sonnambula'
- Studio:
- Quantum Leap
- Genres:
- Music & Musicals, Performing Arts, Special Interest
- Countries:
- Russia