Artyomov: A Symphony of Elegies, etc.
Vyacheslav Artyomov is considered by many to be Russia’s greatest living composer. After the fall of the Soviet regime his music has travelled the world to great acclaim. It is deep, ultimately spiritual and brilliantly crafted, with influences from the Russian symphonic tradition colored by Mahler, Scriabin, Honegger and Messiaen to name a few – but melded into a unique voice.
The Divine Art Artyomov Retrospective is a mix of new recordings and former Melodiya releases. It continues with the Symphony of Elegies – a total contrast to his other massive and intense symphonies, being ethereal, generally very quiet and evoking a sense of timelessness.
The album is completed by two more major works – ‘Awakening’ for violin duo, and ‘Incantations’ featuring the heavenly voice of the late Lydia Davydova with four percussionists. (note that on early Melodiya recordings, this work was described as ‘invocations’). An album full of really inspired masterpieces.
Track Listing
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Vyascheslav Artyomov (b. 1940):
- A Symphony of Elegies - Elegy I (12:52)
- A Symphony of Elegies - Elegy II (10:03)
- A Symphony of Elegies - Elegy III (20:40)
- Awakening (10:59)
- Incantations - I. Incantation of Fate - of Serpents (3:20)
- Incantations - II. Incantation of Stars - of Birds (4:18)
- Incantations - III. Incantation of Souls - of Wind (4:54)
- Incantations - IV. Incantation of Sounds - of Fire (7:00)
Reviews
“Artyomov’s symphony is a slowly swirling cloud of sound..’Awakening’ is a remarkably intimate and haunting work… all three works evoke a mystical sonic realm only attainable through Artyomov’s creative imagination.
” —Ralph Graves
“I have written positively about this composer’s music recently. I find this re¬lease even more consistently interesting than the two that I reviewed {previously}. A Symphony of Elegies is intense and gripping, and it is played with understanding by these musicians. Soprano Lydia Davydova comes off as a Russian Cathy Berberian, and I mean that as high praise indeed.
” —Raymond Tuttle
“One of the most individual and distinctive composers not just in the music of his native Russia but in Western Classical music as a whole. He is his own man, a truly original voice. [The Symphony’s] three movements are captivating, mesmerising, utterly compelling. The performances sound terrific, the recordings clear and bright, brilliantly re-engineered. Superb.
” —Guy Rickards
“Artyomov’s religious style is intense, yet on a broad, slowly shifting scale—not unlike Bruckner. His music reminds me of Messaien, with his considerable attention to texture and color. {The first part of the Symphony} is one of the most stunning sections of music I have heard in recent memory. I highly recommend this album.
” —Nathan Faro
“The Symphony is a haunting and powerful work. The performances are by artists well established in Russia and Eastern Europe and are extremely impressive. I look forward to exploring more Artyomov.
” —Stephen Barber
““A Symphony of Elegies” constitutes one of Artyomov’s masterworks. This is ravishing music. An intriguing and rewarding new volume in what I hope will be a very widespread and lasting Artyomov revival. It is time we celebrate his music. Bravo!
” —Grego Edwards
“Vyacheslav Artyomov is regarded as Russia’s greatest living composer. Artyomov’s warm, expressive compositions reflect his interest in the archaic, Christian motifs and Eastern meditation. The Symphony of Elegies is very different from the others, being exceptionally ethereal, mainly very quiet, and meditative as well as sorrowful.
” —John Pitt
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