Rimsky-korsakov (1844-1908)

Episodes

SeriesTitleFirst
Broadcast
Comments
2018A Revised Legacy20181221Donald Macleod delves into the life and work of one of the most important Russian composers of his age - Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. Rimsky-Korsakov's music is filled with lush orchestration and hints of orientalism and folk music. These elements and his role as a leading member of `The Mighty Handful` of composers who sought to forge a truly nationalistic music has led him to be regarded as the main architect of the Russian style of composition we know today. In the final programme of the week, Donald explores Rimsky-Korsakov's legacy, and to what degree the composer was a conscious architect of his own music's reputation via the countless revisions he made of his works. Donald also examines the impact which Rimsky-Korsakov had on the reception of other Russian composers' music overseas.

Flight of the Bumblebee (Tsar Saltan)

Wynton Marsalis, trumpet

Eastman Wind Ensemble

Donald Hunsberger, director

Maid of Pskov - Overture

Chorus of the Kirov Opera

Kirov Orchestra

Valery Gergiev, conductor

Night on the Bare Mountain

Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra

Mariss Jansons, conductor

Polonaise (Christmas Eve Suite)

The Philadelphia Orchestra

Eugene Ormandy, conductor

Mlada: Act III, Scenes 2 and 3

Nina Kulagina (Morena)

Chorus & Orchestra of Moscow State Broadcasting

Evgeny Svetlanov, conductor

Mozart & Salieri: Scene 2 (extract)

Nikita Storojev, bass

Vladimir Bogachov, tenor

I Musici de Montreal Choir

Yuli Turovsky, conductor

Upon the hills of Georgia, Op.3

Produced by Sam Phillips for BBC Wales

Donald Macleod explores Rimsky-Korsakov's legacy

2018A Surprising Revolutionary20181219Donald Macleod delves into the life and work of one of the most important Russian composers of his age - Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. Rimsky-Korsakov's music is filled with lush orchestration and hints of orientalism and folk music. These elements and his role as a leading member of `The Mighty Handful` of composers who sought to forge a truly nationalistic music has led him to be regarded as the main architect of the Russian style of composition we know today. In Wednesday's programme, Donald examines the acts of rebellion which pepper Rimsky-Korsakov's life, exploring the composer's dual roles as establishment stalwart and revolutionary hero, a position which led, at one point, to the banning of his music in St. Petersburg.

Allegro in B flat major (Les Vendredis, Book II)

Vertavo Quartet

Overture on Russian Themes, Op 28

Seattle Symphony

Gerard Schwarz, conductor

Symphony No 3: II. Scherzo

London Symphony Orchestra

Yondani Butt, conductor

Kashchey the Immortal: Tableau 3

Konstantin Pluzhnikov, tenor (Kashchey)

Marina Shaguch, soprano (The Princess)

Larissa Diadkova, mezzo-soprano (Kastcheyevna)

Alexander Morozov, baritone (Prince Ivan Korolovitch)

Alexander Gergalov, bass (The Storm-Knight)

Chorus of the Kirov Opera, St. Petersburg

Orchestra of the Kirov Opera

Valery Gergiev, conductor

Suite from `The Golden Cockerel`: IV. Wedding Feast - Death of King Dodon - Finale

Scottish National Opera

Neeme J䀀rvi, conductor

Produced by Sam Phillips for BBC Wales

Donald Macleod examines Rimsky's dual role as establishment stalwart and revolutionary

2018Atheist, Christian, Pantheist20181220Donald Macleod delves into the life and work of one of the most important Russian composers of his age - Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. Rimsky-Korsakov's music is filled with lush orchestration and hints of orientalism and folk music. These elements and his role as a leading member of `The Mighty Handful` of composers who sought to forge a truly nationalistic music has led him to be regarded as the main architect of the Russian style of composition we know today. Rimsky-Korsakov professed to be an atheist, but wrote some sacred music for the Imperial Court Chapel. In Thursday's programme, Donald explores this claim, and the intriguing links between folk music and religion in the life and music of the man who Stravinsky famously said was 'closed to any religious or metaphysical idea'.

Octave (5 Songs `To the Poet`, Op 45)

Yuriy Yurchuk, baritone

Sergey Rybin, piano

May Night - Overture

Royal Scottish National Orchestra

Neeme J䀀rvi, conductor

Snow Maiden: Act IV Finale

Anna Netrebko, soprano (Snow Maiden)

Vladimir Moroz, baritone (Mizgir)

Dmitry Voropaev, tenor (Tsar Berendey)

Nikolai Kornev, chorus master

Mariinsky Orchestra

Val退ry Gergiev, conductor

Russian Easter Festival Overture

USSR Academic Symphony Orchestra

Yevgeny Svetlanov, conductor

Chants for Holy Week: Alleluia; Thy Bridal Chamber; Let all Mortal Flesh Keep Silent

Cappella Romana

Alexander Lingas, conductor

The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh and the Maiden Fevroniya Suite: I. Hymn to Nature

Russian National Orchestra

Mikhail Pletnev, conductor

Produced by Sam Phillips for BBC Wales

Donald Macleod explores Rimsky-Korsakov's beliefs.

2018The Fantastic World Of Nikolai Andreyevich20181218Donald Macleod delves into the life and work of one of the most important Russian composers of his age - Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. Rimsky-Korsakov's music is filled with lush orchestration and hints of orientalism and folk music. These elements and his role as a leading member of `The Mighty Handful` of composers who sought to forge a truly nationalistic music has led him to be regarded as the main architect of the Russian style of composition we know today. In Tuesday's episode, Donald explores Rimsky Korsakov's use of fairy-tales and folklore, the idea of ‘otherness' and the excitement of the exotic in his music - elements which seem to contrast with reports of the man himself.

Captivated by the Rose, the Nightingale (4 Songs, Op 2 No 2)

Anna Netrebko, soprano

Daniel Barenboim, piano

Antar: IV. Allegretto - Adagio

The Philharmonia

Yevgeny Sveltlanov, conductor

Skazka, Op 29

BBC Philharmonic

Vassily Sinaisky, conductor

Capricco Espagnol, Op 34

Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra

Jesús Lopez-Cobos, conductor

Hymn to the Sun from The Golden Cockerel

Aida Garifullina, soprano

ORF Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien

Cornelius Meister, conductor

Produced by Sam Phillips for BBC Wales

Donald Macleod explores the idea of the exotic in Rimsky-Korsakov's works

2018The Sea20181217Donald Macleod delves into the life and work of one of the most important Russian composers of his age - Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. Rimsky-Korsakov's music is filled with lush orchestration and hints of orientalism and folk music. These elements and his role as a leading member of `The Mighty Handful` of composers who sought to forge a truly nationalistic music has led him to be regarded as the main architect of the Russian style of composition we know today. In Monday's episode, Donald explores Rimsky-Korsakov's relationship with the sea, which began as a childhood obsession, before an early naval career, and a civilian job as Inspector of Russia's Naval Bands brought him into closer proximity to the ocean. Donald also ponders what the ocean represented for Rimsky and for his largely landlocked Russian audience, alongside the various evocations of the sea in his music.

By the Sea, Op 46: The Wave Breaks into a Spray

Dmitri Hvorostovsky, baritone

Mikhail Arkadiev, piano

Scheherazade (I. The Sea and Sinbad's Ship)

Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra

Mariss Jansons, conductor

From Homer Op.60

Svetlana Sizova, mezzo-soprano

Tatiana Fedotova, soprano

Chorus of the Moscow Academy of Choral Art & Moscow Symphony Orchestra

Vladimir Ziva, conductor

Symphony No 1 (II. Andante tranquillo)

Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra

Neeme J䀀rvi, conductor

Sadko, Op. 6

L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande

Ernest Ansermet, conductor

Trombone Concerto (I. Allegro Vivace)

Christian Lindberg, trombone

Kosei Wind Orchestra

Chikara Imamura, conductor

Produced by Sam Phillips for BBC Wales

Donald Macleod explores Rimsky-Korsakov's relationship with the sea.