Rachmaninov: Symphonic Dances / Stravinsky: Symphony in 3 Movements London Symphony Orchestra & Valery Gergiev

• Sergei Rachmaninov (1873-1943): Symphonic Dances, Op 45 (1940)
• 1 I. Non allegro 12:56
• 2 II. Andante con moto (Tempo di valse) 09:35
• 3 III. Lento assai - Allegro vivace - Lento assai - Come prima - Allegro vivace 13:49
• Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971): Symphony in Three Movements (1942–45)
• 4 I. quarter note = 160 10:07
• 5 II. Andante 05:45
• 6 III. Con moto 06:21
• Total Runtime 58:33

Info for Rachmaninov: Symphonic Dances / Stravinsky: Symphony in 3 Movements

The Symphonic Dances, an orchestral suite in three sections, was the last work Rachmaninov completed and proved one of his most popular compositions. Although rarely sentimental, it draws on many of the composer’s reminiscences of Russia, from where he emigrated in 1917. It is characteristically lyrical with vivacious rhythmic sections, reminiscent of Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring and the composer’s own Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini.

Gergiev couples the Symphonic Dances with another work in three movements by a Russian émigré to the USA. Stravinsky’s Symphony in Three Movements was written between 1942-45 and was the first work Stravinsky completed after his arrival in the USA. Although he claimed it was a ‘War Symphony’, his true inspiration was typically vague.

“these are thoughtful, well-considered performances, excellently played and recorded...Gergiev's rather deliberate tempo in the first movement of the Rachmaninov seems to stress the 'symphonic', rather than the 'dance' aspect of this work...Much the same might be said of the Stravinsky: overall the emotional temperature seems a bit low, despite some highly exciting passages and refined solo playing in the more lyrical moments.” (BBC Music Magazine)

“Gergiev gives us a bold, exciting account of Stravinsky's wartime cracker: wild and rough at the edges in the outer movements; unsentimental, even brusque in the 'soft centre'.” (Classical Music)

“[Gergiev] elicits a fair amount of instrumental detail from Rachmaninov's luminous scoring [in the Symphonic Dances] but it is at the cost of cohesive overall structure...[the Symphony in Three Movements] is a big-boned performance, its syncopations crisply articulated by the LSO, its powerful rhythmic impetus kept on a tight rein, its palette of timbres well delineated.” (Gramophone Magazine)

London Symphony Orchestra
Valery Gergiev, conductor

No biography found.

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