Kabalevsky: Works for Orchestra

Two symphonies and two overtures by Dimitri Kabalevsky reveal the range of the Russian composer's talents. The opera Colas Breugnon was an early success with a spectacular overture, and the later Pathétique Overture is another impressive showpiece. His First Symphony journeys from oppression to liberation, in celebration of 15 years since the 1917 Revolution, while the Second – championed by Toscanini – is a more lyrical work. Darrell Ang conducts the Malmö Symphony Orchestra.

Featuring

Darrell Ang
Malmö SymfoniOrkester
Dimitri Kabalevsky

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Composer's Artistic Vision

Kabalevsky's most durable achievement was in music education, developing a music program for schools and extensive piano and choral works for children and young people.

Composer Biography

Kabalevsky studied at the Moscow Conservatory with Nikolay Myaskovsky and Alexander Goldenweiser, graduating in composition in 1929 and piano in 1930.

Performer Biography

Darrell Ang won all three top awards at the 50th Besançon International Young Conductors' Competition and his first disc for Naxos was nominated for a GRAMMY® Award in 2016.

Performer Biography

Darrell Ang, the conductor on this album, is the artistic director and chief conductor of China's Sichuan Symphony and was mentored by Lorin Maazel and Esa-Pekka Salonen.

Historical Context

Kabalevsky was one of the few notable Soviet composers uncensored by the notorious Zhdanov Decree of 1948, due to his work in theatre and cinema.

Performer Biography

The Malmö Symphony Orchestra (MSO) is one of Sweden's leading orchestras, founded in 1925, and has won critical acclaim including the Cannes Classical Award and Diapason d'Or.