Alexander Lokshin, the composer, was born in Biysk, Siberia, in 1920 and faced early challenges when his family lost their land due to his father being listed as a political outlaw.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded in June 2004 at the Helmut-List-Halle in Graz, Austria, using Neumann microphones and a GENEX GX8000 MOD Recorder.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Alexander Lokshin deliberately chose texts for his vocal symphonies, often selecting 'outlawed literature' to provoke Soviet authorities, leading to conflicts with censors.
Composer Biography
Lokshin's graduation work, three movements for soprano and orchestra based on Baudelaire's 'Les fleurs du mal', caused a scandal in 1941 Soviet state, leading to its ban and his expulsion from the conservatory.
Composer Biography
Despite facing censorship and political challenges, Alexander Lokshin composed eleven symphonies, symphonic poems, and chamber music, much of which remained unheard during his lifetime.
Compositional Technique
Lokshin's approach to orchestration did not rely on a symphonic 'tutti'; instead, he viewed the orchestra as an ensemble of many small units in constantly changing combinations, varying its disposition for each work.
Critical Reception
The first Russian performance of Lokshin's Ninth Symphony in 1976 was also its last, as it was blacklisted due to its implicit social criticism and depiction of a torture scene.
