Russian Masquerade

The Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra, conducted by artistic director Sakari Oramo, turn their eyes east for this collection of Russian music. The ensemble perform orchestrated numbers from two piano works, Prokofiev's Visions fugitives and Scriabin's 24 Preludes, as well as Anton Arensky's Variations on a Theme by Tchaikovsky, which he originally wrote for string quartet before he orchestrated it. Tchaikovsky's beautiful Elegy completes the collection.

Featuring

Sakari Oramo
Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra
Sergei Prokofiev
Alexander Scriabin
Anton Arensky
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Did you know?

1/7

Composition History

Alexander Scriabin's 24 Preludes, Op. 11, reflect his adoration for Chopin and are a conscious tribute to Chopin's own 24 Preludes, Op. 28.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Sergei Prokofiev, a pianist-composer, titled his 'Visions fugitives' after a poem by Konstantin Balmont, using the poet's invented word 'mimolyotnosti' to describe fleeting, transient visions.

Performer Biography

Sakari Oramo, the conductor on this album, began his musical career as a violinist and was leader of the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra for several years before his breakthrough as a conductor in 1993.

Composition History

Tchaikovsky's Elegy for string orchestra was originally titled 'A Thankful Greeting' and was composed as a tribute to the actor Ivan Samarin for his 50-year stage career.

Performer Biography

Rudolf Barshai, a viola player, was a founder member of the Borodin Quartet in 1945 and later founded the Moscow Chamber Orchestra in 1955, which he conducted for over two decades.

Compositional Technique

Anton Arensky's Variations on a Theme by Tchaikovsky were originally the central movement of his Second String Quartet, which was unusual for being scored for violin, viola, and two cellos.

Interpretation

This album features music originally composed for solo piano, transcribed for string orchestra, which allows for truly sustained notes and melodies not possible on a piano.