Vyacheslav Artyomov: A Symphony of Elegies, Awakening & Incantations
9/21/2018, 8 Tracks, 1:14:09
Featuring
Saulius Sondeckis
Oleh Krysa
Tatiana Grindenko
Vyacheslav Petrovich Artyomov
Lydia Davydova
Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra
Mark Pekarsky's Percussion Ensemble
Did you know?
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Performer Biography
Lydia Davydova, the soprano on this recording, was a pioneer in introducing much Western 20th-century music to the Soviet Union and championed adventurous Russian composers.
Performer Biography
The Mark Pekarsky Percussion Ensemble, founded in 1976, is Russia's only permanent percussion ensemble and has a repertoire of around 200 compositions written specifically for it.
Performer Biography
Tatiana Grindenko, a violinist on this album, co-founded the Academy of Early Music, the first 'period performance' baroque ensemble in the USSR, and was also a member of one of the Soviet Union's first rock groups.
Critical Reception
Despite initial official opposition, Tikhon Khrennikov, head of the Union of Composers, later praised Artyomov's Requiem, stating it surpassed those of Mozart and Verdi.
Historical Context
Artyomov was blacklisted as one of the 'Khrennikov's Seven' by the Union of Composers for participating in Western festivals, which led to a ban on his performances and publications.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Artyomov's music is deeply inspired by his Christian faith, leading him to compose large-scale works with unusual instrumental combinations and complex rhythms.
Composer Biography
Vyacheslav Artyomov, the composer, initially wanted to be a physicist but ultimately focused on music.
