Thread: Romantic era Russian Composers

It's good to see this poll hasn't raised much controversy or arguing.

I like to see some of you volunteer to create new polls like: Favorite Scandinavian composers (I would vote for Grieg or Berwald), favorite Modern (post 1920-30) composers ... etc.
Its for the sake of Classic Music

I'm sort of anti-Tchaikovsky, so I will often sit through some of the most awful Russian music just to hear it once. I have a handful of R-K CDs so I voted that.

Originally Posted by Tero

I'm sort of anti-Tchaikovsky, so I will often sit through some of the most awful Russian music just to hear it once. I have a handful of R-K CDs so I voted that.

Am just wondering which specific works of PT make you "anti" him and why?

Russian are of course my specialty, and I love each and every one of those composers in their own ways. But since I could only pick one, well, I picked one, who everyone here should already know. Oh! Look at those standings for him... *whistles and looks around*

I have to admit I don't know Alyabyev... I ought to look into him. Kalinnikov could have been on that list...

Originally Posted by samurai

Am just wondering which specific works of PT make you "anti" him and why?

Ah, Nutcracker. And I don't much mess with ballets. I like a couple of the symphonies, but not that often.

I should explain that I find the Russian peasant of literature an amusing source of entertainment, so in the literature department again I go for Gogol, the less refined stuff. Not Dostoevsky. The more rural, the better. Stuff I don't care for: Czars, wars, heroism, world war II. I don't know about the Soviet period, I think there is some good literature and music. It at least is Russian, not a copy of European.

There was only one good czar, Alexander, who built Helsinki.

Out of the ones I've heard, probably a toss-up between Tchaikovsky and Skryabin. One composer not listed whose works I do like is Lyadov - like Ippolitov-Ivanov he composed a number of short orchestral works which provide a nice contrast to the more imposing works of the other two I mentioned.

Tough for me between Tchaikovsky and Glazunov. I think PT is the better composer, but I love Glazunov (what I've heard).

OK, since I am a hard core Sibelius fan, and I have Tchaikovsky symphonies 4 5 and 6, what else should I check out? You know, to compare and contrast. Aside from ballets.

Originally Posted by Tero

OK, since I am a hard core Sibelius fan, and I have Tchaikovsky symphonies 4 5 and 6, what else should I check out? You know, to compare and contrast. Aside from ballets.

Symphony 1 is terrific overall.

OK, trip to the library. I see it in the catalog.

I did not bother with the library, but did find mp3s. And you are right, there are similarities. As long as I look for orchestral works Im fine. Some sound like tone poems. The piano concertos rarely work for me. I like some piano concertos, mostly from 1900s.

Originally Posted by Tero

OK, since I am a hard core Sibelius fan, and I have Tchaikovsky symphonies 4 5 and 6, what else should I check out? You know, to compare and contrast. Aside from ballets.

Hi Tero. Try the 'Manfred' symphony and, if you haven't come across any of them in the meantime, some of these one-movement orchestral works: Marche Slave, Romeo & Juliet, Francesca da Rimini, Capriccio Italien, Hamlet fantasy overture, The Tempest, Voyevoda symphonic ballad and the Elegie for Strings.

Yes, this one is on order
51QfcFGfn-L._SL500_AA300_.jpg

Originally Posted by Tero

Yes, this one is on order
51QfcFGfn-L._SL500_AA300_.jpg

Ah, nice choice. I think Pletnev's Manfred is excellent.