Notes and Editorial Reviews
If you thought you knew Glinka, then you must hear this disc. He didn't write much orchestral music, and two of these pieces (the symphony and two of the three dances intended for A Life for the Tsar) had to be edited/scored by another hand--in this case the very able Petr Klimov. The rest is all original, and all delightful. The two overtures have a winning, Italianate charm. Important? No; but it hardly matters. The symphony movement is more substantial, and really does make you regret that Glinka never finished the work. The three dances (one of which Glinka actually used in the opera) make a substantial suite--a good 20 minutes' worth--and they are full of rewarding solos, here immaculately
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played.
Best of all, though, are the four romances. Glinka wrote dozens of songs, but he only orchestrated this tiny handful. They are marvelous, both melodically and atmospherically. Most remarkable is "The Midnight Review", for bass, one of those dead soldier military numbers, complete with rolling snare drum. You'll swear that you're listening to one of Mahler's Wunderhorn songs--not something from the Russian/Italian school of the 1840s. The two famous pieces, Kamarinskaya and Valse-fantasie, are brilliantly performed, the three singers are outstanding, and so is the engineering. In short, this is a magnificent, rewarding collection in every respect.
--David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com
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Works on This Recording
1.
Overture in D major by Mikhail Glinka
Conductor:
Alexander Rudin
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Musica Viva
Period: Romantic
Written: circa 1822-1826; Russia
2.
Overture in G minor by Mikhail Glinka
Conductor:
Alexander Rudin
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Musica Viva
Period: Romantic
Written: circa 1822-1826; Russia
3.
Romance "Ne nazivaj" by Mikhail Glinka
Performer:
Olga Senderskaia (Soprano)
Conductor:
Alexander Rudin
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Musica Viva
Period: Romantic
Written: Russia
4.
Symphony in B flat major by Mikhail Glinka
Conductor:
Alexander Rudin
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Musica Viva
Period: Romantic
Written: circa 1824; Russia
5.
Romance "Kolybelnaia" by Mikhail Glinka
Conductor:
Alexander Rudin
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Musica Viva
Period: Romantic
Written: Russia
6.
A Life for the Tsar: Passo a tre by Mikhail Glinka
Conductor:
Alexander Rudin
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Musica Viva
Period: Romantic
Written: 1834-1836; Russia
7.
A Life for the Tsar: Pas de quatre by Mikhail Glinka
Conductor:
Alexander Rudin
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Musica Viva
Period: Romantic
Written: 1834-1836; Russia
8.
A Life for the Tsar: Passo a Due by Mikhail Glinka
Conductor:
Alexander Rudin
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Musica Viva
Period: Romantic
Written: 1834-1836; Russia
9.
Kamarinskaya by Mikhail Glinka
Conductor:
Alexander Rudin
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Musica Viva
Period: Romantic
Written: 1848; Russia
10.
Romance "Ti skoro" by Mikhail Glinka
Performer:
Alina Shakirova (Alto)
Conductor:
Alexander Rudin
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Musica Viva
Period: Romantic
Written: Russia
11.
Waltz-fantasia for Orchestra in B minor by Mikhail Glinka
Conductor:
Alexander Rudin
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Musica Viva
Period: Romantic
Written: 1839-1856; Russia
12.
Romance "Nochnoj smotr" by Mikhail Glinka
Performer:
Petr Novikov (Bass)
Conductor:
Alexander Rudin
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Musica Viva
Period: Romantic
Written: Russia
Sound Samples
Ne nazivay yeyo nebesnoy (Call Her Not Heavenly)
Proshchaniye s Peterburgom (A Farewell to St. Petersburg): Proshchaniye s Peterburgom: No. 1. Romans (Romance)
3 Dances for A Life for the Tsar: No. 1. Passo a Tre
3 Dances for A Life for the Tsar: No. 2. Pas de Quatre
3 Dances for A Life for the Tsar: No. 3. Passo a Due
Nochnoy smotr (The Night Review) (2nd version)
Ti skoro menya pozabudyosh (Soon you will forget me): Tï skoro menya pozabudyosh (Soon you will forget me)
Valse-fantasie in B minor (version for orchestra)
Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review: 
( 1 Customer Review )
Sparkling August 15, 2012
By John W. (Woori Yallock, Vic) See All My Reviews
"This collection of Glinka's orchestral music and songs simply sparkles with light and excitement. They are very easy to listen to, and wonderfully presented here by Musica Viva Moscow.The recorded sound is equal to the magic of the music. A great CD."
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