Silvestrov, Valentin (b 1937)

[Belgrove]

Been listening to the recording of the 5th symphony with the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, conducted by David Robertson. It’s an exquisitely orchestrated wistful piece, providing a calm sonic balm to these troubling times - like an extended exhalation. Anyone know any of his other symphonic or chamber works?

[Tapiola]

Hi Belgrove. I know this work from the very same recording. I was so impressed when I first heard it that I bought the Ural Philharmonic recording also. The whole work sounds to me (and I may be influenced by the memory of the liner notes to the Ural recording, which are not to hand) like a gigantic, seamless epilogue to an unheard and notional symphony that precedes it. The whole work sounds like a postlude. In this respect it may be the ultimate example of a 'tradition' started by Tchaikovsky's 6th, whose 4th movement sounds like a "dying" or at least an epilogue to the "main" discourse of the first 3 movements - a 'tradition' continued by such other Russian symphonies as Shostakovich 4 and 15, and Schnittke's 3rd, from which all a resolute and affirmative ending is absent. Thanks for reminding me of this work! and in answer to your question, I do not know much else by Silvestrov.

[teamsaint]

A little more discussion here.

http://www.for3.org/forums/showthread.php?20618-Silvestrov-5-BUY-THIS!!!!&highlight=Silvestrov

[Tapiola]

A little more discussion here.

http://www.for3.org/forums/showthrea...ght=Silvestrov

I remember reading somewhere years ago (though cannot recall where) that Schnittke regarded Silvestrov as the greatest living composer.

[Mandryka]

Two pieces have caught my attention recently - Drama (for Violin, Viola and Cello) and Meditation (for Cello and Orchestra). Both very complex and challenging in a good way I’d say. Both pieces from late 60s, early 70s. From what I can see, this early Silvestrov has a rather different vibe from his later music - like with Schnittke.

There’s a recording of Drama with Silvestrov playing piano (it’s on Bandcamp) which makes me think of Tilbury/Rowe and AMM - the other recording with Jenny Lin is less fresh maybe, but rather beautiful nonetheless. There are two recordings of Meditation - one on Olympia (which I’ve heard) and one on Wergo (which I haven’t)

[Mandryka]

I’m getting the following feeling about the difference between Sylvestrov and Schnittke - I’ll post it here to be refuted. With Schnittke I feel as though I’m confronted with a bold, restless, experimenting intellect (same feeling as I have with Stockhausen and Rihm.) With Sylvestrov, I feel as though I’m confronted with a composer who found a shtick and milked it. He wouldn’t be the only one, it’s not necessarily a fault, the same could be said of many successful musicians (e.g. Philip Glass, Morton Feldman, Salvatore Sciarrino.) Listening here to Sylvestrov’s second string quartet played by the Lysenkos.

[Bryn]

I’m getting the following feeling about the difference between Sylvestrov and Schnittke - I’ll post it here to be refuted. With Schnittke I feel as though I’m confronted with a bold, restless, experimenting intellect (same feeling as I have with Stockhausen and Rihm.) With Sylvestrov, I feel as though I’m confronted with a composer who found a shtick and milked it. He wouldn’t be the only one, it’s not necessarily a fault, the same could be said of many successful musicians (e.g. Philip Glass, Morton Feldman, Salvatore Sciarrino.) Listening here to Sylvestrov’s second string quartet played by the Lysenkos.

"played by the Lysenkos." Not named after TD of that ilk, one hopes.

[Mandryka]

"played by the Lysenkos." Not named after TD of that ilk, one hopes.

MV not TD - I hope!

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mykola_Lysenko

[Bryn]

MV not TD - I hope!


https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mykola_Lysenko

[edashtav]

I’m getting the following feeling about the difference between Sylvestrov and Schnittke - I’ll post it here to be refuted. With Schnittke I feel as though I’m confronted with a bold, restless, experimenting intellect (same feeling as I have with Stockhausen and Rihm.) With Sylvestrov, I feel as though I’m confronted with a composer who found a shtick and milked it. He wouldn’t be the only one, it’s not necessarily a fault, the same could be said of many successful musicians (e.g. Philip Glass, Morton Feldman, Salvatore Sciarrino.) Listening here to Sylvestrov’s second string quartet played by the Lysenkos.

Aha, Silvestrov as a Camp Follower, or as a former Headmaster of mine would say, ‘a poor convenor’.
I like your thought, Mandryka.