PCM 5 - 14.08.17: Shostakovich

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

13:00 Monday 14 August 2017
Cadogan Hall

Dmitri Shostakovich: Ten Poems on Texts by Revolutionary Poets – excerpts
Dmitri Shostakovich: Prelude and Fugue No. 1 in C major, Op. 87
Dmitri Shostakovich: Prelude and Fugue No. 2 in A minor, Op. 87
Dmitri Shostakovich: Prelude and Fugue No. 3 in G major, Op. 87
Dmitri Shostakovich: Prelude and Fugue No. 4 in E minor, Op. 87
Dmitri Shostakovich: Prelude and Fugue No. 7 in A major, Op. 87
Dmitri Shostakovich: Prelude and Fugue No. 8 in F-sharp minor, Op. 87

Alexander Melnikov piano
Latvian Radio Choir
Sigvards Kļava director


'Our family discussed the Revolution of 1905 constantly ... The stories deeply affected my imagination.' Born in the shadow of one of Russia's darkest hours - the slaughter of over 1,000 peaceful protesters outside the Winter Palace in St Petersburg - Shostakovich carried its ghosts with him throughout his life. They are given voice here in a concert that brings together the wordless songs of the composer's Preludes and Fugues with the more explicit homage of the Ten Poems on Texts by Revolutionary Poets. In the last of its three appearances this season, the Latvian Radio Choir is joined by Russian pianist Alexander Melnikov.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

The Latvian Radio Choir is indeed busy - 3 Proms in under 24 hours.

[bluestateprommer]

Seems a bit unfortunate at the lack of comments on this PCM, because it's a very good PCM (as is the norm generally). The solo piano and choir works were nicely interwoven, to contrast these different sides of DSCH. Worth catching up with, for those who haven't already done so.

The Latvian Radio Choir is indeed busy - 3 Proms in under 24 hours.

Indeed. One wonders if this might be a first, or an extreme rarity at the least, for one ensemble to have participated in 3 Proms within 24 hours.