Kalinnikov: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 2

Vasily Kalinnikov (Composer), Theodore Kuchar (Conductor) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Conductor: Theodore Kuchar
• Composer: Vasily Kalinnikov
• Audio CD (September 19, 1995)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Naxos
• ASIN: B00000148I
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #101,995 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Russian Sunshine!, July 29, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Kalinnikov: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 2 (Audio CD)

Kalinnikov is a novelty to me, a pleasant surprise. His music sounds very much of the late 19th-century Russian Nationalists: folk-like melodies, rich harmonic treatment, brilliant orchestrations, but perhaps with more counterpoint used to develop his thematic material than is typical of his compatriots. There is a lot of the ballet here. None of the brooding introspection and melancholy, though--surprising, especially since the impoverished composer was dying of tuberculosis when both symphonies were composed.

The orchestral playing is polished and brilliant, just as is the recording. (I haven't heard the Jarvi recording, but it's hard to imagine that it could be much better, or that his performance could be more idiomatic. Considering that the Jarvi costs nearly 3 times as much, this one's a real bargain!)

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Neglected Masterpieces, February 11, 2004

By 

Jay W. Kvale (Albert Lea, MN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kalinnikov: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 2 (Audio CD)

It's too bad there is such a thing as the "standard repertoire," since many splendid works never seem to make it and fall into unjust neglect. Such is the case with the two marvelous symphonies of Kalinnikov, which are rarely heard in the concert hall. They are similar in style to Tchaikovsky with repetitive themes, rich string scoring, and beautiful melodies, but they have a lyrical sweetness and life-affirming vitality of their own that are remarkable considering the chronic illness and short, tragic life of the composeer.
Kuchar's performances are a little rough-edged and the sound is a little diffuse in the climaxes, but the spirit and style come through and at the Naxos price, this CD is a wonderful bargain. For anyone who has suffered through chronic pain, illness, or tragedy, Kalinnikov's music is a wonderful reminder that joy and beauty can still be found in the valley of the shadow of death.

22 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars More Than Worth the Money, June 15, 2000

By 

James Schoonmaker (Centreville, Virginia USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kalinnikov: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 2 (Audio CD)

It's entirely possible that the Jarvi performance is better, but for the money, you can't get much better than this. The sound quality is fairly good-- perhaps what you might get if you transferred a high-quality recording onto CD. The National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine certainly played well, and was probably the best choice for Kalinnikov's symphonies.
Kalinnikov's symphonies are full of Russian sounds, as much as those of any Russian composer I can think of. The scherzo in the first symphony in particular is reminiscent of a Russian peasant dance. Kalinnikov may not be the best Russian composer, but this is still a darn good CD.