Scriabin: 3 Symphonies & Le Poème de l'extase/ Ashkenazy

Alexander Nikolayevich Scriabin (Artist), Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra (Artist), Vladimir Ashkenazy (Artist), Brigitte Balleys (Artist), Sergej Larin (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 8, 2000)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Decca
• ASIN: B000040OX4
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #300,530 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Symphony No. 2 in C minor/major, Op. 29: I. Andante

2. Symphony No. 2 in C minor/major, Op. 29: II. Allegro

3. Symphony No. 2 in C minor/major, Op. 29: III. Andante

4. Symphony No. 2 in C minor/major, Op. 29: IV. Tempestoso

5. Symphony No. 2 in C minor/major, Op. 29: V. Maestoso

6. Symphony No. 1 in E major (with chorus in finale), Op. 26: I. Lento

7. Symphony No. 1 in E major (with chorus in finale), Op. 26: II. Allegro dramatico

Disc: 2

1. Symphony No. 1 in E major (with chorus in finale), Op. 26: III. Lento - Rundfunkchor Berlin

2. Symphony No. 1 in E major (with chorus in finale), Op. 26: IV. Vivace - Rundfunkchor Berlin

3. Symphony No. 3 in C minor ('Divine Poem'), Op. 43: Introduction

4. Symphony No. 3 in C minor ('Divine Poem'), Op. 43: I. Luttes

5. Symphony No. 3 in C minor ('Divine Poem'), Op. 43: III. Jeu divin

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magnificent!, March 30, 2001

By 

KH "[e-mail]" (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Scriabin: 3 Symphonies & Le Poème de l'extase/ Ashkenazy (Audio CD)

The Western world has had an estranged relationship with Alexander Scriabin. During the Russian composer's life he performed throughout Europe to critical acclaim. His mystical, exotic themes and passionate symphonies swept up audiences in Germany, France and even sober-minded England. So why has the legend of Scriabin faded?

Perhaps we can look to Scriabin's work itself for answers. `Le poème de l'extase' and `The Divine Poem', in particular, best represent Scriabin's use of surreal subject matter and unusual instrumentation to illustrate his unusual vision. The selected works do not present themselves to the listener - they swim, swirl, entice and ultimately confront the listener's senses. Scriabin believed in a holistic approach to composing and listening to his symphonies was never meant to be a passive experience. Scriabin was interested in esoteric cultural themes, Eastern philosophy, Russian patriotism, Nietzschesque explorations, mysticism and the "heightening of the senses through music". While Scriabin's exhaustive list of interests and often (seemingly) conflicting influences saturated his work, he manages to orchestrate and organize these volatile themes into comprehensive, powerful symphonic offerings. Quite simply, no composer before or since has been able to mold so wide a variety of themes into a single motif - and make it work.

Criticism of Scriabin's work was never unduly harsh. The most common critique from Western audiences has always been that Scriabin's work seems "foreign" or "bizarre and surreal". Russian audiences easily embrace Scriabin and in many ways he is considered one of their best kept national secrets. After Scriabin's death his work largely faded in the eye of the Western world, perhaps because Scriabin had no heir or champion in the Western world - no musical mind to adopt and expand upon his ideas. He swept across Europe like a storm, and seemed to disappear as quickly as he came.

Within the last 25 years, the Western world has been slowly reintroduced to Alexander Scriabin. European and American audiences, perhaps because of curiosity or expanding tolerance, seem eager to dive into Scriabin's music and explore the robust and eccentric themes that fueled his work. The 3 Symphonies offered here under the leadership of Vladamir Ashkenazy and performed by the Deutsches Symphonie Orchester in Berlin, are brilliant, dazzling readings of Scriabin's work. Ashkenazy captures Scriabin in all his fury and passion and spurs the musicians onto greater and greater heights.

Scriabin's 3 Symphonies are not meant for the meek or weak of heart. Listening to Scriabin is not unlike engaging in a volatile love affair - it is physical, passionate and dizzying! Listen to Scriabin and you are listening to the triumphant buzz and hum of life itself.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The greatest but......, October 16, 2003

By 

Ryan Kouroukis "In 1882 Richard Wagner said: ... - See all my reviews

This review is from: Scriabin: 3 Symphonies & Le Poème de l'extase/ Ashkenazy (Audio CD)

This set is amazing in every way, but get the new Ashkenazy 3-CD set released from Decca's TRIO label. It contains the 3 symphonies, the poem of exctasy, prometheus, the piano concerto, and the reverie! I bought it new from my local HMV for $11.99!!!
By far the best Scriabin I've heard besides the Muti! Ashkenazy really knows, understands and loves Scriabin's music. Plus the recorded digital sound is superlative.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Definitive Performances Of Scriabin's Orchestral Music, February 26, 2002

By 

John Kwok (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Scriabin: 3 Symphonies & Le Poème de l'extase/ Ashkenazy (Audio CD)

Vladimir Ashkenazy leads the Radio Symphony Orchestra of Berlin (recently renamed the Deutsches Symphonie Orchester Berlin) in these revelatory performances of Scriabin's orchestral music. These are passionately warm performances, especially of the "Poem Of Ectasy". Ashkenazy steers a fine middle course between technical perfection and excessive emotion, yet leads his orchestra in one brilliant performance after another. To his credit, Ashkenazy's interpretation of the "Poem Of Ectasy" isn't as dramatically intense as a Kirov Orchestra performance conducted by Gergiev that I heard a few months ago at New York City's legendary Carnegie Hall; somehow I sensed that Gergiev was losing control of his forces, especially the Brass section. Here, Ashkenazy does a splendid job keeping his forces in check, so that the brass section doesn't overwhelm the rest. The sound quality is absolutely impeccable.