Ivanovs, the quintessential
late-romantic Baltic symphonist, was
long-lived enough to have written in
super late-romantic, populist nationalism
and disillusioned nostalgic idioms.
Not one of them was all that distant
from the other. The early symphonies
are heady with the romance of Rachmaninov,
Griffes and Miaskovsky. The Eighth
has Miaskovskian moments but it is a
much brighter work than Miaskovsky's
charcoal hues suggest. However there
is something strongly redolent of Miaskovsky
in the brass stresses of 7.32 onwards.
Ivanovs plays an extremely athletic
card in the driven and energetic allegro.
Arguably the andante is too long. The
sparkle of the finale recalls the folk-like
innocence and derring-do of the wonderful
violin concerto written at about the
same time and a must-hear on the Campion
label.
A quarter century later
the Twentieth was Ivanovs’ last
completed symphonic work. There is a
No. 21 comprising only three movements
of a planned four - a Brucknerian torso.
No. 20 has some of the hammered violence
of Alwyn's Fourth Symphony. The unusual
Menuetto - Reminscenza looks
back to the typical folk-dance character
of his early and high Soviet works such
as the Violin Concerto and Eighth Symphony.
It is occasionally soused in Handelian
grandeur. The final allegro con brio
starts with the griping hand of
tragedy mixed with Panufnik-like assaults
by the brass. At one moment (1.15) this
work looks to Miaskovsky's Fifth Symphony
- a symphony Ivanovs surely knew. There
is surprisingly little influence from
Shostakovich.
These tapes have waited
since 1997 for issue. I hope that further
sessions are planned especially as Campion's
valuable Ivanovs symphonies series seems
to have stalled. By the way have you
also noticed that the complete Miaskovsky
symphony series from Olympia (Svetlanov)
has also ground to a halt. With the
tragic failure of the Olympia site this
looks permanent.
Here is an Eighth full
of nationalist Miaskovskian atmosphere
and a more knowing Twentieth looking
back in vinegary nostalgia at the gracious
round dances and greenswards of the
1950s.
Ivanovs is a symphonist
well worth exploring and I strongly
commend this release to you.
Rob Barnett
IVANOVS ON CD
Symphony 2 and 3 a Marco Polo 8.223331
Symphony 5 and 12 Marco Polo 8.223332
Violin Concerto (plus concertos by Sallinen
and Sibelius) Campion Cameo
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/jan99/ivanovs.htm
Symphony 1 and 2 Campion Cameo 2008
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/july99/ivanovs1.htm
Symphony 3 and Cello Concerto Campion
Cameo 2009
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/july99/ivanovs2.htm
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2001/Nov01/Latvian.htm
Symphony 4 Campion Cameo 2007
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/nov98/ivanovs.html
Symphony No 8 etc CAMEO 2017
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2002/Apr02/Ivanovs6.htm
Symphony 10 and Piano Concerto CAMEO
2013
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2002/Apr02/Ivanovs7.htm
Moscow Symphony Orchestra/Dmitry Yablonsky
