
Atheist, Christian, Pantheist
As we approach Christmas, Donald Macleod explores Rimsky-Korsakov’s religious beliefs and the links between folk music and religion in the life and work of the professed atheist.
Donald Macleod delves into the life and work of one of the most important Russian composers of his age – Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. Rimsky-Korsakov’s music is filled with lush orchestration and hints of orientalism and folk music. These elements and his role as a leading member of “The Mighty Handful” of composers who sought to forge a truly nationalistic music has led him to be regarded as the main architect of the Russian style of composition we know today. Rimsky-Korsakov professed to be an atheist, but wrote some sacred music for the Imperial Court Chapel. In Thursday’s programme, Donald explores this claim, and the intriguing links between folk music and religion in the life and music of the man who Stravinsky famously said was "closed to any religious or metaphysical idea".
Octave (5 Songs “To the Poet”, Op 45)
Yuriy Yurchuk, baritone
Sergey Rybin, piano
May Night – Overture
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Neeme Järvi, conductor
Snow Maiden: Act IV Finale
Anna Netrebko, soprano (Snow Maiden)
Vladimir Moroz, baritone (Mizgir)
Dmitry Voropaev, tenor (Tsar Berendey)
Nikolai Kornev, chorus master
Mariinsky Orchestra
Valéry Gergiev, conductor
Russian Easter Festival Overture
USSR Academic Symphony Orchestra
Yevgeny Svetlanov, conductor
Chants for Holy Week: Alleluia; Thy Bridal Chamber; Let all Mortal Flesh Keep Silent
Cappella Romana
Alexander Lingas, conductor
The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh and the Maiden Fevroniya Suite: I. Hymn to Nature
Russian National Orchestra
Mikhail Pletnev, conductor
Produced by Sam Phillips for ѿý Wales
Last on
Music Played
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Nicolay Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov
Octave (5 Songs 'To the Poet', Op 45 No 3)
Performer: Sergey Rybin. Singer: Yuriy Yurchuk.- STONE RECORDS 5060192780772.
- STONE RECORDS.
- 5.
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Nicolay Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov
May Night: Overture
Orchestra: Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Conductor: Neeme Järvi.- CHANDOS CHAN10369X.
- CHANDOS.
- 1.
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Nicolay Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov
Snow Maiden: Act IV Finale
Singer: Anna Netrebko. Singer: Vladimir Moroz. Singer: Dmitry Voropaev. Director: Николай Корнев. Orchestra: Mariinsky Orchestra. Conductor: Valery Gergiev.- DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON : DG-4776384.
- DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON.
- 6.
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Nicolay Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov
Russian Easter Festival Overture, Op 36
Performer: USSR State Academic Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Evgeny Fyodorovich Svetlanov.- OLYMPIA OCD211.
- OLYMPIA.
- 1.
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Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Chants for Holy Week
Choir: Cappella Romana. Conductor: Alexander Lingas.- CAPELLA ROMANA.
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Nicolay Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov
Hymn to Nature (The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh - Suite)
Performer: Mikhail Pletnev. Orchestra: Russian National Orchestra.- PENTATONE PTC5186362.
- PENTATONE.
- 1.
Broadcast
- Thu 20 Dec 2018 12:00ѿý Radio 3
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