Khachaturian: Symphony No. 2; Gayaneh

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Aram Khachaturian ranks just behind Shostakovich and Prokofieff in the pantheon of 20th- century Russian music. Khachaturian's music, though, is far more "ethnic" than the music of the other two. His music never left the region of what was then the southern parts of the U.S.S.R. His Symphony 2 is perhaps darker--in both mood and orchestral color--than his other symphonies; but then it was written in 1943 in the midst of World War II and Stalin's ongoing purges of the Soviet bureaucracy. However, works such as Gayneh almost guaranteed that Khachaturian would stay out of jail. -- Paul Cook

Tracks:

Sabre Dance (Suite III, No.5)
Dance Of The Young Maidens (Suite I, No.2)
Ayshe's Awakening ANd Dance (Suite I, No.3)
Lezghinka (Suite I, No.8)
Waltz
Mazurka
Adagio Of Spartacus And Phrygia (Suite II, No.1)
Dance Of The Greek Slave (Suite III, No.2)
Dance Of An Egyptian Girl (Suite III, No.3)
Introduction, Dance Of Aegina And Harmodius (Suite I, No,2)
Variation Of Agina And Bacchanalia (Suite I, No.4)
Scene And Dance With Crotalums (Suite I, No.4)
Dance Of Gaditanae And Victory Of Spartacus (Suite I, No.5)

Customer Reviews:

Terrific performances - at an unbeatable price!.......2006-08-14

I can't imagine what led me to audition this particular recording of Khachaturian, musical kitsch I've heard countless times since my childhood, but I'm certainly glad I did. And if any of you have a stomach for this kind of thing, do not hesitate a moment longer in acquiring a copy of this marvelous CD! - Forget the Arthur Fiedler and Kiril Kondrashin recordings (among so many others). Here Alexander Lazarev and the Bolshoi Symphony Orchestra play this music as to the manner born. I simply cannot imagine better performances. And at this price, it's a steal!

Average customer rating:

4 stars for symphony, Gayaneh excerpts not rated
Amazing Khachaturian and Jarvi combo
A 20th century masterpiece
No one can do Uplifting and Dramatic like Khachaturian

Khachaturian: Symphony No. 2; Gayaneh

Manufacturer: Chandos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Khachaturian: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 3
Holst Suites 1 & 2 / Handel Music for the Royal Fireworks / Stars and Stripes (Stereo Hybrid SACD)

ASIN: B000000AML
Release Date: 1992-10-28

Tracks:

Symphony No. 2 (Original Version): I Andante Maestoso
Symphony No. 2 (Original Version): II Allegro Risoluto
Symphony No. 2 (Original Version): III Andante Sostenuto
Symphony No. 2 (Original Version): IV Andante mosso - Allegro Sostenuto
Gayaneh: Four Movements From Ballet Suite No. 1: 1 Sabre Dance
Gayaneh: Four Movements From Ballet Suite No. 1: 3 Dance Of The Rose Maidens
Gayaneh: Four Movements From Ballet Suite No. 1: 5 Lullaby
Gayaneh: Four Movements From Ballet Suite No. 1: 8 Lezghinka

Amazon.com

Aram Khachaturian ranks just behind Shostakovich and Prokofieff in the pantheon of 20th- century Russian music. Khachaturian's music, though, is far more "ethnic" than the music of the other two. His music never left the region of what was then the southern parts of the U.S.S.R. His Symphony 2 is perhaps darker--in both mood and orchestral color--than his other symphonies; but then it was written in 1943 in the midst of World War II and Stalin's ongoing purges of the Soviet bureaucracy. However, works such as Gayneh almost guaranteed that Khachaturian would stay out of jail. -- Paul Cook

Customer Reviews:

4 stars for symphony, Gayaneh excerpts not rated.......2004-07-26

From all three available recordigns of Khachaturian's Symphony No.2, I would rank this one between No#1 (Khachaturian/VPO) and No#3 (Tjerknavorjan/Armenian PO). But due to terrible, unacceptably poor sound quality of Decca VPO recording, many people will choose slightly worse interpretation with Jarvi, instead of ultimate, but badly recorded Khachaturian's own one. Anyway, this recording of the symphony is good.
Few excerpts from Gayaneh are not good, honestly - they are performed really messily (sorry to say this) - so I am not rating it with any stars. For this composition, I'd strongly recommend you Temirkanov with Royal Philharmonic, they are unbeatable.

Amazing Khachaturian and Jarvi combo.......2002-12-19

If you need an introduction into the music of Khachaturian, please pick this cd up. Khachaturian may be Armenian and Jarvi may be Estonian, but the all around soviet furor is alive and well in this piece.

I had an earlier recording of this symphony with Khachaturian conducting the VPO, and its a revelation. But i wanted a digital version and was pleased to pick this one up.

The trumpets blare, the horns blare, the strings are sensual, and the GONG is terrifying. You will want to play this cd loudly to achieve its thunderous effects. You will not be disapointed either.

I would pay close attention to the last two mins. of this piece as it speaks to you in gentle somber and pain and becomes increasingly violent and angry - bells tolling, trumpets screaming, and gong crashing to a most haunting climax.

its a real treat!

A 20th century masterpiece.......2001-06-02

I liked Khachaturian's 'Masquerade Suite' a lot and decided to give this symphony a shot. WOW. How did this elude me for all these years? Why is this work relatively obscure? It is a profoundly riveting, lush and moving symphony. One can almost hear a question being put to the Russian people as the German army is invading: "We are being attacked, comrades. Well, what are we going to do about it?" The answer in musical terms is to fight back with the spirit of a thousand trumpets. Toward the end of the symphony the 'questioning' motif suddenly reappears--only this time with confidence and victorious inspiration. This is a masterpiece that you'll want to listen to over and over again. And then, if you are like me, you'll want to listen to his 3rd Symphony which is also mind blowing--and even LOUDER.

No one can do Uplifting and Dramatic like Khachaturian.......2001-01-04

For years, it was difficult to find a recording of this piece. It's still not nearly as well known as it should be. This is a magnificent work, and it does LOUD in a magnificent way that only Khachaturian can. I think this work should be among the "top 100 pieces of music of the 20th century" and it's a shame it hasn't been well enough known to be on that list in most people's minds.

Trumpets. Lots of trumpets. Horns. Lots of horns. Did I mention lots of trumpets? This piece requires considerable augmentation of the standard symphony orchestra. (I have the score. I love reading brass parts while they are playing.)

Tracks:

Sym No.2: Andante maestoso
Sym No.2: Allegro risoluto
Sym No.2: Andante sostenuto
Sym No.2: Andante mosso-Allegro sostenuto
Gayaneh: Excerpt 1
Gayaneh: Excerpt 2
Gayaneh: Adagio of Gayaneh
Gayaneh: Dance of the Kurds
Gayaneh: Lezghinka

Customer Reviews:

Authentic Soviet musicmaking.......2005-09-14

Unlike the composer-led performance from 1962 released on the London label with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, this performance of Khachaturian's Symphony No. 2 was recorded in concert and is an authentic Soviet musical event circa 1977.

The notes to this issue, which are always highly readable and informative on the Russian Disc label, rightfully place the "Bell" symphony with the Shostakovich Symphonies 7 & 8 and the Prokofiev Symphony 5 as stalwarts in the coming Russian victory in World War II, saying the symphony is "imbued with genuine humanism and confidence in ultimate victory.

Having heard this several times, I cannot agree more. This is an outstanding performance of music than sounds far more substantial than its reputation suggests. The cyclical "bell" theme begins and ends the symphony, which includes substantial thematic development and the other devices that make the more well-known World War II-era Soviet symphonies memorable.

Snobs around the globe dismiss the music of this Soviet composer as absurd, inane and empty. Having recently spent much time with the Prokofiev Symphonies 5 & 6 and Shostakovich 7, I am confident in saying this recording is as substantial as the others and certainly better than the "Leningrad" symphony.

This is oustantding music in a highly compelling performance by the USSR Symphony Orchestra. It includes the characteristics of Soveit era musicmaking -- the occasional unsweet woodwind, blatty horn and shrieking string. For me, this adds to the authenticity of the performance. By contrast, the composer's 1962 performance with the Vienna Philharmonic seems to suffer from that group's opulence.

The recording includes five excerpts from Khachaturian's ballet "Gayane" that can be considered definitive and gratefully exclude the overrepresented "Sabre Dance". The "Gayane" excerpts include the misnamed "Adagio of Gayane" -- a sort of scherzo dance that is anything but an adagio -- the raucous "Dance of the Kurds" and "Lezghinka".

It appears two excerpts were included on the same program as the symphony and the other three may have been added as encores, since there is applause after each and the audience becomes more and more involved throughout the performances.

The one failing of this issue the lack of documentation on date and place of performance, which is neither addressed in the notes or on the cover. Still, any lover of Russian or Soviet music will gain by purchasing this outstanding CD of 20th century Soviet masterpieces.

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