Alexander Scriabin: Symphonies 1

1. Symphony No. 1 in E major (with chorus in finale), Op. 26
Composed by Alexander Nikolayevich Skryabin
Performed by Philadelphia Orchestra with Michael Myers , Stefania Toczyska
Conducted by Riccardo Muti

2. Symphony No. 2 in C minor/major, Op. 29
Composed by Alexander Nikolayevich Skryabin
Performed by Philadelphia Orchestra Conducted by Riccardo Muti

3. Symphony No. 4 in C major ("Poem of Ecstasy"), Op. 54
Composed by Alexander Nikolayevich Skryabin
Performed by Philadelphia Orchestra with Frank Kaderabek
Conducted by Riccardo Muti

4. Symphony No. 3 in C minor ("Divine Poem"), Op. 43
Composed by Alexander Nikolayevich Skryabin
Performed by Philadelphia Orchestra Conducted by Riccardo Muti

5. Symphony No. 5 in F sharp major for piano, organ, chorus, & orchestra ("Prometheus, Poem of Fire"), Op. 60
Composed by Alexander Nikolayevich Skryabin
Performed by Philadelphia Orchestra with Dmitri Alexeyev
Conducted by Sean Deibler , Riccardo Muti

Customer Reviews:

Fantastic Symphony No. 3.......2006-01-07

I have all Scriabin's symphonies, but his third is by far my favorite. It is a work of such grandeur and power. The brass section of the orchestra is truly put to the test and pushed to the limits in this work. The reoccuring theme that is heard at the very beginning of the work is heard all throughout the whole symphony and remains a very prominant force in the work.

I have to say that this symphony is one of my absolute favorities and one of the finest ever written. The final movement is especially amazing, with the final bars culminating in one of the most fantastic codas to anything I have ever experienced in symphonic music.

I highly recommend this recording. If you are unfamiliar to Scriabin, do yourself a favor and get acquainted. You'll find his music and this symphony some of the most moving music you'll ever have the pleasure of hearing.

PARTIAL REDEMPTION.......2005-12-05

If Scriabin is an acquired taste, it's a taste that I acquired very easily. Like certain composers (e.g. Schoenberg) and unlike certain others (e.g. Rachmaninov) whose careers cover the late 19th and early 20th centuries, his idiom changed fairly drastically in the process. In Scriabin's case this change did not amount to a complete abjuration of the late romantic idiom, but well before his untimely death he had ceased to ascribe 'keys' to his works and had also stopped dividing them into separate movements in the traditional way, something Schoenberg always clung to. He took himself quite unbelievably seriously, developing a mission to redeem mankind through art. That sort of thing, like the similar aspirations of Shelley and Coleridge, seems hokum to me, but hokum whose results I happen to enjoy. I also sympathise entirely with his yearning, expressed in connexion with the 3rd symphony, for '...the evolution of the human spirit...torn from an entire past of beliefs and mysteries which it surmounts and overcomes...' Progress in this respect still seems deplorably slow and prone to relapse, and I sense that creative artists have lowered their sights to some extent in terms of what they think they can achieve along these lines.

The title of this set 'Complete Symphonies' seems to me a good one. Of the five main works here the first three bear the name of 'symphony', and the Poeme de l'Extase was conceived under the same title and intended at first to be in four movements, but by now Scriabin's imagination was taking leave of terra firma. When the work appeared in 1907 it was heralded by a 'philosophical programme' in verse, and its title is of course 'Poem'. If it is a symphony in some sense, then so is the final Prometheus - the Poem of Fire. This not only abandons the standard symphonic division into movements but envisages a wordless chorus, an obbligato piano part and even some kind of magic lantern that he wanted to project specified colours into the audience. The first performance of the work, in Moscow in 1911, lacked this colourful feature, a lack rectified at a performance in New York in 1915, the year of Scriabin's death. As for the harmony, it is roughly as radical as that of Delius.

In addition to the symphonies this set provides two earlier works, the piano concerto and a short Reverie. These, and the first symphony, are very traditional in idiom, and none the worse for that I'd say. The second symphony is a little bolder, but the real adult Scriabin first appears in the third symphony which is on the third disc of the set. The recording dates from several years earlier than the other two discs, but it seems to me much more satisfactory. The earlier discs are not badly recorded to be sure, but the sound lacks presence and vividness. The volume level is on the low side, but while turning it up improves matters a little it doesn't solve the basic problem - after a point it is just too loud and the sound is still not what Scriabin quite needs. I compared my vinyl set of the two Poems from Ormandy, and the difference in sound-quality in the Poeme du Feu on disc 1 is startling. There is still a difference when it comes to the Poeme de l'Extase on disc 3, but it is not so great, and it is less attributable to the recording. It points up, I think, some characteristics of the conductor.

As well as the two Poems, my collection of Scriabin contains quite a fair selection of his solo piano works, played by Horowitz, Richter, Ogdon, Gould - and Ashkenazy. Of these performances I like Ashkenazy's the least by quite a long way, because I have always found too much of his playing to be just a bit ordinary. When it came to listening to him in his latter-day incarnation as a conductor, I admit I underwent the process with some suspicions. These were founded on my previous experience of him as an interpreter even in his prime, but also caused by some scepticism regarding retired soloists finding a new career as conductors. Beecham, Toscanini and Karajan had a mission from the outset to be conductors. They went into the business when young, and they knew not to underestimate what it required. Elderly gentlemen taking the baton up as a sunset career will be treated doubtless with the respect due to their erstwhile eminence, but I wouldn't expect great things from them, nor do I find great things here. The difference from Ormandy shows markedly even in the Poeme de l'Extase. There is simply far more refinement, subtlety and sheer quality in Ormandy's account, and the recording, from sometime in the 70's, is actually better too, even on vinyl. The gap is even greater in Prometheus, affecting in particular the piano part from Peter Jablonski, given a recorded sound that is too discreet by half or more than half. This young player gets a fairer opportunity in the concerto, an attractive early work which he performs with aplomb and distinction. The first two symphonies and the Reverie are attractive too, and having nothing to compare them with I was consequently less critical.

In fact you will get very fair performances of Scriabin in general here, just not 5-star ones. The production is admirable in many ways, with the pieces sequenced with some imagination rather than in strict order of composition. The liner-note takes them in that order, and sensibly so, and it is a very sound and helpful production from Andrew Huth. I have no regrets at all about purchasing this interesting set, and I have given honesty and balance my best shot in the foregoing opinions.

Great overall.......2005-08-29

The Sym #3 in this set is awesome. The sound quality is excellent and the performance brings out so many details in this huge over-the-top work.

The other syms are well done too, but #3 is Scriabin's masterpiece so what really matters, in my view...

Scriabin - Symphonies Nos.1-3 · Le Poème de l'extase · Promethée, le poème du feu / Stefania Toczyska · Michael Myers · Dmitri Alexeev · Riccardo Muti

Average customer rating:

I like Ashkenazy better!

Scriabin - Symphonies Nos.1-3 · Le Poème de l'extase · Promethée, le poème du feu / Stefania Toczyska · Michael Myers · Dmitri Alexeev · Riccardo Muti
Alexander Scriabin , Riccardo Muti , and The Choral Arts Society of Philadelphia The Philadelphia Orchestra
Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

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

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Classical | Box Sets | Stores | Music
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ASIN: B00005MIZO
Release Date: 2002-11-05

Tracks:

Sym No.1 in E, Op.26: I. Lento
Sym No.1 in E, Op.26: II. Allegro Drammatico
Sym No.1 in E, Op.26: III. Lento
Sym No.1 in E, Op.26: IV. Vivace
Sym No.1 in E, Op.26: V. Allegro
Sym No.1 in E, Op.26: VI. Andante - Stefania Toczyska/Michael Myers/The Westminster Chor/Joseph Flummerfelt

Tracks:

Sym No.2 in c, Op.29: I. Andante -
Sym No.2 in c, Op.29: II. Allegro
Sym No.2 in c, Op.29: III. Andante
Sym No.2 in c, Op.29: IV. Tempestuoso
Sym No.2 in c, Op.29: V. Maestoso
Le Poeme De L'Extase, Op.54 - Frank Kaderabek

Tracks:

Sym No.3 in c, Op.43 'Le Divin Poeme': I. Intro: Lento: Divin, Grandiose - Luttes: Allegro...
Sym No.3 in c, Op.43 'Le Divin Poeme': II. Voluptes: Lento: Sublime - Vivo: Divin Essai
Sym No.3 in c, Op.43 'Le Divin Poeme': III. Jeu Divin: Allegro: Avec Une Joie Eclatante
Promethee, Le Poeme Du Feu, Op.60 - Dmitri Alexeev/The Choral Arts Society Of Philadelphia/Sean Deibler

Customer Reviews:

I like Ashkenazy better!.......2005-01-11

Muti is great with his Philadelphia Orchestra. The recordings are high quality, but at times can get digitally distorted in the climaxes. The interpratations have a strength and expansiveness. But I still give Ashkenazy my top recommendation on the wonderfully bargin priced Trio label. He tops Muti threefold in his power, profundity, and energy! Plus the digital sound beats is clearer and more realistic than on Muti's set.

Scriabin was a Theosophist, who studied the works of Madamme Blavatsky (great female mystic). His works come from a place of spirituality and mysticism. His are inspired by the worlds religions from a esoteric approach. I can only compare his musical sound world to Franz Schmidt or Cyril Scott. Scriabin's music is on the verge of atonality, very modern sounding for the early 1900's. He took on the philosophical views of Wagner and expanded upon them, trying to create a new artform, which he didn't fulfill due to his untimely death. Look for the recording of Scriabin's "Preparation for the Final Mystery" on Decca also conducted by Ashkenazy.

Scriabin's 5 symphonies open the door to much inspiration on Nature and the Divine. There is no doubt that you can only gain by listening to Scriabin. Muti is a great start, but Ashkenazy totally understands Scriabin!

Average customer rating:

THE set of Scriabin's orchestral works.

Alexander Scriabin: Symphonies 1 - 5

Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

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

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000002RS6
Release Date: 1991-07-05

Tracks:

Sym No.1 in E, Op.26: I. Lento - Michael Myers/Westminster Choir
Sym No.1 in E, Op.26: II. Allegro drammatico - Michael Myers/Westminster Choir
Sym No.1 in E, Op.26: III. Lento - Michael Myers/Westminster Choir
Sym No.1 in E, Op.26: IV. Vivace - Michael Myers/Westminster Choir
Sym No.1 in E, Op.26: V. Allegro - Michael Myers/Westminster Choir
Sym No.1 in E, Op.26: VI. Andante - Stefania Toczyska/Michael Myers/Westminster Choir

Tracks:

Sym No.2 in c, Op.29: I. Andante - Riccardo Muti/Philadelphia Orch
Sym No.2 in c, Op.29: II. Allegro - Riccardo Muti/Philadelphia Orch
Sym No.2 in c, Op.29: III. Andante - Riccardo Muti/Philadelphia Orch
Sym No.2 in c, Op.29: IV. Tempestuoso - Riccardo Muti/Philadelphia Orch
Sym No.2 in c, Op.29: V. Maestoso - Riccardo Muti/Philadelphia Orch
La Poeme de l'extase, Op.54 - Frank Kaderabek

Tracks:

Sym No.3 in c, Op.43, 'Le divin Poeme': I. Intro: Lento Divin grandiose-Luttes: Allegro... - Riccardo Muti/Philadelphia Orch
Sym No.3 in c, Op.43, 'Le divin Poeme': II. Voluptes: Lento: Sublime-Vivo: Divin essai - Riccardo Muti/Philadelphia Orch
Sym No.3 in c, Op.43, 'Le divin Poeme': III. Jeu Divin: Allegro: Avec une joie eclatante - Riccardo Muti/Philadelphia Orch
Promethee, le poeme du feu, Op.60 - Dmitri Alexeev/Choral Soc of Philadelphia

Customer Reviews:

THE set of Scriabin's orchestral works........1999-03-28

If you like Sciabin, you REALLY like Scriabin. You can't like a piece by Sciabin without loving it and wanting more. He is much like a Lays potato chip in this regard. This is the place to get all of the major ochestral works in one place.

The "Poem of Ecstasy" is not subtle. Scriabin was the early version of The Artist Formerly Known as Prince. Scriabin might have come up with his own version of MTV if he had lived long enough. If you can momentarily put aside the pure eroticism, you will also notice that the "Poem of Ecstasy" is an incredibly colorful piece of music. Winds, brass, strings, and percussion weave their magic for 20 wonderful minutes.

The Symphony #3 "The Divine Poem" is no less exciting. Muti is known as a brass man, and it takes some serious brass to do justice to Scriabin. It is difficult not to enjoy this romp with the Philadelphia Orchestra.

If you like Scriabin's themes you are in luck, because they re-appear often. If you like the orchestral works, don't stop there! There is a whole world of piano music to explore. Get involved in the Scriabin renaissance!

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