Search - Vainberg, Kremlin Cham Orch, Rachlevsky :: Chamber Symphonies 1,3 & 4

Fascinating Glimpse of a Suppressed Soviet-Era Composer

Eugene G. Barnes | Dunn Loring, VA USA | 03/15/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Full disclosure: Misha Rachlevsky is an old and valued friend of mine. Having said that, let me call forth all the objectivity I can muster and tell you that his Chamber Orchestra Kremlin series on the Claves label is one delightful CD after another. Even his lighter CDs have an esprit and a sense of taste that are hard to beat. Rachlevsky has a way of attracting the finest musicians for his various chamber ensembles, and the Kremlin, hokey name though it may be, is his finest yet. Claves does a great job recording the group at Moscow's Mosfilm Studios, and their accompanying booklets are superb, rich with information and photos.As for the present offering, it's a generous (79 minute) sampling of Vainberg's final decade. Vainberg worked with Rachlevsky in the closing days of the former's life to prepare the scores for performance. Vainberg's music (at least on this disc) is intense and concentrated absolute music (that is, not given to programmatic analysis - one is reminded of Bach's seriousness of purpose with his Art of the Fugue). The music, with its complex modern harmonies but conventional rhythmic patterns, is not so much difficult to perform as it is condensed and calculated. But don't let that scare you away - it's also very accessible to the average ears. And his music inevitably speaks of the many years of persecution and grief he felt at the hands of unfriendly governments. Indeed, there are many heartbreaking moments. They make the rarer moments of joy that much more precious.Buy the CD, enjoy this music, and make room for a great new composer in your life."