Search - Dmitry Yablonsky :: IVANOVS: Symphonies Nos. 2 and 3

Important recordings of the most important Latvian composer.

David A. Hollingsworth | Washington, DC USA | 05/02/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Janis Ivanovs (1906-1983) is generally considered as the most important modern composer of Latvia (Latvia was one of the 15 satelite nations which made up the former Soviet Union). Ivanovs was highly prolific, with 21 symphonies, 3 concerti, 5 symphonic poems, 3 string quartets, chamber, piano, & vocal works to his credits. Eighteen of his symphonies, as well as a number of other works, were recorded by Melodiya LP's, & these recordings were never re-issued into a compact disc format. Therefore, all we have are two Marco Polo CD's containing Ivanovs' 2nd, 3rd, 5th, & 12th symphonies, unfortunately.The music notes of this recording cited Cesar Frank & Alexander Scriabin as influences behind the second symphony, completed by 1937. Listening to this impressive work, even for the first time, the name Jean Sibelius propped up in my mind, & still does (most especially in the first two movements). Despite the influences, the 2nd symphony is strong, confident, memorable work, with a heart-warming andante. The Third symphony (1938) is more of a laid back, contemplative work, peaceful in the 1st, 2nd, & 4th movements while the allegro movement has the sense of drama & power. It's not as optimistic as the 2nd symphony, with the final bars sounding grim & serious. Listening to the Andante, I think of Sibelius, again, & there's no doubt that the work strikes me as one with depth & substance. The performances were well done & well commited, though not at a first rate level. There were places where refinement would have been strived for noticeably more. Sight-seeing of the scores could be the possiblity of what sounded as if Dmitri Yablonsky & the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra lacked the total familiarity of these works. The recording is tolorable, but sounds dullish, lacking in atmosphere & adequate dynamic range which would otherwise makes the performances sound somewhat more full &lively, instead of distant.Nevertheless, recommendable, @ least until better performances & recordings of these works enter into our mists."

I keep listening to it, especially Symphony 3

Art and Music Guy | Pittsburgh, PA, USA | 05/11/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Janis Ivanovs' music was a happy revelation for me, having taken a chance on Naxos' Ivanovs CD (Syms. 8 & 20). I've purchased just about every other Ivanovs offered here at Amazon and I can say that this selection is perhaps the second best CD to start with if one is investigating the composer. Symphony 2 is rugged, like the 8th Symphony, but it is not as memorable. Symphony 3, however, is among my favorites. The second, slow movement spins out for over 10 minutes, and withinn the first minute there is a soaring, Romantic-era theme that you might expect to end a movement. After that high point, Ivanovs constructs an equally satisfying set of elaborations upon that sweeping tune. The development of his symphonies is episodic and very tuneful. His music kind of reminds me of the melodic blockiness of Bruckner's symphonies, but the temperament and scale of Ivanovs' music is different. I highly recommend this CD."