FULL THE BELLS (Rachmaninov) Kislovodsk 2023 Elena Filimonova, Sergey Maidanov, Ivan Buyanets
Information on the Performance
- Work Title: The Bells (Russian: Колокола, Kolokola)
- Composer: Rachmaninov Sergei
- Libretto: The words are from the poem The Bells by Edgar Allan Poe translated by Konstantin Balmont
- Venue & Opera Company: A. Skryabin hall, Kislovodsk, Russia
- Recorded: August 5, 2023
- Type: Concert Live
- Singers: Elena Filimonova, Sergey Maidanov, Ivan Buyanets
- Conductor: Alim Shakh
- Orchestra: Academic Symphony Orchestra named after V.I. Safonov
- Chorus: Philharmonic Choir named after V.I. Safonov Choir, State Choir of the Republic of Kalmykia named after Anatoly Ochir
- Chorus Master: Elizaveta Pismennaya, Goryaevich Tsebekov
- Stage Director:
- Costume Designer:
Information about the Recording
- Published by: Academic Symphony Orchestra named after V.I. Safonov
- Date Published: 2023
- Format: Streaming
- Quality Video: 4 Audio:4
- Subtitles: nosubs
- Video Recording from: YouTube FULL VIDEO
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS PERFORMANCE
PROGRAM
S. Rachmaninov – “Bells”, poem for chorus, three soloists and orchestra, Op.35
S. Rachmaninov – Three Russian Songs for orchestra and chorus (1926), Op.41
S. Rachmaninov – Rhapsody on a theme by Paganini for piano and orchestra (1934), Op.4
The Bells (Russian: Колокола, Kolokola), Op. 35, is a choral symphony by Sergei Rachmaninov, written in 1913 and premiered in St Petersburg on 30 November that year under the composer’s baton. The words are from the poem The Bells by Edgar Allan Poe, very freely translated into Russian by the symbolist poet Konstantin Balmont. The traditional Gregorian melody Dies Irae is used frequently throughout the work. It was one of Rachmaninoff’s two favorite compositions, along with his All-Night Vigil, and is considered by some to be his secular choral masterpiece. Rachmaninov called the work both a choral symphony and (unofficially) his Third Symphony shortly after writing it; however, he would later write a purely instrumental Third Symphony at his new villa in Switzerland. Rachmaninov dedicated The Bells to Dutch conductor Willem Mengelberg and the Concertgebouw Orchestra. The US Premiere of the work was given by Leopold Stokowski and the Philadelphia Orchestra and Chorus on 6 February 1920 and the UK Premiere by Sir Henry Wood and the Liverpool Philharmonic and Chorus on 15 March 1921.
Rachmaninov wrote to his friend Nikita Morozov in December 1906, asking whether he could think of a suitable subject for a choral piece to follow his cantata Spring. Nothing came of this request. However, while on a holiday in Rome, Italy early in 1907, Rachmaninoff received an anonymous letter containing a copy of Balmont’s translation of The Bells. The sender asked him to read the verses, suggesting they were suitable for musical setting and would especially appeal to him. This suggestion was both extremely sensitive and opportune. It was only after the composer’s death that the identity of the sender was found to have been Maria Danilova, who was then a young cello student at the Moscow Conservatory.
Instrumentation
The Bells is scored for soprano, tenor, and baritone soloists, mixed choir, and an orchestra of piccolo, 3 flutes, 3 oboes, cor anglais, 3 clarinets, bass clarinet, 3 bassoons, contrabassoon, 6 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, 4 tubular bells, glockenspiel, triangle, tambourine, snare drum, cymbals, bass drum, tamtam, upright piano, celesta, harp, organ (ad lib), and the standard strings of I & II violins, violas, cellos, and double basses.
Movements
The four movements are marked:
Allegro ma non tanto: “The Silver Sleigh Bells” (Слышишь, сани мчатся в ряд) in A-flat major — with tenor solo
Lento: “The Mellow Wedding Bells” (Слышишь, к свадьбе зов святой) in D major — with soprano solo
Presto: “The Loud Alarm Bells” (Слышишь, воющий набат) in F minor
Lento lugubre: “The Mournful Iron Bells” (Похоронный слышен звон) in C-sharp minor — with baritone solo
quoted from Wikipedia