Description
Riccardo Muti Conducts Scriabin: Complete Symphonies 1-3, Poème de l'extase, and Prométhée (3-CD Set)
Product Details
- UPC: 724356772021
- Product Type: Music CD Box Set (3 Compact Discs)
- Brand: EMI Classics
- MPN (Catalog Number): 7243 5 67720 2 1
- Conductor: Riccardo Muti
- Orchestra/Chorus: The Philadelphia Orchestra, The Westminster Choir, The Choral Arts Society of Philadelphia
- Composer: Alexander Scriabin (1872–1915)
- Genre: Classical
- Style: Late Romantic, Symbolism, Mysticism, Orchestral, Symphony
- Release Year: 2001 (Compilation Year)
- Recording Type: Stereo DDD
Overview
This comprehensive EMI Classics 3-CD box set presents the complete symphonic output of the Russian mystical composer, Alexander Scriabin. Conducted by Riccardo Muti, the set features the formidable Philadelphia Orchestra in powerful readings of the three numbered symphonies, the transcendental Le Poème de l'extase (The Poem of Ecstasy, Op. 54), and the visionary Prométhée, le poème du feu (Prometheus, The Poem of Fire, Op. 60).
Muti and the Philadelphia Orchestra, known for their lush, warm sound and intense commitment, are ideally suited to Scriabin's evolving sound world—from the early Wagnerian lyricism of the Symphony No. 1 (which includes a rare choral finale) to the complex, hyper-expressive ecstasy of his later works. This compilation is an essential purchase for listeners looking to explore the full evolution of Scriabin's symphonic imagination.
Product Features
- Format: 3 Compact Discs Box Set, Stereo DDD
- Conductor: Riccardo Muti
- Orchestra/Choir: The Philadelphia Orchestra, The Westminster Choir, The Choral Arts Society of Philadelphia
- Soloists: Stefania Toczyska (mezzo-soprano), Michael Myers (tenor), Frank Karadek (trumpet), Dmitri Alexeev (piano)
- Repertoire: Complete Symphonies (Nos. 1, 2, 3), Le Poème de l'extase, and Prométhée, le poème du feu.
- Recording Dates: ℗ 1986, 1990, 1991 EMI Records Ltd.
- Total Runtime: Approximately 3 hours 28 minutes (50'38'' + 68'16'' + 69'20'')
- Packaging: Box Set.
Interesting Facts
- Scriabin's Musical Evolution: The works on this set trace Scriabin's journey from the influence of Wagner and Tchaikovsky in his First Symphony to his uniquely developed harmonic language of late Romanticism and Mysticism, exemplified by the "Prometheus chord" and the massive orchestral forces required for the Poem of Ecstasy.
- The First Symphony's Finale: Symphony No. 1 in E major is unusual for a symphony of this era because its final movement is a choral-orchestral setting of Scriabin's own text, a hymn to Art.
- Prometheus and the "Light Keyboard": Prométhée, le poème du feu (The Poem of Fire) originally included a part for a Tastiera per luce (keyboard of light), intended to project colored lights corresponding to the music's harmonic structure. Though rarely realized in performance, the piece is a famous example of Scriabin's synesthesia.
- The Muti/Philadelphia Tradition: Riccardo Muti's time with The Philadelphia Orchestra (Music Director, 1980-1992) was marked by powerful and often sensuous interpretations of late Romantic and early 20th-century Russian repertoire, making this Scriabin set a significant document of that era.
Track Listing
COMPACT DISC 1 (50'38'') Symphony No. 1 in E, Op. 26 (℗ 1986) 1-6. Sinfonie No. 1 / Symphony No. 1 (with Stefania Toczyska, mezzo-soprano; Michael Myers, tenor; The Westminster Choir)
COMPACT DISC 2 (68'16'') Symphony No. 2 in C minor, Op. 29 (℗ 1990) 1-5. Sinfonie Nr. 2 / Symphony No. 2
- Le Poème de l'extase, Op. 54 (℗ 1990) (with Frank Karadek, trumpet) (20:02)
COMPACT DISC 3 (69'20'') 1-3. Symphony No. 3 in C minor, Op. 43, "Le Divin Poème" (℗ 1989) (48:25)
- Prométhée, le poème du feu, Op. 60 (℗ 1991) (with Dmitri Alexeev, piano; The Choral Arts Society of Philadelphia)
The Philadelphia Orchestra RICCARDO MUTI This compilation ℗ 1991 EMI Records Ltd. ℗ 2001 EMI Records Ltd.
Publishers
- Label: EMI Classics (International Trade Mark of EMI Records Ltd.)
- Copyright: This compilation ℗ 1991 EMI Records Ltd. ℗ 2001 EMI Records Ltd.
- Manufacture: Printed in the EU
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