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Symphony No. 2 (Kabalevsky)

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Dmitry Kabalevsky's Symphony No. 2 in C minor, Op. 19, written in 1934, is the second of the four symphonies he wrote and the most performed and recorded of the cycle, probably owing to its sense of drama, bright orchestration and expressive straightforwardness, ranging from melancholy to jubilance. With a dramatic and agitated yet extroverted, lyrical and fairly positive outlook, like other dramatic Russian symphonies from the Stalinist era it was alleged to deal with the struggle of mankind to reform society within Soviet values.

The symphony was premiered on December 25, 1934 in the Moscow Conservatory's Large Hall by the Moscow Philharmonic under Albert Coates. The international première was carried out (and recorded) in New York City on November 8, 1942 by the NBC Orchestra conducted by Arturo Toscanini, and it was well received, according to Olin Downes' review for the New York Times. Toscanini, who championed the overture from Kabalevsky's opera Colas Breugnon, would play it again in 1945.

Movements

  1. Allegro quasi presto
  2. Andante non troppo
  3. Prestissimo scherzando

Discography

Orchestra Conductor Location Year Label(s) Duration
NBC Symphony Arturo Toscanini United States Radio City, New York 1942 Melodiya, Pristine 23:21
Accademia di Santa Cecilia Orchestra Jacques Rachmilovich Italy Teatro Argentina, Rome 1949 Capitol, Naxos 21:20
Moscow Radio Symphony Nikolai Anosov 1953 Melodiya, Monarch 24:18
New Philharmonia David Measham United Kingdom St Giles-without-Cripplegate, London 1973 HNH, Unicorn 23:51
Szeged Symphony Ervin Acél 1977 Olympia 27:34
Plovdiv Philharmonic Dimiter Manolov 1991 Balkanton
Armenian Philharmonic Loris Tjeknavorian Armenia Aram Khachaturian Hall, Yerevan 1997 ASV 26:53
NDR Radiophilharmonie Eiji Oue Germany Landesfunkhaus Niedersachsen, Hanover 2001/02 CPO 25:37
BBC Philharmonic Neeme Järvi United Kingdom New Broadcasting House, Manchester 2006 Chandos 24:11
Malmö Symphony Darrell Ang Sweden Malmö Live, Malmö 2017 Naxos 23:21

References

  1. Russian, Soviet & Post-Soviet Symphonies. Musicweb International
  2. Historia de la Sinfonía.
  3. Naxos Records
  4. Allmusic
  5. Edition Sikorski
  6. TOSCANINI OFFERS NEW RUSSIAN WORK; Directs NBC Orchestra in the U.S. Premiere of Second Kabalevsky Symphony FINE IMPRESSION CREATED Opening Movement Buoyant in Approach to Climax -- Creative School Hinted. Olin Downes, 9 November 1942
  7. Musicweb International
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