The Belyayev Project
Nikolai RIMSKY-KORSAKOV (1844-1908)
Trio in C minor for piano, violin and cello (1897) (completed by Maximilian
Steinberg) [45:40]
Alexander GLAZUNOV (1865-1936)
Grand Adagio (No. 20) from Raymonda, Op. 57 (arr. violin and
piano) [4:40]
Nikolai RIMSKY-KORSAKOV (1844-1908)
The Flight of the Bumble Bee from The Tale of the Tzar Sultan
(arr. violin and piano by Jascha Heifetz) [1:22]
Alexander GLAZUNOV (1865-1936)
Concert Waltz for orchestra in D major, Op. 47 (1893) (arr. piano by
Felix Blumenfeld) [10:32]
Anatoly LYADOV (1855-1914)
Barcarolle for piano, Op. 44 (1898) [4:32]
Felix BLUMENFELD (1863-1931)
Etude, Op. 31/2, ‘Sur mer’ (On the sea) (1890)
[5:12]
Nikolai RIMSKY-KORSAKOV
Pesenka for piano (1901) [1:52]
Miki Aoki (piano), Andrey Baranov (violin), Alexey Zhilin (cello),
March/November 2013, T-3 /Saal Berlin-Brandenburg Broadcasting, Berlin,
Germany
PROFIL EDITION PH12033 [73:50]
In the booklet notes to this release pianist Miki
Aoki explains that the title The Belyayev Project acknowledges
the prominent role of Mitrofan Belyayev, a wealthy timber merchant and
amateur chamber musician, an influential figure in Russian music circles.
Belyayev started several important initiatives to promote Russian music
including establishing a series of Russian Symphonic Concerts and founding
the M. P. Belyayev Publishing House in Leipzig. There at his own expense
Belyayev published a large number of compositions by Russian composers
with the intention of extending the reach of Russian music throughout
Europe. In the booklet notes Wolfgang Teubner explains that 1,200 Russian
works were published by Belyayev in their first 10 years. Wikipedia
states that overall the house published over 2,000 Russian compositions;
a quite remarkable number of works. Consequently all the composers selected
for this release were assisted by Belyayev’s patronage.
The opening and most substantial work here is Rimsky-Korsakov’s
four movement Trio in C minor. Best known for his much loved
symphonic suite Scheherazade Rimsky-Korsakov wrote in several
genres including opera, song and a small body of chamber music of which
the Piano Quintet in B flat major (1876) is the score that I
encounter the most often. Written in 1897 the Trio in C minor
for violin, cello and piano was left incomplete at the composer’s
death. It was in 1939 that Maximilian Steinberg completed the score
ready for publication. This is a substantial and demanding work. Throughout
the trio play with admirable concentration, although, I did detect a
slight problem with the string intonation with a few rough edges to
the unison. Packed with attractive material the opening Allegro assai
feels windswept and has an unsettling undercurrent of disquiet. Next
the very briskly taken Allegro,so disarmingly vibrant,
is followed by a yearning Adagio. Its sense of heartbreak is
intensified by a marvellous cello solo so ardently played by Alexey
Zhilin. A touch dark and slightly unsettling the writing of the splendidly
played Finale - Allegro assai is sharpened by anxiety-laden
anticipation. From 1952 a magnificent played account from the Oistrakh
Trio of David Oistrakh (violin), Sviatoslav Knushevitzky (cello) and
Lev Oborin (piano) is still the recording by which rivals are judged;
it has been reissued on Brilliant Classics 9272. The world-famous The
Flight of the Bumble Bee from the Rimsky-Korsakov opera The Tale
of Tsar Saltan was written in 1899/1900. It’s always pleasing
to hear this very brief score. Here violinist Andrey Baranov and pianist
Miki Aoki play an impressive arrangement prepared by Jascha Heifetz.
It really tests the virtuosity of the players. Written in 1901, Rimsky-Korsakov’s
Pesenka is a ‘Neapolitan’ in the Dorian mode - one
of a group of piano works composed in memory of Ivan Aivazovsky, the
Armenian-Russian painter. Well known as an encore piece, Pesenka
is very short taking less than two minutes to perform. Miki Aoki adroitly
brings out the moodiness from this attractive piece.
Glazunov’s Grand Adagio (No. 20) is taken from his ballet
Raymonda, Op. 57. This is an attractive piece, although not especially
memorable in this arrangement for piano and violin. Andrey Baranov and
Miki Aoki are in glorious form. The Concert Waltz for orchestra
in D major, Op. 47 was composed by Glazunov in 1893. This time the arrangement
for piano solo, completed by Felix Blumenfeld a pupil of the composer,
is given an engaging performance by Miki Aoki. Anatoly Lyadov who studied
composition with Rimsky-Korsakov for a time wrote a substantial number
of piano miniatures. Aoki has chosen to play the attractive Barcarolle
in F sharp, Op. 44 from 1898. It exhibits a lovely rocking quality.
Blumenfeld also studied composition under Rimsky-Korsakov and his piano
pieces inhabit a sound-world close to Chopin. His output includes a
significant number of piano works from which Aoki plays the Etude,
Op. 31/2, ‘Sur mer’ (On the Sea) from 1890.
It’s a highly appealing score full of contrasting moods.
Recorded in the studios at Berlin-Brandenburg Broadcasting, Berlin the
sound quality of this Profil release is to a reasonable standard: clear
and well balanced. Although, I did find myself wanting a little more
depth - just a touch boxy - there is nothing too much to worry about.
Containing both celebrated and unfamiliar works this release proves
a great success: enjoyable from start to finish. I’m excited about
the extremely large number of additional works that could be included
in subsequent Belyayev themed releases.
Michael Cookson
