Alexander Scriabin; Alexander Nemtin - Preparation for the Final Mystery (Vladimir Ashkenazy)

Information

Composer: Alexander Scriabin; Alexander Nemtin

CD1:

• Nuances, ballet (from Scriabin's late piano pieces, orchestrated by Nemtin)
• Preparation for the Final Mystery - Part I. Universe

CD2:

• Preparation for the Final Mystery - Part II. Mankind

CD3:

• Preparation for the Final Mystery - Part III. Transfiguration

Alexandre Ghindin, piano (Nuances)
Alexei Lubimov, piano (Preparation)
Thomas Trotter, organ (Preparation)
Anne-Kristiina Kaappola, soprano (Preparation)

St. Petersburg Chamber Choir (Preparation)
Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin
Vladimir Ashkenazy, conductor

Date: 1999

Label: Decca

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Review

Megalomania or genius? Scriabin's contemplation of the end of existence enjoys the advocacy of Ashkenazy in Nemtin's fascinating realisation

The grandiose vision bar none, Mysterium, Scriabin's week-long Himalayan extravaganza, now seems more ridiculous than sublime; not so much a world-enlightening experience as the Book of Revelation adapted for the Dome. Scriabin himself had doubts about the enterprise; hence the 'Preliminary Action' he worked on during 1912-13, as a preparation for whatever was to come. Yet at his death in 1915, only 53 pages of sketches remained as testament to his ambitions. Not until 1970 were they studied and worked on in earnest, when Alexander Nemtin embarked on a realisation that would extend over 26 years, effectively sacrificing his own composing career in the process.

What we have is a three-part, cumulative exploration of Scriabin's musical ethos, playing for 156 minutes and employing much the same forces, down to the 'colour keyboard', of his final orchestral statement Prometheus. Indeed, the opening part, 'Universe' (recorded in 1973 and guardedly reviewed in these pages), comes disconcertingly close to the musical substance and dynamic contours of that piece. It's not just that identical motifs and chord progressions are brought into play, but an already dense, torrid sound world is stretched beyond meaningful limits.

Yet the realisation gains in conviction as it proceeds, largely through Nemtin's resourceful and imaginative treatment of the sketch material. Part 2, 'Mankind', features subtle, dance-like passages of surprising harmonic clarity (try track 2 from 8'30'' and the opening minutes of track 6), while Part 3, 'Transfiguration', gradually draws together the myriad thematic threads in a spectacular yet logical implosion onto a unison F sharp: the ending of Scriabin's vision is thus made its beginning.
If, in the last resort, Scriabin imitating God is less convincing than the purely musical perfection of his late sonatas and piano pieces, this is not to criticise Nemtin's dedication to the impossible; a dedication reinforced by Nuances, his 1975 ballet after Scriabin's late piano pieces. Its distilled eroticism would make a striking adjunct to Bartok's Miraculous Mandarin and Stravinsky's Orpheus, as part of a provocative triple-bill.

Performances are committed and often magnificent-sounding. Taking on the main work's demanding concertante piano part once again, Alexei Lubimov is unfailing in his advocacy, while Ashkenazy achieves an intensity so often lacking in his recordings of the symphonies. Informatively annotated and garishly packaged, 'Preparation for The Final Mystery' is one millennial experience whose very ambition is part of its attraction.

-- Gramophone

More reviews:
ClassicsToday  ARTISTIC QUALITY: 10 / SOUND QUALITY: 10
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev//2000/Oct00/scriabinmystery.htm
http://classicalcdreview.com/mysterium.htm
http://www.allmusic.com/album/scriabin-preparation-for-the-final-mystery-mw0001840750
http://www.amazon.com/Scriabin-Preparation-Mystery-Alexei-Lubimov/dp/B00002R2SQ

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Alexander Scriabin (6 January 1872 [O.S. 25 December 1871] – 27 April [O.S. 14 April] 1915) was a Russian composer and pianist. Scriabin was one of the most innovative and most controversial of early modern composers, and is considered by some to be the main Russian Symbolist composer. Independently of Arnold Schoenberg, Scriabin developed a substantially atonal and much more dissonant musical system. He was influenced by synesthesia, and associated colours with the various harmonic tones of his atonal scale. Scriabin had a major impact on the music world, and influenced composers such as Stravinsky and Prokofiev.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Scriabin

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Vladimir Ashkenazy (born July 6, 1937) is a Russian-born internationally recognized solo pianist, chamber music performer, and conductor of Icelandic and Swiss citizenship. He studied with Lev Oborin and Boris Zemliansky at the Moscow Conservatory, and won 2nd prize in the 1955 Chopin competition. Ashkenazy has recorded a wide range of piano repertoire, both solo works and concerti. His recordings have earned him five Grammy awards plus Iceland's Order of the Falcon. Midway through his pianistic career, Ashkenazy branched into conducting and steadily increased his activity.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Ashkenazy

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