Gavriil Popov - Symphony No. 3; Symphonic Aria (Alexander Titov)

Information

Composer: Gavriil Popov

• (01) Symphony No. 3 'Heroic' for large string orchestra, Op. 45
• (06) Symphonic Aria for cello & string orchestra, Op. 43

Dmitry Khrychov, cello (6)

St. Petersburg State Academic Symphony Orchestra

Alexander Titov, conductor

Date: 2009

Label: Northern Flowers

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Review

Popov had long been a composer whose music I wished to hear as he was highly esteemed by Shostakovich and other important Soviet composers. Based on the two works on this disk I would say his music possesses a lot of interest and occasional profundity, but that he cannot be grouped with Shostakovich, Prokofiev, and Miaskovsky, although Stalin would have disagreed with me.

 

The Heroic Symphony is based on string interludes from a 1939 film about the Spanish Civil War. Popov became bogged down in 1940 in his efforts to produce the symphony and only got back to work in 1944, perhaps inspired by the new war that was going on in his own country. The Symphony is in five movements with the opening Intrada presenting a motto theme for the struggle in Spain as well as two main themes. The manipulation of the strings throughout is extremely impressive. The allegro second movement is notable for its central elegy-reminiscent of Shostakovich. The third movement is based on three Spanish dances and may remind some of early Britten. The big movement is the largo, which reaches moments of real eloquence and is quite moving. The end is especially effective. The last movement is even better, utilizing the two themes from the first movement and eventually ending with motto theme. There is some very strong music here.

 

Popov interrupted his work on the “Heroic” Symphony to write the Aria for cello and Strings in memory of his friend the author A.N. Tolstoy. It is a three-part work which proceeds to increase in sadness as it moves from prologue to central meditation to coda. The last provides a few moments of relief from the sadness, but is hardly affirmative. In its depth of feeling and intensity of emotion I found this work far more satisfying than the Symphony.

 

Dmitri Khrychov supplies both able handling of the solo instrument and intensity of feeling, the two things most melded for his piece. Alexander Titov has excellent control of the strings and maintains the necessary momentum throughout the piece. There are so many sounds one can get from strings and they all seem to be here. There are moments when he could show more liveliness, but that may partially be the music itself. The strings themselves perform with great vigor and ability and the sound is quite clear. While not totally impressed by the music I can say that I will look for more Popov.

 

-- William Kreindler, MusicWeb International

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Gavriil Popov (12 September 1904 – 17 February 1972) was a Soviet Russian composer. He studied at the Leningrad Conservatory from 1922 until 1930, and was considered to have the raw talent of his contemporary Dmitri Shostakovich. His early works were impressively powerful and forward-looking. Not surprisingly, he ran afoul of the authorities in 1936 and began writing in a more conservative idiom in order to avoid charges of formalism. Despite his alcoholism, Popov produced many works for orchestra, including six completed symphonies and several film scores. He was awarded the Stalin Prize in 1946.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gavriil_Popov_(composer)

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Alexander Titov (born 1954 in Leningrad) is a Russian conductor. He studied piano (with V. Gentsler) and conducting (with A. Mikhailov and Ilya Musin) at the Leningrad Conservatoire, graduating in 1981. Titov began his conducting career as assistant to Gennady Rozhdestvensky and Mstislav Rostropovich, and has since become one of Russia’s leading conductors. Since 1989 he has been Conductor of Mariinsky Opera and Ballet Theatre. Titov has toured widely, with visits to the USA, Europe, East Asia, South America and others. He has a huge and diverse repertoire, with over over 70 CD's recorded.

https://www.bach-cantatas.com/Bio/Titov-Alexander.htm

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