Boris Lyatoshynsky - Symphony No. 1 (Theodore Kuchar)

Information

Composer: Boris Lyatoshynsky

• (01) Symphony No. 1 in A major, Op. 2
• (04) Grazhyna, Symphonic Ballad, Op. 58

Ukrainian State Symphony Orchestra

Theodore Kuchar, conductor

Date: 1994 / 2014

Label: Marco Polo / Naxos

https://www.naxos.com/catalogue/item.asp?item_code=8.555578

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Review

Naxos is to be congratulated for re-issuing this complete set of Boris Lyatoshynsky's five symphonies and the symphonic poem Grazhyna. The three individual discs were originally released in the 1990s on Marco Polo, a label founded to record rare and unknown repertoire. All the recordings are performed by the Ukrainian State Symphony Orchestra under American Theodore Kuchar - a prolific and enterprising conductor in the recording studio.

Although celebrated as the father of twentieth-century Ukrainian music Boris Lyatoshynsky will undoubtedly be a name new to many. Born in Zhytomyr, his compositional career spanned the vast majority of Soviet control in Ukraine and its resultant challenges and opportunities. Initially training at law school Lyatoshynsky later studied composition at the Kiev Conservatory under Reinhold Glière. In 1919, the same year he graduated at the Conservatory Lyatoshynsky started to teach there becoming a professor and lecturer. He was to stay there for the rest of his life. In addition he also spent around six years in 1935/38 and 1941/44 teaching at the Moscow Conservatory. Parallel to his lifelong teaching career he composed an considerable output which included five symphonies, a number of symphonic poems, other orchestral scores, film music, three operas, chamber music, songs, part-songs/cantatas and instrumental works.

Written in 1917/19 the three movement Symphony 1 in A major, Op. 2 did not receive its première until 1923 when it was conducted by Glière. Marked Molto lento the middle movement had been introduced as an independent work titled Lyric Poem in 1917 submitted as his graduation piece at the Kiev Conservatory. The First Symphony reminds me of a children’s fairytale in music with the lengthy opening movement brisk and edgy evoking a storm at sea. There's a contrasting calm central section which is like taking a peek into a magic forest. This atmospheric sense of an enchanted forest imbues the Molto lento second movement together as does distinct aqueous quality that could easily evoke the flowing of a small stream. The Finale opens to a blazing brass fanfare before subsiding to lyrical writing of a passionate quality. Overall the feel is rather heroic and reminded me of a sea voyage in squally weather. The work ends on a triumphant note. If I was reminded of another Soviet composer it was probably Nikolai Myaskovsky.

A much later work, the symphonic poem or as it is described here, a 'symphonic ballade' Grazhyna, Op. 58 was written in 1955 to mark the centenary of the death of great Polish poet Adam Mickiewicz. Described in the booklet notes as “one of Lyatoshynsky’s most accomplished works” It is a programmatic piece based on Mickiewicz’s narrative poem Grażyna which follows the adventures of the mythical Lithuanian female leader who fights against the Teutonic knights. An interesting and satisfying work, Grazhyna would make a splendid addition to the first half of a concert programme. It opens with mysterious rather chilling music amid swirling mists. Warlike episodes are followed by sections of intense passion. It concludes with a feeling of exhaustion say after the ending of a battle.

[...]

-- Michael Cookson, MusicWeb International

More reviews:
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2014/Dec14/Lyatoshynsky_sys_8555578.htm

http://www.classical.net/music/recs/reviews/n/nxs55578a.php

http://www.classicalmusicsentinel.com/KEEP/keep-lyatoshynsky.html

https://www.naxos.com/reviews/reviewslist.asp?catalogueid=8.555578&languageid=EN

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Boris Lyatoshinsky, or Lyatoshynsky (January 3, 1895 – April 15, 1968) was a Ukrainian composer, conductor, and teacher. He was a student of Reinhold Glière and a leading member of the new generation of twentieth-century Ukrainian composers. He wrote a variety of works, including five symphonies, symphonic poems, and several shorter orchestral and vocal works, two operas, chamber music, and a number of works for solo piano. His early compositions were greatly influenced by Scriabin and Rachmaninov, while his later musical style developed in a direction similar to Shostakovich.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Lyatoshinsky

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Theodore Kuchar (born May 31, 1963 in New York City) is a Ukrainian American conductor of classical music and a violist. He graduated from the Cleveland Institute of Music, and was principal violist in Cleveland, Helsinki and Cape Town. Kuchar was Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine from 1994 to 2000, recording over 60 compact discs for Naxos Records and its Marco Polo label. Kuchar has been Chief Conductor of the Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra since 2005, and Artistic Director of the Venezuela Symphony Orchestra since 2011.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodore_Kuchar

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