#1: Nikolaj Rimski-Korsakov, an encounter between the master and his pupils.
This episode we will be featuring the Russian composer Nikolaj Rimski-Korsakov, who not only was a celebrated composer but also an excellent educator. Two of his students are the composers Alexander Glazoenov and Igor Stravinsky.
Rimski-Korsakov was born into a noble family who enabled him to attend music education. It soon turned out that he was musically gifted but his parents thought he had better become a marine officer. In the meanwhile Rimski-Korsakov kept engaging himself with music. Around 1870 the group The Mighty Handful came into being, to which Rimski-Korsakov was a part. The company consisted – apart from Balakirev – of composers with no official musical background. They learned everything themselves.
Between 1889 and 1890 Rimski-Korsakov composed the opera ballet Mlada. The setting is about 1000 years ago. Princes Mlada is killed by her rival Voyslava who promises to care for Yaromir, the beloved of Mlada. The story is full of magic, demonic spirits and trips to the underworld. During the climax of the story the whole village is flooded by a lake and Yaromir and Mlada are seen, walking up on a rainbow.
Alexander Glazoenov is 13 years old when he goes to study with Rimski-Korsakov. Rimski-Korsakov is very impressed by the fast progression of his student Glazoenov. He says about this: "His musical development isn’t improving by day but even per hour". De master-pupil relationship doesn’t last for 2 years but the friendship remains until the death of Rimski-Korsakov in 1908.
As of 1903 Igor Stravinsky followed lessons of imski-Korsakov until his death in 1908. The Firebird Suite of Igor Stravinsky is a fairytale ballet in two scenes and was composed between 1909 and 1910. Stravinsky said that the influence of Rimski-Korsakov can be seen in The Firebird, mostly by the harmony and the orchestra tone that Rimski-Korsakov taught him.
The libretto of The Firebird is based on an old Russian fable. The evil wizard Kosjtsjei keeps a princess and her eleven ladies-in-waiting captive in a magic garden. When prince Ivan climbs over a wall he sees the beautiful firebird and catches her. The firebird is really the princes. She gives the prince one of her feathers and in return he sets her free. She promises to return when he is ever in danger. Ivan hides himself and watches the princes dancing. He falls in love with her. But then Kosjtsjei captures him. Ivan calls out for the firebird, who tells him how to destroy the evil wizard. He has to break a large egg with the soul of Kosjtsjei in it. The enchanted creatures of Kosjtsjei are now set free and they crown Ivan and the princes during a large feast king and queen.
In this programme you can listen to Mlada of Rimski-Korsakov, the violin concert in a, opus 82 of Alexander Glazoenov and The Firebird of Igor Stravinsky.
1. Nikolaj Rimski-Korsakov.
Mlada, Suite for orchestra.
Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin led by Michail Jurowski
Capriccio 10 776
2. Alexander Glazoenov
Violin concert in a, opus 82 (recording 1995).
Berliner Philharmoniker led by Claudio Abbado
Teldec 4509-90881-2
3. Igor Stravinsky
The Firebird Suite.
The NBC Symphony Orchestra led by Leopold Stokowski
Cala Records CACD0505
