Gubaidulina receives Boston world premiere
mainFrom Boston Classical Review:
The Russian composer’s Triple Concerto was given its world premiere Thursday night at Symphony Hall by Andris Nelsons and the Boston Symphony Orchestra…
The Triple Concerto is cast in a single unbroken movement spanning a half hour. Instead of the glistening textures of Offertorium, Gubaidulina’s new work is cast in darkness. Basses and brasses growl. Colors between the three solo instruments—violin, cello, and bayan—and the orchestra transform slowly. Harmonies shift like images in a kaleidoscope….
Read on here.
Andris Nelsons congratulates Sofia Gubaidulina following the Boston Symphony Orchestra world premiere of her Triple Concerto Thursday night. Photo: Winslow Townson
I hope that this will be recorded before too long. I’m currently enjoying her wonderful work Fachwerk, for bayan, percussion, and strings.
The third performance is posted on YouTube (at least for the moment).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UI9e03qdTQs
An impressive and original work….. although you never know what is going to happen next, it all hangs together. It has nothing to do with the term ‘concerto’ but is an atmospheric piece, a sort of linear impressionism, entirely tonal, with a thrown-in triad here & there which functions as an ‘object’, without connection with its environment through voice leading. Although I have difficulty with the easy chromaticism ( = ‘Russian Emotion!!!’) and the asthmatic breathing of the bayan which sounds like an isolated contribution from a horror movie sound track, it is obviously authentic and very expressive music, with a tonality as if seen from outside the existing repertoire – a bit like how a marsian would compose after attending a couple of Mahler concerts. Yet, the lady deserves accolades…. and more performances…. In spite of my thorough personal dislike, I would recommend it to all orchestras who are committed to renewing their repertoire with really substantial pieces.
Speaking of “thorough personal dislike”, two cellists in the picture above seem to share that sentiment.
Thanks for the link. Gubaidulina is one of few living composers whose music I really enjoy.