Vissarion Shebalin: Orchestral Music, Volume One
Like his close friend and colleague Dmitry Shostakovich, Vissarion Shebalin (1902-63) knew a life of both celebrity and hardship: he was another of the composers condemned in the infamous 1948 Party congress in Moscow, and in later life he fought to overcome a series of crippling strokes. But his personality remained undaunted, as his music resolutely proves. This is the first recording of his First Suite for Orchestra and the first appearance on CD of the Second, both of them prepared from theatre music, and showing the lighter side of Shebalin's symphonic music. They have been recorded by the orchestra of his home town, Omsk, the capital of Siberia.
Siberian Symphony Orchestra, orchestra
Dmitry Vasilyev, conductor
Listen To This Recording:
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Orchestral Suite No. 1, Op. 18 (1934–36)
- No. 1 Funeral March
- No. 2 Dance
- No. 3 Slow Waltz
- No. 4 Dance
- No. 5 Song
- No. 6 Waltz
- No. 1 Waltz
- No. 2 Tarantella
- No. 3 Slow Waltz
- No. 4 Bolero
- No. 5 Romantic Waltz
- No. 6 Potpourri
- No. 7 Romance without Words
- No. 8 Galop
Orchestral Suite No. 2, Op. 22 (1962)
The Infodad Team :
‘On the basis of the recording by the Siberian Symphony Orchestra under Dmitry Vasiliev – the first this work has ever received – Shebalin had as sure a sense of theater as did Shostakovich himself.… Like Suite No. 1, this is a disconnected work rather than a closely integrated one, but also like the first suite, it shows considerable skill in orchestration and close attention to theatrical effectiveness. This is the first volume of Shebalin’s music from Toccata Classics, and it certainly whets the appetite for more.’
—InfoDad
NPR Deceptive Cadence Blog :
‘Conductor Dmitry Vasiliev leads the Siberian Symphony Orchestra (from Shebalin’s hometown of Omsk) with performances that bubble with energy in the animated numbers, but are sensitive and passionate in the introspective ones.’
—Bob McQuiston, NPR Deceptive Cadence Blog
MusicWeb International :
‘…Although Shebalin was a friend of Shostakovich one detects little of his influence. The writing feels rather more comparable to the sound-worlds of a previous generation: namely Glazunov, Myaskovsky and Gliere whose music Shebalin would have known intimately. …The two orchestral suites make little demand on the listener’s concentration yet are immediately engaging. After the first couple of plays I found the First Orchestra Suite, Op. 18 the more compelling of the two. It has some really engaging and memorable melodies with an abundance of contrasting colours and textures. …The orchestra rewards its artistic director and chief conductor Dmitry Vasiliev with alert playing of vitality and substantial expressive character. Impeccably prepared by Vasiliev the unison of the orchestra is evident. Unquestionably this is a marvellous orchestra… Enjoyable from the first to last these examples of Shebalin’s music deserve increased exposure and with a recording as splendid as this from the Siberian Symphony Orchestra it could hardly receive finer advocacy.’
—Michael Cookson, MusicWeb International
Classics Today :
‘…Containing six and eight movements respectively, the two suites resemble Shostakovich’s music for theater orchestra and for the cinema. There is a funeral march, a tarantella, bolero, gallop, romance, a couple of pieces simply marked “dance”, and several waltzes. …Dmitry Vasiliev leads his players with conviction and admirable directness.’
—David Hurwitz, Classics Today
Wordpress Team :
‘Did you know that Shostakovich dedicated his 2nd String Quartet to Vissarion Shebalin? I hadn’t heard of the man until I received a recent release from Toccata Classics through their USA distributor Naxos of America. Founded in 2007 by Martin Anderson, the business plan of the company was releasing obscure, neglected, and material for the first time. Such was the case with Shebalin’s two orchestral suites as neither had been available on CD. Born in Omsk Siberia Shebalin (1902–1963) became a student of Gliere, Myaskovsky, and Shostakovich. Having read the liner notes prior to my first listen, with the background Vissarion had I knew I was going to like this material and I wasn’t disappointed.’
—Wordpress Team
Classical Lost and Found :
‘Except perhaps for dedicated Russophiles, this composer is most likely be a welcome new discovery. He was a student of Nikolay Myaskovsky, highly respected by Prokofiev and a close friend of Shostakovich. […]
Conductor Dmitry Vasiliev leads the Siberian Symphony Orchestra (from Shebalin’s hometown of Omsk) with performances that bubble with energy in the animated numbers, but are sensitive and passionate in the introspective ones.’
—Bob McQuiston, Classical Lost and Found
Fanfare Magazine :
‘A worthwhile release’
—Gavin Dixon, Fanfare Magazine, July/August 2013
Fanfare Magazine :
‘Dmitri Vasiliev has exactly the theatrical measure of this music, [the orchestra] has plenty of drive, discipline, and clarity, under its conductor’s capable hands. […]
Strongly recommended. […] this is the best way to get a sense of what Shebalin was capable of.’
—Barry Brenesal, Fanfare Magazine, July/August 2013