Download
part of track

I
III

Buy


Catalogue

Available
Albums

Contact Us

     Sergei Rachmaninov started working on "Bells" (verses by Edgar Poe translated into Russian by Konstantin Balmont) in spring of 1913, in Rome.  On March 27, 1913, the clavier of "Bells" was completed.  The score was finished in Ivankovka, Russia, on July 27 of the same year.  Soon after that, the first concert performance of the "Poem for orchestra, chorus and soloists" (composer called it this way) took place.
     Rachmaninov conducted "Bells" at the premiere – first in St. Petersburg (November 30, 1913), then in Moscow (February 8, 1914).
     "Bells" is one of the most outstanding compositions of the 20th century.  It consists of four movements dedicated to four periods of human life: serene, hilarious green years; happy, bursting with love youth; mature years filled with fight and suffering and the tragic finale – death.  Bells change their character gaining new meaning in the upcoming movements.
     "Spring", cantata for baritone, chorus and orchestra, was written in 1902.  Lyrics: "Green Noise" by Nikolai Nekrasov.  In some respects, this composition is related to the "Spring Waters" romance.
     The USSR People’s Artist, Lenin prize winning conductor Evgeni Svetlanov, was educated at the Gnessin Pedagogical Institute of Music, then at the Moscow Conservatory both in the class of composition (under Professor Yu. Shaporin) and conducting (under Professor A. Gauk).   Svetlanov worked with the USSR Radio Symphony Orchestra, later took over the USSR Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra and since 1965 he has been Chief Conductor of the USSR Symphony Orchestra.

Alexei Maslennikov, tenor (1:1)
Galina Pisarenko, soprano (1:2)
Sergei Yakovenko, baritone (1:4, II)
Yurlov Russian Choir
Artistic directors - Yuri Ukhov (I), Stanislav Gusev (II)
The USSR Symphony Orchestra
Conductor - Evgeni Svetlanov

Design by Evgeni Kostitsyn