August 10, 2015

  • Naxos Re-Issues Ippolitov-Ivanov Symphony

     

    Ippolitov-Ivanov: Symphony No. 1
    Singapore Symphony Orchestra/Choo Hoey
    Naxos 8.573508
    Total Time:  55:50
    Recording:   ****/****
    Performance: ****/****

     

    Mikail Ippolitov-Ivanov (1859-1935) is perhaps best known today for his Caucasian Sketches (1894).  He was a student of Rimsky-Korsakov and some of that orchestral technique is always a part of the display of the composer.  However, Ippolitov-Ivanov ended up heading to Tblisi, Georgia, in 1882 and during that period he began exploring local folk music.  These melodies would find ways to enter into his larger scale works.

    The Symphony No. 1 in e, Op. 46 was composed in 1908.  The first movement is fresh sounding, though still firmly rooted in the previous century.  At some fourteen minutes, the first movement feels overlong, though its arching melody is surely quite beautiful in a meandering Tchaikovsky-like style.  The “Scherzo” bubbles along with rapid strings and little swells.  Some of the wit of this movement is carried off very well with excellent wind playing.  The most interesting aspect of the work is the third movement “Elegia” which at times recalls Orthodox liturgical style with a little Rimsky-Korsakov.  A folk-song like idea also makes up part of the final movements style with some additionally “Russian” wind writing.

    As part of the burgeoning studies of folk music in regions of Eastern Europe and the regions of what is now Turkey, Ippolitov-Ivanov created to rather unique works.  The first of these is a Turkish March, Op. 55 (1932) with its subtle hints at Turkish melody. It serves as a sort of encore closing off the disc.  More substantial though is a set of Turkish Fragments, Op. 62.  These four movements using ideas of Turkish origin and even include the use of oriental drums.  The enlarged percussion section, even adding xylophone, also makes this evocative music further interesting.  The “Caravan” feels a almost Jewish in flavor at first with a touch of Rimsky-Korsakov romanticism.

    This release is a re-issue of a 1992 Marco Polo issue (8.220217) that for many years was the sole recording of the symphony.  Naxos is bringing this back into circulation which is a good thing for those interesting in exploring the composer’s work.  The Singapore Symphony is conducted here by their founder, Choo Hoey, in what was still the early days of the orchestra (it was founded in 1979).  The sound is a bit dry, but the richness lies in the music enough to compensate.  Intonation in high string packages works very well (though is a bit tenuous in the symphony finale at times)—though at times the strings feel too far forward in the imaging of the sound.  That said, balance overall still works quite well and the performances are confident and engaging.