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Donald Macleod explores Rimsky-Korsakov鈥檚 relationship with the sea, which progressed from a childhood obsession to a naval career, alongside evocations of the ocean in his music.

Donald Macleod delves into the life and work of one of the most important Russian composers of his age 鈥 Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. Rimsky-Korsakov鈥檚 music is filled with lush orchestration and hints of orientalism and folk music. These elements and his role as a leading member of 鈥淭he Mighty Handful鈥 of composers who sought to forge a truly nationalistic music has led him to be regarded as the main architect of the Russian style of composition we know today. In Monday鈥檚 episode, Donald explores Rimsky-Korsakov's relationship with the sea, which began as a childhood obsession, before an early naval career, and a civilian job as Inspector of Russia鈥檚 Naval Bands brought him into closer proximity to the ocean. Donald also ponders what the ocean represented for Rimsky and for his largely landlocked Russian audience, alongside the various evocations of the sea in his music.

By the Sea, Op 46: The Wave Breaks into a Spray
Dmitri Hvorostovsky, baritone
Mikhail Arkadiev, piano

Scheherazade (I. The Sea and Sinbad鈥檚 Ship)
Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra
Mariss Jansons, conductor

From Homer Op.60
Svetlana Sizova, mezzo-soprano
Tatiana Fedotova, soprano
Chorus of the Moscow Academy of Choral Art & Moscow Symphony Orchestra
Vladimir Ziva, conductor

Symphony No 1 (II. Andante tranquillo)
Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra
Neeme J盲rvi, conductor

Sadko, Op. 6
L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande
Ernest Ansermet, conductor

Trombone Concerto (I. Allegro Vivace)
Christian Lindberg, trombone
Kosei Wind Orchestra
Chikara Imamura, conductor

Produced by Sam Phillips for 大象传媒 Wales

59 minutes

Music Played

  • Nicolay Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov

    By the Sea, Op 46, No 1: The Wave Breaks into a Spray

    Performer: 袦懈褏邪懈谢 袗谢械泻褋邪薪写褉芯胁懈褔 袗褉泻邪写褜械胁. Singer: Dmitri Hvorostovsky.
    • PHILIPS 4425362.
    • PHILIPS.
    • 9.
  • Nicolay Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov

    Sheherazade, Op 35: I. The Sea and Sinbad's Ship

    Orchestra: Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Mariss Jansons.
    • EMI 3508242.
    • EMI.
    • 4.
  • Nicolay Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov

    From Homer, Op 60

    Singer: Svetlana Sizova. Singer: Tatiana Fedotova. Choir: Moscow Choral Academy Choir. Orchestra: The Moscow Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Vladimir Ziva.
    • BRILLIANT CLASSICS 94495.
    • BRILLIANT CLASSICS.
    • 1.
  • Nicolay Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov

    Symphony No 1 (Andante tranquillo)

    Orchestra: Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Neeme J盲rvi.
    • DG 4236042.
    • DG.
    • 1.
  • Nicolay Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov

    Sadko, Op. 6

    Orchestra: Orchestre de la Suisse Romande. Conductor: Ernest Ansermet.
    • BELART 4501322.
    • BELART.
    • 5.
  • Nicolay Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov

    Trombone Concerto (I. Allegro vivace)

    Performer: Christian Lindberg. Orchestra: Kosei Wind Orchestra. Conductor: Chikara Imamura.
    • BIS BISCD848.
    • BIS.
    • 3.

Broadcast

  • Mon 17 Dec 2018 12:00

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