Aria for Viola and Piano
Composed in 1975 by Evgeny Svetlanov, the Aria for Viola and Piano is a lyrical chamber piece that reflects the composer’s intimate, expressive side as both pianist and composer. Unlike Svetlanov’s larger orchestral works, this aria adopts the character of a vocal-inspired instrumental piece, centered on the viola’s warm, singing quality supported by a sensitive piano […]
24 Hours in the Village / Derevenskiye sutki
Composed in 1975, 24 Hours in the Village (Derevensliye sutki) is a chamber suite for wind quintet by Evgeny Svetlanov, offering a vivid musical portrayal of rural life unfolding over the course of a single day. The original Russian title refers specifically to a full twenty-four-hour cycle, a nuance that has led to multiple English […]
Concerto for piano and orchestra
Evgeny Svetlanov began composing his Piano Concerto in 1961, initially conceiving it as a large-scale work in three movements. After a long process of revision, the concerto ultimately took shape in a two-movement version, which the composer himself premiered fifteen years later as soloist — a testament to his exceptional stature not only as a […]
Symphony in B-minor
Evgeny Svetlanov composed his only symphony at the age of twenty-eight. A year earlier, he had graduated from the Moscow Conservatory in opera and symphonic conducting and composition, and had taken up a post as conductor at the Bolshoi Theatre. For his symphony, Svetlanov chose one of the most dramatic keys — B minor, the […]
Scenes of Spain, rhapsody No. 1
Svetlanov had a profound attachment to the traditions of the homeland of the corrida, to the origins and ideals of its national art. His fascination with the distinct character of Spanish culture is reflected in his music. “The Scenes of Spain” (ru : “Kartiny Ispanii”) struck me as vivid. It truly conveys a southern color, […]
Rememberence, postlude for a cappella choir, in memory of Alexander Yurlov
Evgeny Svetlanov was a contemporary of the outstanding choral conductor Alexander Yurlov, whose name is linked with an entire era in Soviet choral art. Yurlov rapidly transformed the Choral Chapel into a refined ensemble capable of performing the most demanding repertoire — from Brahms, Britten, and Stravinsky to Schnittke, Shostakovich, and especially Sviridov, who entrusted […]
Daugava, symphonic poem for orchestra
The symphonic poem “Daugava” is Maestro Svetlanov’s first orchestral composition, written while still a third-year student at the Moscow Conservatory. The work was first performed in March 1953 at the Leningrad (Saint Petersburg) Conservatory. The Daugava is the largest river in Latvia, flowing from Russia through Belarus before reaching Riga and the Gulf of Riga. […]
Kalina Krasnaya (The Red Guelder-Rose), symphonic poem
“Kalina Krasnaya” (The Red Guelder-Rose, or The Red Snowball Tree) was composed by Evgeny Svetlanov in 1975 as a memorial tribute to Vasily Shukshin (1929–1974), the distinguished film director, writer, and actor, who died prematurely at the age of forty-five. The work derives its title from Shukshin’s final film “The Red Snowball Tree” (ru: Kalina […]
Poem for Violin and Orchestra In Memory of David Oistrakh
The friendship between Evgeny Svetlanov and David Oistrakh was profound. When the great violinist passed away on October 24, 1974, Svetlanov was deeply moved. He composed the Poem for Violin and Piano as a heartfelt tribute to Oistrakh’s artistry and his exceptional human qualities. The Poem in Memory of David Oistrakh is a highly dramatic […]