Tagged with 'Rodion Shchedrin'

Mstislav Rostropovitch once described Rodion Shchedrin as ‘the king of the modern orchestra’, an individual who upheld the legacy and high art of instrumentation of his early advocate Dmitri Shostakovitch to a greater degree than any other subsequent composer from his Russian homeland. On 16 December, he turns 90. 

On 1 February, in celebration of the Beethoven’s 250 Anniversary in 2020, the Sibelius Academy Orchestra conducted by Sakari Oramo will perform Rodion Shchedrin’s Beethovens Heiligenstädter Testament. The concert, which will conclude the Sibafest in Helsinki, will also feature music by Kaija Saariaho and Mahler.

In 1802, Beethoven wrote a letter to his brothers, Karl and Johann, describing the effects of his advancing deafness. “Oh you men who think or say that I am malevolent, stubborn, or misanthropic, how greatly do you wrong me. You do not know the secret cause which makes me seem that way to you”. These words formed the opening of what has since became known as the Heiligenstädter Testament.

Rodion Shchedrin - Beethovens Heiligenstädter Testament

Shchedrin’s work was originally commissioned as an overture for the Sinfonieorchester des Beyerischen Rundfunks in 2008 and forms a poignant reflection on Beethoven’s testimony.

If the composer is possessed by an emotion, a thought or an idea of the human sound, then is born a work, which can inspire all of them who touch it. – Rodion Shchedrin

On 21 and 23 February the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de México conducted by James Burton will perform Shchedrin’s Beethovens Heiligenstädter Testament for the first time in México. On 9 February, another of Shchedrin’s Beethoven-related works, a prelude to Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 will be performed by Bielefelder Philharmoniker. Shchedrin’s Praeludium alludes to motifs, tonal colours, and harmonies heard in Beethoven’s symphony.

• Rodion Shchedrin – Profil


• Beethovens Heiligenstädter Testament – Work Details, Online-Score and Audio Stream


• Sibelius Academy Symphony Orchestra

The Munich Philharmonic celebrates Russian composer Rodion Shchedrin’s 85^th birthday with a concert performance of his opera The Enchanted Wanderer at the Philharmonie in Munich on 19 and 20 December with conductor Valery Gergiev.

Inspired by Nikolai Leskov’s classic Russian novel of the same title, the complex story details the eventful life of Ivan who after accidentally killing a monk, is captured by Tartars and forced into military service. He resigns himself to certain death as a soldier, however fate intervenes and he becomes a servant to a Prince. Tasked with managing the royal treasury, Ivan falls in love with the gypsy dancer Grusha and courts her using the Prince’s funds. Grusha, in turn, is in love with the Prince, but their affair is short lived and the Prince soon marries another woman. Broken hearted, Grusha meets Ivan on a high cliff edge and deplores him to kill her so she is not tempted to murder the Prince and his new bride. As proof of his love Ivan pushes Grusha into the sea then joins a monastery to atone for his sins.

Rodion Shchedrin – The Enchanted Wanderer: the pull of fate

Shchedrin’s music takes his audience into the heart of old Russia. The Enchanted Wanderer features shepherd’s folk songs, drinking songs and traditional Russian melodies. Each soloist sings multiple roles and the work is well suited to a concert staging.

Some people may find the number of different strands excessive, but the opera genre (albeit for the concert stage) allows me to present Lsekov’s extended and colourful story using sharper contrasts than, say, a symphony would. I hope that the audience will follow the narrative with unflagging interest, be caught up in Leskov’s story, and feel sympathy and compassion for the characters and their fate. – Rodion Shchedrin

Shchedrin’s opera A Christmas Tale will also be performed this month on 23 December in St. Petersburg, and his birthday celebrations continue at the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall in Moscow with a portrait concert.

• Rodion Shchedrin - profile


• The Enchanted Wanderer - workdetails