Rimsky-Korsakov Russian Easter Festival Ouverture, Op.36 - Koussevitzky

Rimsky-Korsakov: Russian Easter Festival Ouverture, Op.36
Boston Symphony Orchestra,
Sergei Koussevitzky, conductor
Historical live recording, 31 March 1945
Pictures: Russian Resurrection Icons
Russian Easter Festival Overture, Op. 36 (Svetliy prazdnik, also known as The Great Russian Easter Overture) is a concert overture written by the Russian composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov between August 1887 and April 1888, and dedicated to the memories of Modest Mussorgsky and Alexander Borodin, two members of the legendary "Mighty Handful." It is subtitled "Overture on Liturgical Themes." It is the last of the composer's series of three exceptionally brilliant orchestral works, preceded by Capriccio Espagnol and Scheherazade. The work received its premiere in St. Petersburg in late December 1888.
The tunes in the overture are largely from the Russian Orthodox liturgy, based on a collection of old Russian Orthodox liturgical chant called the Obikhod.
In this overture, the composer, as he says in his autobiography, is eager to reproduce "the legendary and heathen aspect of the holiday, and the transition from the solemnity and mystery of the evening of Passion Saturday to the unbridled pagan-religious celebrations of Easter Sunday morning". Rimsky-Korsakov always had a great interest in - and enjoyment of - liturgical themes and music, though he was himself a non-believer.
en.wikipedia.or...

[@dragonmaster819]

Some of Russia's finest orchestral music...written by one of Russia's finest composers. Thank you for posting this!

[@1976theusafband]

I really liked this recording. Lucien Hansotte did a fine job on the second trombone solo. The trombone section was Jacob Raichman, Hansotte, and my teacher, John Coffey on bass trombone. It's different style than we would hear now a days, but very good. Thank you for posting this rare recording. What a treat!

[@corrado1675]

Musica immortale. Grande compositore e grande esecuzione.

[@corrado1675]

Ho ascoltato questo brano fin da piccolo e con grande piacere. Lo considero un capolavoro. Sono cresciuto con l'esecuzione del direttore Massimo Freccia a cui poi se ne sono aggiunte moltissime altre. le mie preferite sono questa di Kussevitzky, poi di Svetlanov (diverse), di Markevitch, di Ansermet. Grazie per aver messo a disposizione il pezzo.

[@my35Xvision]

This is so wonderful and so rare record. Thank you very much for this, Mark.