Symphony No. 1:
Latvian National Symphony Orchestra
Imants Resnis (conductor)
Recording: 1980
Latgalian Landscapes:
Latvian National Symphony Orchestra
Janis Zirnis (conductor)
Recording: 1982
Symphony No 2:
Latvian National Symphony Orchestra
Vassily Sinaisky (conductor)
Recording: 1981
Campion CAMEO 2008
Thanks to the blessed Campion for their superb Ivanovs series. This consists of 12 CDs of which volumes 1, 2 and 3 are already available along with a violin concerto of such gloriously memorable melodic value that I cannot begin to understand why it is not played by the world's greatest - Joshua Bell should be playing it this year at the Proms instead of the Walton but then a similar pall of neglect hangs over other treasurable violin concertos including the De Boeck and Karlowicz.
The single movement No. 1 poema-sinfonia was thought to be lost but has now been traced. This is its world premiere recording. At 3:10 the music sounds incredibly Baxian (Fand) and there is more than a hint of Khachaturyan; not to mention a filmic, yearning theme of Tchaikovskian character. Sibelian woodwind chiff chaff breezily (5:14) and in the last section (from 7.90) it is Balakirev's wild revels from Symphony No. 1 or Tamara that seem to be the inspiration. Despite the hotchpotch of other composer references the work does have a character of its own and is attractive without being especially symphonically compelling.
The suite Latgalian Landscapes relates to Latgale in Eastern Latvia - the homeland of Janis Ivanovs. The introduction is rhapsodic, prompting parallels with the music of both Miaskovsky and Bax. The ambience at the end of the first movement was cut off too quickly I thought. The second movement: Blue Lake has been played separately. It is a little like Debussy and this voice (of which more was to come in Symphony No. 4) includes shuddering dialogues between winds and strings. It is superbly sumptuous and can be compared, as a mood evocation, with Maurice Johnstone's Tarn Howes (wonderfully done on the superb new ASV collection). In passing there is at least one section where the Spartacus Adagio by Khachaturyan is more than hinted at. This recording has a natural stereo spread. The final dance is jerkily inconsequential, with touches of Oriental freneticism and a 'Hollywood' soft centre.
The score and parts for Symphony No 2 were lost for years; the only copy was thought to have been destroyed in the World War 2 bombing of the Latvian Radio library. Ivanovs used themes from the symphony in his film music for The Late Frost. It was not included in the Melodiya LP series.
The work has an austere, almost grim romance which is very accessible. Miaskovsky must have been an influence (try 8:09 onwards on track 5). The first of the three movements has a theme with 'long legs' which is well handled and ends in conventionally crashing celebration. The Andante has a cloud-capped atmosphere and misty romance. A big passionate climax crowns the movement at 8.20. The tune is ruefully sung in liquid tones by the solo French horn at circa 9.42. The finale Grotesques is a stertorous gallop (6.43): alternately Franckian and Sibelian. It climaxes in a corruscating shimmer.
The excellent booklet runs to 20pp in English, German and French. If you like the music of Tchaikovsky you will like these frankly late-romantic melodic works.
The series also draws attention to Latvia in a postcard insert in back of jewel case.
I am following this series with eager and close interest. If you warm at all to Northern climes' late romanticism do not miss this disc under any circumstances.
Rob Barnett, MusicWeb, July 1999