Georgy Sviridov

Internet Edition compiled by Onno van Rijen

Updated 23 May 2006

Born

16 December 1915 in Fatezh/Kursk (between Moscow and Kiev). Died on 5 January 1998 in Moscow.

Education

At Children's Music School in Kursk from 1929-1932 (piano). At Central Music College in Leningrad from 1932-1936 (composition under Yudina). At Leningrad Conservatory from 1936-1941 (composition under Dmitri Shostakovich).

Principal Works

Vocal/choral music (romances; lyrics; songs, choruses; oratorio; cantata; concertos for chorus; etc.), chamber music (trio; piano pieces), orchestral music.

Style

Sviridov has long represented a retrospective pernicious side of Soviet Music. Most of his music is vocal or choral, inspired by traditional Russian music. Some love his music because of the intensity of his identification with his chosen models. Others dislike his music for its political implications or for its grotesque naivety and consider his music as an appalling example of generalised kitsch.

Works

Seven Small Pieces for piano (1934-1935)
LP Melodiya C10 17129-30: V. Bunin (piano)
Six Romances on Texts by Pushkin for voice and piano (1935)
CD Delos DE 3311: Dmitri Hvorostovsky (baritone), Mikhail Arkadiev (piano)
Symphony No. 1 (1937)

Seven Songs after Lermontov (1938)

Piano Concerto No. 1 (1936-1939)

Chamber Symphony for strings (1940)

CD Onyx 4007: Moscow Soloists, Yuri Bashmet (cond)
Three Songs after Alexander Blok (1941)

Piano Concerto No. 2 (1942)

"Othello", incidental music after Shakespeare (1942)

"Shakespeare-Suite" for singer and piano (1944)

"Songs of a Pedestrian" after various old-chinese poets for bass and orchestra (1942-1943)

Piano Sonata (1944)

LP Melodiya CM 03141-2: R. Kerer (piano)
CD Altarus: Nikita Fitenko (piano)
Piano Trio (1945)
Revised 1955.
LP Melodiya CM 03141-2: V. Pikaizen (violin), L. Evgrafov (cello), R. Kerer (piano)
CD Olympia OCD 540: O. Kolgatina (violin), A. Rudin (cello), M. Butir (piano)
String Quartet No. 1 (1945-1946)

Two Partitas for piano (1946)

Revised in 1957 and 1960.
LP Melodiya C10 19487: (Partita in F minor) A. Ugorsky (piano)
LP Melodiya C10 17129-30: (Partita in F minor) V. Bunin (piano)
CD Altarus: Nikita Fitenko (piano)
String Quartet No. 2 (1947)

Children's Album, seventeen pieces for piano (1948)

Revised in 1957.
LP Melodiya C10 19487: (Ten pieces) A. Ugorsky (piano)
CD Altarus: Nikita Fitenko (piano)
Symphony No. 2 (1949)
Unfinished.
"Country of My Fathers", poem after A. Issaakian for tenor and bas with piano accompagniment (1949-1950)

"Bright Lights", operetta in three acts after L. Sacharov and S. Poloski (1951)

"Ruy Blas", serenade (1952)

Songs after Burns for bass and piano (1955)

"The Decembrists", oratorio (1955)

Poem to the Memory of Sergei Yesenin, oratorio for tenor, mixed chorus and orchestra (1956)

LP Melodiya C10 05799: Leningrad Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, Yurlov Russian Choir, Yu.Temirkanov (cond), A. Maslennikov (tenor)
CD Melodiya SUCD 10-00215: Leningrad Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, Yurlov Russian Choir, Yu.Temirkanov (cond), A. Maslennikov (tenor)
"My Father is a Farmer", song cycle after Yessenin for tenor and baritone with piano accompagniment (1957)

"Suburb-Lyrics", seven songs after A. Prokofiev and M. Issakovsky for singer and piano (1938-1958)

Eight Romances to words by Lermontov for bass and piano (1957-1958)

Five Choruses to Lyrics by Russian Poets (1958)

LP Melodiya C10 18857: Leningrad A Capella Chorus, V. Chernushenko (cond)
CD Melodiya SUCD 10-00215: Leningrad M. Glinka Choir, V. Chernushenko (cond)
Pathetic Oratorio after Mayakovsky for bass, mezzo-soprano, mixed chorus and orchestra (1959)
CD Koch International 3-7017-2: Varna PO, A. Andreev (cond), A. Vassilev (bass)
CD Melodiya SUCD 10-00216: Moscow Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, Russian Chamber Choir, K. Kondrashin (cond), N. Isakova (mezzo-soprano), A. Vedernikov (bass)
CD Relief CR 991053: Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra of Moscow Radio, Grand Choir of USSR Radio and Television, Vladimir Fedoseyev (cond), Raisa Kotova (mezzo-soprano), Alexander Vedernikov (bass)
Song about Lenin ("We Don't believe") after Mayakovsky for bass, mixed chorus and orchestra (1960)

"St. Petersburg Songs" for soprano, mezzo-soprano, baritone, bass, violin, cello and piano (1961-1963)

CD Olympia OCD 540: N. Gerasimova (soprano), T. Vinogradova (mezzo-soprano), Vasilev, M. Butir (piano), etc.
"A Voice from the Chorus", monolog after A. Blok for bass and piano (1963)

"Songs of Kursk", cantata after folktexts for mixed chorus and orchestra (1964)

CD Beaux: Moscow State Chamber Choir, V. Minin (cond)
CD Melodiya MELCD 10-00647: Moscow Chamber Choir and Instrumental Ensemble, V. Minin (cond)
"Wooden Russia", cantate after Yessenin for tenor, men's chorus and orchestra (1964)
LP Melodiya 1943-3542: Moscow Radio Large SO, RSFSR Yurlov Academic Chorus, Maslennikov (tenor), G. Rozhdestvensky
LP Melodiya C10 22641: (Four Songs) V. Piavko (tenor), A. Sevidov (piano)
CD Melodiya MELCD 10-00647: Large Symphony Orchestra of the All Union Radio, Russian State Choir, G. Rozhdestvensky (cond), A. Maslennikov (tenor)
Triptych, a small symphony for orchestra (1964)
LP Melodiya CM 1943-3542: Moscow Radio Large SO, G. Rozhdestvensky
CD Olympia OCD 520: Ostankino SO, V. Fedoseyev (cond)
Music for chamber orchestra (1964)
For nine violins, three violas, three cellos, double-bass, horn and piano.
LP Melodiya C10 11533-4: Leningrad Orchestra of Old and Modern Music, E. Serov (cond)
CD Boheme CDBMR 911108: Russian Philharmonic SO, Alexander Vedernikov (cond)
CD Melodiya SUCD 10-00216: Moscow Chamber Orchestra, R. Barshai (cond)
CD Olympia OCD 540: Musica Viva Chamber Orchestra, A. Rudin (cond)
Music to the Film "Snow Storm" after Pushkin (1964)

"Sad Songs", small cantata after A. Blok for mezzo-soprano, female chorus and orchestra (1962-1965)

"It's Snowing" small cantata after B. Pasternak for female chorus, boys'chorus and orchestra (1965)

LP Melodiya C10 11533-4: Leningrad Chamber & Boys'Chorus, Leningrad Orchestra of Old and Modern Music, E. Serov (cond)
LP Melodiya CM 1943-3542: Moscow Large SO, RSFSR Yurlov Academic Chorus, G. Rozhdestvensky (cond)
CD Boheme CDBMR 911108: Russian Philharmonic SO, Choir of Moscow Children's Musical School No. 109, Moscow New Choir, Alexander Vedernikov (cond)
CD Melodiya MELCD 10-00647: Large Symphony Orchestra of the All Union Radio, Russian State Choir, Moscow Boys Chorus of the Gnesin Institute, G. Rozhdestvensky (cond)
CD Olympia OCD 520: Ostankino SO, Women's Chorus, Spring Children's Chorus, V. Fedoseyev (cond)
Music to the Film "Time, Forward!" (1967)
CD Boheme CDBMR 911108: Russian Philharmonic SO, Alexander Vedernikov (cond)
"Time, Forward!", suite of the film score (1967)
LP Melodiya C10 06383: USSR TV and Radio Large SO, V. Fedoseyev (cond)
CD Melodiya MELCD 10-00647: USSR TV and Radio Large Symphony Orchestra, V. Fedoseyev (cond)
CD Melodiya SUCD 10-00216: USSR TV and Radio Large Symphony Orchestra, V. Fedoseyev (cond)
Two Choruses after S. Yessenin (1967)
CD DG: Moscow State Chamber Choir, V. Minin (cond)
"Five Songs about Russia", oratorio after Blok for soprano, mezzo-soprano, baritone, bass, mixed chorus and orchestra (1967)

"Four Folksongs" for chorus and orchestra (1971)

"Spring Cantata" after Nekrassov for mixed chorus and orchestra (1972)

LP Melodiya C10 06461-2: USSR Radio and TV Large SO, Republican Academic Russian A Capella Chorus, V. Fedoseyev (cond)
Concerto in Memory of A.A. Yurlov for unaccompanied mixed chorus (1973)
LP Melodiya C10 06461: USSR Radio and TV Large SO, Republican Academic Russian A Capella Chorus, V. Fedoseyev (cond)
CD DG: Moscow State Chamber Choir, V. Minin (cond)
CD Russian Compact Disc RCD 13005: Moscow Chamber Choir, Vladimir Minin (cond)
Music to the Play "Tsar Fjodor Ioannovich" after Tolstoi (1973)
Duration: 11 minutes.
LP Melodiya C10 06461-2: (Choruses) USSR Radio and TV Large SO, Republican Academic Russian A Capella Chorus, V. Fedoseyev (cond)
CD Hyperion CDA 66928: (Three Choruses) Holst Singers, Stephen Layton (cond)
CD Olympia OCD 520: (Three Choruses) Ostankino SO, Yurlov State Chorus, V. Fedoseyev (cond)
CD Russian Compact Disc RCD 13005: Moscow Chamber Choir, Vladimir Minin (cond)
"The Birch of Life", cantata after A. Blok for mezzo-soprano and orchestra (1974)

Three Miniatures for solovoices and mixed chorus (1972-1975)

LP Melodiya C10 06461-2: Republican Academic Russian A Capella Chorus, V. Fedoseyev (cond)
"Snow Storm", musical illustrations after Pushkin for orchestra (1975)
LP Melodiya C10 06383: USSR TV and Radio Large SO, V. Fedoseyev (cond)
CD Melodiya MELCD 10-00214: USSR TV and Radio Large Symphony Orchestra, V. Fedoseyev (cond)
CD Olympia OCD 520: Ostankino SO, V. Fedoseyev (cond)
"Songs of Petersburg" after A. Blok for bass and piano (1975)
CD Delos DE 3311: Dmitri Hvorostovsky (baritone), Mikhail Arkadiev (piano)
Three Pieces from "Children's Album" for mixed chorus a cappella (1975)
Transcription of Children's Album, seventeen pieces for piano (1948)
LP Melodiya C10 11533-4: Moscow Chamber Vhorus, V. Minin (cond)
"The Friendly Guest", cantata after Yessenin for solovoices, chorus and orchestra (1971-1976)

"Ode to Lenin" after R. Rozhdestvensky for narrator, chorus and large orchestra (1976)

"Cast of Russia", poem after Sergei Yessenin for tenor and piano (1977)

LP Melodiya C10 22641: V. Piavko (tenor), A. Sevidov (piano)
CD Melodiya SUCD 10-00216: E. Obraztsova (mezzo-soprano), G. Sviridov (piano)
CD Northern Flowers NF 9933: Ludmilla Shkirtil (mezzo-soprano), Yuri Serov (piano)
CD Opus 111 CD OPS 30-235: Lina Mkrtchian (contra-alto), Evgeny Talisman (piano)
CD Philips 446 666-2: Dmitri Hvorostovsky (baritone), Mikhail Arkadiev (piano)
Hymns to the Motherland for chorus (1978)
LP Melodiya C10 18857: Leningrad A Capella Chorus, V. Chernushenko (cond)
Twenty-five Choruses for bass and piano (1939-1979)

"Pushkin's Garland", choral concerto on verses by Alexander Pushkin (1979)

Duration: 39 minutes.
LP Melodiya C10 18857: (Three Poems) Leningrad A Capella Chorus, V. Chernushenko (cond)
CD DG: Moscow State Chamber Choir, V. Minin (cond)
CD Melodiya MELCD 10-00214: Novosibirsk Chamber Choir, Chamber Ensemble of the USSR TV and Radio Large Symphony Orchestra, Moscow Chamber Choir, N. Gerasimova, A. Vedernikov, E. Obolenskaya, Yu. Alisova (soloists)
CD Russian Compact Disc RCD 13005: Moscow Chamber Choir, Vladimir Minin (cond)
"Nightly Clouds", cantata after A. Blok for mixed chorus a cappella (1979)
CD Beaux: Moscow State Chamber Choir, V. Minin (cond)
Ten Songs after Alexander Blok for singer and piano (1972-1980)
CD Melodiya SUCD 10-00216: E. Obraztsova (mezzo-soprano), M. Karashvili (soprano), G. Sviridov (piano)
"Ladaga", poem for chorus after A. Prokofiev (1980)
CD Beaux: Moscow State Chamber Choir, V. Minin (cond)
CD Melodiya MELCD 10-00647: Moscow Chamber Choir and Instrumental Ensemble, V. Minin (cond)
"Songs From Hard Times", concerto after Alexander Blok for chorus a cappella (1980-1981)
CD Boheme CDBMR 911108: Moscow New Choir, Alexander Vedernikov (cond)
CD Hyperion CDA 66928: Holst Singers, Stephen Layton (cond)
"Sing Me That Song" and "My Soul Yearns"
LP Melodiya 1943-3542: RSFSR Yurlov Academic Chorus, G. Rozhdestvensky (cond), V. Klimushin (tenor)
"Ikon" after Alexander Blokfor male singers and chorus
CD Hyperion CDA 66928: Holst Singers, Stephen Layton (cond), James Bowman (alto)
CD Russian Compact Disc RCD 13005: Moscow Chamber Choir, Vladimir Minin (cond)

For more information please check Andrey Rukin's Sviridov page and T. Arimatsu's Sviridov page.

Thanks to Enno Klüver from Germany for additional information

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