Search - Alla Pavlova, Rossen Milanov, Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra :: Alla Pavlova: Sulamith (Ballet Suite): Monolog; Old New York Nostalgia (Suite)

One great composer to get to know

P. Alvarez | Killeen, Texas United States | 11/24/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I became familiar with the music of composer Alla Pavlova just this fall, by way of the naxos recordings of her work. I tell you her music is really great. I can say so far that she is one of the greatest Russian composers of the early 21st century. Her music is in the romantic vein.

The monolog for violin and orchestra opens very slow in a contemplative and nostalgic mood that is carried in the entire work. In the monolog Pavlova does displays something that Russians composers are very well know to do really good, since the days of Glinka, set the mood for a slow

nostalgic movement. Some of the greatest adagios and slow movements in the history of music are from Russia. Violinist Yaroslav Krasnikov does a wonderful job on this work as he does in "Old New York Nostalgia" like the Monolog, "Old New York Nostalgia" opens on a slow contemplative note on the violin that is later taken by the solo trumpet of Gregory Pleskatch. Unlike the monolog, "Old New York Nostalgia" is in six movements.The second movement is called "Lazy Morning" in which one can

hear a rhythm section in the orchestra, also a slow movement but like the first one very interesting. The third movement of the work is "The Old New York Nostalgia" which opens with a trumpet statement and is soon answered by saxophones. The Lullaby of the twins is the composer's tribute to the victims of 9/11. The Broadway's Song can explain itself.

"Ferry to my Dream" is also a slow movement. Also in this recording is the Ballet Suite Sulamith, after a story by Alexander Kuprin. This recording is a great intro to the work of Pavlova, as any other of the naxos recording would be. The Moscow Philharmonic under Rossen Milanov did a terrific job.

"

Nostalgia in a Syrup Bottle

Ralphus | Goyang, Gynggi-Do Korea (South) | 01/28/2009

(2 out of 5 stars)

"This disc was my first exposure to the music of Alla Pavlova, a Russian-born composer resident in the USA. As such, I have no idea whether it is indicative of her style in general, or not.



The "Old New York Nostalgia Suite" is in six movements: "From My Mom's Photo Album"; "Lazy Morning"; "The Old New York Nostalgia"; "Lullaby for the Twins"; "The Broadway's Song"; and "Ferry to My Dreams". According to the (extremely scant) booklet notes, the first and fourth movements were added after the events of 9/11. The slight cloyingness of the movement titles, and the 'nostalgia' of the overall title, gives some indication of the style of music found therein.



The first movement is perhaps the most effective, tinged as it is with a mood of Old Russia sentimentality (I also hear it, oddly enough, as half-speed Kabalevsky!). But here, as with most of the rest of the suite, 'cheezy' strings a la Lawrence Welk or Mantovani predominate. More up-tempo moments, such as the second half of "The Old New York Nostalgia", feature brushes, which add, to me, a general 'corniness'. The second movement, "Lazy Morning", might have been more aptly titled, "Lazy Airport Hotel Lobby Bar".



The "Monolog for Violin & Strings"--beautifully played by Yaroslav Krasnikov--is the most appealing work on the disc for me. But even it, and the "Sulamith Suite" predominantly too, are on the syrupy side. There are a few moments in the latter of more rhythmic and harmonic interest that call to mind (somewhat) Nielsen's "Aladdin" music.



Overall, though, the music has a period film quality (not necessarily a bad thing, I suppose; I thought of Terrance Blanchard at times) and there is more than a touch of Gershwin (even a few near-quotes of "Summertime" and "I Loves You Porgy") and perhaps even Virgil Thomson (I'm thinking of "The Plow that Broke the Plains"). But mostly there's a lot of Lawrence Welk.



The problem is, I think, that Pavlova's 'nostalgia' is very literal. This isn't really Old New York seen from a 21st century perspective, or even with a modern composer's harmonic palette; rather it's a reiteration of generic 'light music' of yesteryear. Even the "Monolog" and "Sulamith Suite" share this quality. As far as 1920s jazz elements incorporated into 'Classical' music is concerned, I find Milhaud, Stravinsky, Martinu and Antheil far more interesting. It's not a fair comparison, I know, but still, Pavlova's music here is too lacking in distinctiveness, too ripe with syrupy, literal over-sentimentality for my tastes.



This has been a lengthy and disparaging review, but if the music I've described is precisely the sort of thing you like, then, by all means ignore my fusty subjectivity and enjoy. If not, spare yourself the 8 bucks and perhaps explore elsewhere in the vast Naxos catalogue."