Search - Khachaturian, Gauk, Moscow Radio Symphony :: Symphony No. 1; Masquerade Suite

A Khachaturian curiosity and masterpiece

Larry VanDeSande | Mason, Michigan United States | 10/06/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"First, Amazon has the listing wrong on this CD. This item listed:



1. Black Intention

Composed by Maki Ishii

Performed by Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra (Moscow Radio)



is not on the CD. This is the Khachaturian Symphony No. 1 and Masquerade Suite, both performed by the Moscow Radio Symphony Orchestra. The symphony is conducted by Alexander Gauk and the recording dates from 1959 in early stereo. The suite is conducted by the composer and was recorded in 1969.



The symphony is Khachaturian's first effort in the medium and was his final exercise before graduating the Moscow Conservatory where he was trained by Myaskovsky. He dedicated the opus to the 15th anniversary of Soviet Armenia, his homeland.



The music is more Turkish than we normally associate with this composer and begins on an ostinato flute and string theme in a dramatic manner the gives rise to a heaving section of strings and brass before settling back into a sustained andante.



The second movement contains a brass chorale that begins to mimic what we know of mature Khachaturian, before returning to the familiar ostinato in the finale, which sounds more like this composer.



The First Symphony is a dramatic creation that is worthwhile although not particularly memorable. It is given a strong reading by Gauk and the radio symphony in sound that is variable early stereo.



I'd suggest this performance is mainly for Khachaturian completists and/or is an attractive makeweight to the composer's own performacne of the more familiar "Masquerade" suite, which is far better recorded -- although there is some spotlighting going on for individual sections and instruments that may remind you of London Phase 4 recording technology in the same period.



Still, the suite is presented in full thorated version led by the composer and competes on the CD market with every version available including the famous Svetlanov recording which the Penguin Guide awarded a rosette. I don't hear much difference between the two performances and accept that the composer's own version must be the more authoritative.



As always, the notes to this Russian Disk are outstanding and give you information about the composer, performers, the compositions, their role in Soviet music history. The notes also include a photo of Khachaturian where he appears to be 35-40 years of age. This is the first photo I have seen of this composer and helps me link him and his Soviet-Armenian heritage to the style of music he composed."