Boris Lyatoshynsky: Symphony No.2 in B minor Op. 26 (1935-36, rev 1940)

National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine conducted by / Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Ucrania dirigida por Theodore Kuchar.
I. Lento tenebroso e con maestà - Allegro deciso e impetuoso (0:00)
II. Lento e tranquillo (alla ballata) (14:01)
III. Andante - Allegro precipitato (22:26)
Boris Lyatoshynsky was Ukraines’ foremost composer during the Soviet age, in spite of Prokofiev’s place of birth since the latter was ethnic Russian. Living under the Communist regime, Lyatoshynsky became an independent, bold and somewhat challenging voice, only comparable to a few composers like Shostakovich and Gavriil Popov, and like the latter, also followed musical examples given by Scriabin. For such reason, most of his daring compositions such as his Second Symphony remained unperformed until the days of Khrushchev. The symphony’s pages are filled with musical darkness proper of the days it was composed, it is then between 1935 and 1936 when Stalin’s purges were at its heights. The work was thoroughly criticized; Lyatoshynsky was forced to revise it for good and it was only premiered in 1964.
Boris Liatoshinsky fue el compositor más notable de Ucrania durante la Era Soviética, muy a pesar del lugar de nacimiento de Prokofiev, ya que éste era un ruso étnico. Viviendo bajo el régimen comunista, Liatoshinsky se volvió una voz independiente, valiente y algo desconcertante a veces, solamente comparable a compositores como Shostakovich o Gavriil Popov y como el último, también seguía los ejemplos musicales legados por Scriabin. Por dicha razón, muchas de sus composiciones como la Segunda Sinfonía quedaron sin estrenar hasta los días de Jruschov. Las páginas de esta pieza están llenas de oscuridad musical propia a los días en que fue compuesta, dígase entre 1935 y 1936; años en que ocurrieron las peores purgas de Stalin. La obra fue terriblemente criticada, Liatoshinsky obligado a revisarla y sólo fue estrenada hasta 1964.
Image/imagen: Construction Workers sending a letter to Stalin / Albañiles evían una carta a Stalin. Vassily Nikolaevich Yakovlev. 1937

[@galas062]

thank you!!

[@sinuhenilroud3970]

if Lyatoshynsky was against Stalin and against the former Soviet, then why he accepted twice the Stalin State Prize? Why he accepted the Order of Lenin? Why he accepted the honorary title of People's Artist of the Ukrainian SSR. which was awarded in 1968? He could have rejected all those prizes and titles if he truly was against the former soviet. Your statement is rubbish!

[@past_notes6267]

+Sinuhe Nilroud I think we assist here to a problem. Most of the Soviet artists were forced at gunpoint to accept any state prizes, recommendations and even to approve condemnations. Shostakovich was one of the most clear examples when he was compelled to sign in 1973 a letter against Sakharov (by the time he was already afflicted by a serious illness); or let's take the case of Ahkmatova who was forced to write odes to Stalin to help get her son out of prison... But, as they say in The Pianist, musicians aren't often good conspirators, however they conceal their opposition here and there in their work, which sometimes is harder to grasp.

[@stevewyatt2039]

+Past_notes I agree! The previous comment was probably made with a modern viewpoint placed over a very difficult period for most, if not all, Soviet composers. A somewhat blinkered view! Your comments about Shostakovich and Ahkmatova are just a couple of examples ... a little bit of digging around would turn up loads more like it. (Keep up the excellent work, by the way!)

[@past_notes6267]

+Steve Wyatt Yes, exactly... And there are many other counterexamples like Kabalevsky or Khrennikov, especially the latter since he was likely the most politically opportunist composer in all of history. Nonetheless, for a composer who had troubles premiering this symphony (as Shostakovich did), I don't really think he favored entirely the restricting guidelines of Socialist Realism.

[@brucewilliams9954]

Accept the prize, the life you save may be your own.