While browsing through the Melodiya section of our CD collection I found Anatoly Lyadov’s Symphonic Works. The beautifully styled booklet case and cover art on this album caught my eye, the name Lyadov only vaguely ringing in the corner of my memory. I decided to refrain from searching for him on the internet and just listen.
Almost immediately, the lush detail of these works stands out. Lyadov paints these tone poems with incredible dexterity, effortlessly transitioning from one scene to the next without losing sight of the bigger picture. The highly evocative nature of this work will transport any listener to worlds of magical fantasy, intense drama and subdued melancholic reflection. While the music is often dark, it is never impenetrable. At times throughout these pieces I found myself thinking of Pictures at an Exhibition by Mussorgsky and Dukas’ Sorcerer’s Apprentice. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised when I discovered that Mussorgsky himself thought highly of Lyadov’s work.
The Enchanted Lake – A Fairy Tale Picture
For me, this beguiling and mysterious piece was the stand-out track on the CD. The ominous opening resolves into an unearthly fairy-tale scene that entices the listener into a mystical dreamworld. The ethereal landscape bubbles with foreboding shadows under the surface and danger lurks between the trees. The colours Lyadov creates capture a truth found in so many fairy tales: nature is both beautiful and dangerous. The orchestration feels quite delicate and Lyadov deploys both celesta and harp to great effect. This eerily sublime picture has certainly become one of my favourite orchestral works to date.
Originally recorded in 1970 the USSR State Symphony Orchestra are being conducted by Evgeny Svetlanov. I couldn’t tell you why; if it’s the timbre of the brass section or the sweeping and expressive strings, but there is something unmistakably “Russian” about the performance. It is incredibly tight and you can hear the musicians sat on the edge of their seats. Svetlanov captures the distinctive moods of each piece with brilliant control and balance.