Why doesn’t anyone play the Russian Easter Festival Overture anymore?
It was a popular concert opener, as well as a filler on recordings, up until probably the 1990s. But nowadays it is hardly ever programmed anymore, at least by major orchestras. Living in London, despite the enormous quantities of concerts here, I don’t think I have seen it programmed at all in at least the last 5 years.
Yes, it is repetitious, but that is also an issue with many popular works in the repertoire (think the finale of Sibelius’ 2nd symphony, or Harold en Italie, or—really non-happening rather than repetitious per se—Ein Heldenleben after the battle). But few composers could match Rimsky-Korsakov’s orchestral prowess and the work is filled with great tunes (not always the case with Rimsky, admittedly).
What are your thoughts on this? What are some other works that seem more popular on recordings than in the concert hall?
Pictured: My favourite recording of the Russian Easter Festival Overture—Orchestre Lamoureux conducted by Igor Markevitch
It was a popular concert opener, as well as a filler on recordings, up until probably the 1990s. But nowadays it is hardly ever programmed anymore, at least by major orchestras. Living in London, despite the enormous quantities of concerts here, I don’t think I have seen it programmed at all in at least the last 5 years.
Yes, it is repetitious, but that is also an issue with many popular works in the repertoire (think the finale of Sibelius’ 2nd symphony, or Harold en Italie, or—really non-happening rather than repetitious per se—Ein Heldenleben after the battle). But few composers could match Rimsky-Korsakov’s orchestral prowess and the work is filled with great tunes (not always the case with Rimsky, admittedly).
What are your thoughts on this? What are some other works that seem more popular on recordings than in the concert hall?
Pictured: My favourite recording of the Russian Easter Festival Overture—Orchestre Lamoureux conducted by Igor Markevitch