Symphony No.11 in B flat minor - Nikolai Myaskovsky

Moscow Symphony Orchestra conducted by Veronika Dudarova

I - Lento - Allegro agitato: 0:00
II - Andante - Adagio ma non tanto: 11:19
III - Precipitato - Allegro: 22:01

Myaskovsky's eleventh symphony was started in 1931 and finished the following year. The work is dedicated to the composer Maximilian Steinberg, the son-in-law of Rimsky-Korsakov. The work premiered on January 16, 1933 in Moscow, which gave him time to review the score.

The first movement is written in sonata form with two clearly differentiated themes. It begins with a slow introduction introducing the thematic material that will later develop into the next allegro. The first theme has a great rhythmic force, with powerful metal inputs, contrasting with the lyricism of the second, which has the typical melodism of Russian music. Strong metal chords give way to the development section that works with the same themes. The recapitulation also ends with strong chords, which lead us to a decisive coda.

The second movement is built in three parts. In the first one he offers us a sublime theme interpreted in the first place by the string, being answered by the wood. In the central part, a theme of oriental roots is presented by the clarinet, then the wood begins a fugue section that ends in a strong crescendo. Then continue with the repetition of the first part lyric.

The last movement consists of themes and their variations associated with a sonata form. After a short introduction the theme of simple rhythmic character is presented. One of the variations, which comes from a theme of the second movement, acts as a second contrasting theme. The development section consists of new variations of the themes. Two contrasted variations constitute the recapitulation, ending with a brief coda.

It is an easy listening work, due to its melodic and lack of dissonance. We could say that it is Miaskovsky's easy style, apparently adapting to socialist realism.

Picture: "Troika racing" (1889) by the Russian-Georgian painter Pyotr Nikolayevich Gruzinsky.

Sources from this spanish website on Myaskovsky symphonism: http://www.historiadelasinfonia.es/naciones/la-sinfonia-en-rusia/miaskovsky/

Видео Symphony No.11 in B flat minor - Nikolai Myaskovsky канала Sergio Cánovas