“Symphony No.1“ by Mily Balakirev (Audio + Full Score)

pf: Evgeny Svetlanov cond/ USSR State Symphony Orchestra 0:00 - Largo – Allegro vivo 11:39 - Scherzo. Vivo – Poco meno mosso – Tempo I 18:30 - Andante ***MUST LISTEN*** 31:32 - Finale. Allegro moderato Date of composition: 1864–66, 1893–97 Balakirev began his First Symphony after completing the Second Overture but cut work short to concentrate on the Overture on Czech Themes, recommencing on the symphony only 30 years later and not finishing it until 1897. Letters from Balakirev to Stasov and Cui indicate that the first movement was two-thirds completed and the final movement sketched out, though he would supply a new theme for the finale many years later. While he was waiting until the finale to incorporate folk material, he was anxious to incorporate a new Russian element, somewhat religious in nature, into the opening movement. The symphonic design for this movement is highly unusual. The slow introduction announces the motif on which the allegro vivo is based. While the alleg