the gogol suite / alfred schnittke. 1976
The Gogol Suite, first commissioned in 1976 as incidental music to a play, is only a minor work by the Russian polystylist composer, yet it is highly imaginative and includes some interesting orchestration, among other aspects. In it, one can find the usual musical quotes (for example, Beethoven’s 5th symphony in the Overture) but also many original themes.
00:00 – I. Overture – Allegro.
01:20 – II. Chichikov’s Childhood – Andantino.
03:39 – III. The Portrait.
11:01 – IV. The Overcoat – Andante.
13:20 – V. Ferdinand VIII
14:16 – VI. The Civil Servants – Allegro.
17:01 – VII. The Ball – Tempo di Valse.
23:34 – VIII. The Testament – Pesante.
(25:50 – Ukrainian Folk Song.)