Popov: Symphony No. 1; Shostakovich: Theme and Variations.(Sound Recording Review)

Popov: Symphony No. 1; Shostakovich: Theme and Variations. Leon Botstein, London Symphony Orchestra. Telarc CD-80642.

Here's another name, Gavril Popov, that might not be too familiar with most music lovers. He was a Soviet composer (1904-1972) who never really got much of a chance to show his stuff in the repressive regime of the 1930s, 40s, and 50s when he was in his prime. The conductor, Leon Botstein, in a booklet note says that Popov's First Symphony "fits into the category of great music in the orchestral repertory that requires advocacy." In other words, since nobody knows about it, somebody's got to speak up for it. Thus, the present recording.

The First Symphony had exactly one performance, in Leningrad in 1935, and was immediately banned by the Soviet government as being too "formalist," meaning it didn't conform to the government's ultraconservative musical tastes. Apparently, it was never performed again in Popov's lifetime and was only rediscovered and played again a few years ago. It has still not caught on, much to the annoyance of conductor Botstein.

One can understand, however, why the piece is not internationally well known. It's gloomy as hell. The symphony is in three movements, which the composer described as representing "1) struggle and failure, 2) humanity, and 3) the energy, will and joy of the victor's work." Interestingly, the three movements get geometrically shorter as they go along: The massive, hectic first movement, an Allegro, is over twenty-three minutes long; the slow second movement, a Largo, is ...