Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Melody – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
The fifth episode of the "Sound Review" project, released by Melodiya, opens a new chapter in the anthology of Russian music from the 20th and 21st centuries. For the first time in the series' history, the recording features a symphony orchestra—the Academy of Russian Music Symphony Capella, conducted by Ivan Nikiforchin.
Karina Abramyan, General DirectorUnion of Composers of Russia:
"The Sound Review, created by the Union of Composers of Russia in 2020, brings together works from various eras and movements—from the Russian avant-garde of the 1910s and 1920s to contemporary classical music. This is the fifth edition of the series—a mini-anniversary—and features the first appearance of a symphony orchestra."
Part OneThe new symphonic release is dedicated to composers Moisei Weinberg, Nikolai Peiko, and Boris Tchaikovsky—three friends and colleagues whose destinies were closely intertwined not only in their creative work but also in the trials of time. In 1953, Weinberg was arrested, and it was Peiko and Tchaikovsky who stood by his side, supporting his family and seeking their colleague's release. This episode became a point of unity and human resilience for them—an inner strength that is also evident in their music.
The album features Weinberg's Suite for Symphony Orchestra (1939–1945), Boris Tchaikovsky's Sinfonietta for String Orchestra (1953), "Elegiac Poem in Memory of Nikolai Myaskovsky" (1980), and the world premiere recording of Nikolai Peiko's vocal cycle for tenor and string orchestra based on Vladimir Nabokov's poetry, "The Light of the Cornflower Wreath" (1987). In addition to the Academy of Russian Music under the baton of Ivan Nikiforchin, the album also features Stanislav Mostovoy, soloist of the Bolshoi Theater and the Moscow Novaya Opera.
Part twoThe release is "Architecture of Sound" by Yuri Abdokov, a professor at the Moscow Conservatory, a PhD in art history, and a scholar of 20th-century Russian music. The album features four poems for string orchestra: "Autumn Prayers," "Birds in the Rain," "On the Edge of Melting and Ice," and "Beautiful Are the Faces of the Sleeping" (in the latter, the violin part is performed by Ayako Tanabe, winner of international competitions and soloist of the Île Thélème ensemble). Abdokov's music continues the tradition of Boris Tchaikovsky and Nikolai Peiko—a line where intellectual rigor is combined with clarity of form and spiritual warmth.
Ivan Nikiforchin, artistic director and chief conductor of the Academy of Russian Music:
"The music of Weinberg, Peiko, and Boris Tchaikovsky is part of our cultural memory, and Yuri Abdokov's orchestral poems are a direct continuation of this tradition, a living bridge to the present day. His scores are filled with the light and inner strength so desperately needed by contemporary culture."
The recording of the "Sound Review-5" albums took place at the Tonstudio production complex of the Mosfilm film concern. Sound engineer: Mikhail Spassky. The project was implemented with the support of the Russian Ministry of Culture and the Melodiya recording company. The albums are accompanied by digital booklets and are available on leading music platforms: Yandex.Music, Zvuk, VK Music, Apple Music, and Spotify.
Musical Life, November 11, 2025
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.