The Execution of Stepan Razin explained
The Execution of Stepan Razin (Russian «Казнь Степана Разина») (Op. 119) is a cantata composed by Dimitri Shostakovich to a libretto by Yevgeny Yevtushenko in 1964. The subject is the execution of Stepan Razin, a Cossack leader who headed a major uprising (1670 - 71) against the nobility and tsarist bureaucracy in southern Russia.[1]
Lyrics
The opening section of Yevtushenko's poem depicts Razin's fate in front of the uncaring crowd:
In the middle section, Razin reflects on his fate: "Fool! Stenka, you die for nothing!" The final section describes the execution itself, in very short, choppy lines: the crowd falls silent, and Razin's head, still living - laughs his triumph over the watching tsar.
Recordings
- Shostakovich: Cantatas - Estonian Concert Choir, ENSO Paavo Järvi Erato 2015.[2]
- The Execution of Stepan Razin - Seattle Symphony Chorale, Seattle Symphony, Gerard Schwarz: Naxos 2006.
- Symphony No. 12 and The Execution of Stepan Razin - Rundfunkchor & Sinfonie-orchester Leipzig, Herbert Kegel: Philips 1992.
- Georgy Sviridov Oratorio Pathetique and Shostakovich The Execution of Stepan Razin - Varna Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus, Andrey Andreev (cond.) & Assen Vassilev (bass): Koch International Classics 1990.
- Symphony No. 9 and The Execution of Stepan Razin - Moscow State Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra & Republican Russian Choir Capella, Kirill Kondrashin (cond.) & Vitali Gromadsky (bass): Melodiya 1965 (reissued as a CD in 2015 by High Definition Tape Transfers).
See also
External links
Notes and References
- http://www.belcanto.ru/or-shostakovich-razin.html Belcanto.ru article in Russian
- https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-shostakovich-recordings-highlight-composers-ambiguity-1431439949 Wall Street Journal - May 12 2015 New Shostakovich Recordings Highlight Composer’s Ambiguity
