Spring (rachmaninov)

Spring (often also Der Frühling , Russian Весна ) is a secular cantata for baritone , mixed choir and orchestra by Sergei Rachmaninoff , op.20.

The literary model is the poem Green Noise ( Russian Зеленый Шум ) from 1863 by Nikolai Nekrasov . It is about a husband betrayed in late summer who, during the long winter months, harbors a desire for revenge against his wife, which turns into mildness and forgiveness with the arrival of spring.

Rachmaninoff wrote the work in the year of his marriage to Natalja Satina, 1902, of all places. The performance lasts approx. 16-18 minutes. The work already has operatic features and prepares the ground for the operas Francesca da Rimini and The stingy Knight, completed a few years later . Just like the title role in Stingy Knight , the baritone solo in Spring was written for Rachmaninoff's friend Fyodor Chalyapin .

Recordings

• Sergei Jakowenko, Jurlow Choir, Staatl. Symphony Orchestra of the USSR, Yevgeny Svetlanov . Melodija 1984
• Jorma Hynninen , Danish Radio Choir and Orchestra, Dmitri Kitajenko . Chandos 1991
• Sergei Leiferkus , Choral Arts Society of Philadelphia, Philadelphia Orchestra , Charles Dutoit . Decca Records 1992
• Tigran Martirossian , Russ. State Orchestra and Orchestra, Valery Polyansky. Chandos 1997