The Execution of Stepan Razin

Yevgeny Yevtushenko (R). Ljubomir Romansky (G)

This cantata for bass, chorus and orchestra is a pendant or afterthought to the Thirteenth Symphony. Like that work it sets words by the poet Yevgeny Yevtushenko, on this occasion a mocking retelling of the story of the 17th century Russian rebel? The composer himself described this work as à la russe and it is a vigorous and sinister-sounding recreation in modern terms of the vocal and orchestral manner of 19th century Russian composers like Borodin and Musorgsky. The result is odd and little known but surprisingly violent piece which, like the poem that it sets, makes some unflattering connections between the violence and barbarism of Russia long ago and Russia now.


Note by Gerard McBurney