Seven Romances on Poems by Alexander Blok

Seven Romances on Poems by Alexander Blok (Op. 127) is a vocal-instrumental suite by Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich. It was inspired by verses of poet Alexander Blok (1880–1921).

It was written in 1967, formally to 50th anniversary of the October Revolution. In fact Shostakovich dedicated the work to singer Galina Vishnevskaya. The composition is written for soprano, violoncello, violin and piano. The first performance took place on October 25, 1967 at the Moscow Conservatoire Hall with Mstislav Rostropovich on cello, Mieczysław Weinberg on piano, David Oistrakh on violin and with Vishnevskaya.

Structure

The cycle consists of seven parts:

  • 1) Song of Ophelia
  • 2) Gamayun, the Bird of Prophecy
  • 3) We Were Together
  • 4) Gloom Enwraps the Sleeping City
  • 5) The Storm
  • 6) Secret Signs
  • 7) Music

Music, written to pessimist, symbolist verses, is terse and often returns to the theme of suffering and death.

Recordings

ArteMiss Trio. (Alžběta Poláčková-soprano) ArcoDiva CD. UP 0069-2131

Galina Vishnevskaya (soprano), Mstislav Rostropovich (cello), Ulf Hoelscher (violin) and Vasso Devetzi (piano) for EMI[1]

References
  1. https://www.discogs.com/Mstislav-Rostropovich-Galina-Vishnevskaya-London-Philharmonic-Orchestra-The-Rostropovich-Edition-Son/release/5082429


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