Rimsky-Korsakov: Antar - Symphony No. 2

Nikolai Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov 1844 - 1908. A Russian composer, and a member of the group of composers known as The Five. He was a master of orchestration. His best-known orchestral compositions—Capriccio Espagnol, the Russian Easter Festival Overture, and the symphonic suite Scheherazade—are staples of the classical music repertoire, along with suites and excerpts from some of his 15 operas. Scheherazade is an example of his frequent use of fairy-tale and folk subjects.
'Antar' is a composition for symphony orchestra in four movements by the Russian composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. He wrote the piece in 1868 but revised it in 1875 and 1891. He initially called the work his Symphony No. 2. He later reconsidered and called it a symphonic suite. It was first performed in March 1869 at a concert of the Russian Musical Society.

This work was inspired by an Arabian tale by Sennkovsky, suggested to Rimsky-Korsakov by Modest Mussorgsky and César Cui.[citation needed] Antar, an enemy of all mankind, has become a recluse in the desert. He saves a gazelle from a large bird. Weary from fighting the bird, he falls asleep exhausted. He dreams he is in the palace of the Queen of Palmyra. The queen, the fairy Gul-Nazar, was the gazelle Antar saved from the bird. As a reward, she permits Antar to fulfill three of life's greatest joys — vengeance, power and love. He accepts these gifts with gratitude, then makes a request himself. He asks the queen to take his life if these pleasures become tiresome. He then falls in love with the queen. After some time, however, he becomes weary of his passion. The queen takes him in her arms, kissing him with such ferocity that his life ebbs away.

This legend as a whole is incorporated in the opening movement; the other three depict each of the three joys. As Hector Berlioz did in his Symphonie fantastique, Rimsky-Korsakov employs an idée fixe or motto theme in various guises through all four movements to depict Antar. This theme is played by the violas in the introduction to the opening movement. Later in the same movement, flutes and horns play another important theme, this time depicting the queen.

Transcending all worldly pleasure this everyday 'Antar' escapes to the mountains. There he contemplates life and love perhaps putting things into a kind of new perspective against the grandeur of nature's amazing background.

Album info:
Op.9 "Antar" -
Rimsky-Korsakov Symphony No. 2.
Rimsky-Korsakov: The Complete Symphonies; Russian Easter; Capriccio es
Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra & Neeme Järvi & Nikolai Rimsky-
Korsakov
Göteborgs Symfoniker & Neeme Järvi & Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov;
2002 Deutsche Gramophone.

Apologies for any copyright issues. The uploading of this video is not for profit or personal gain.

[cliffhughes]

I love Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade but I was not familiar with his symphonies. This is wonderful - what brilliant orchestration and melodies. Thank you for this. I'll have to seek out some more.

[vanscov]

I love this wonderful Symphony, since I know it. I appreciate you to join all 4 movements in one video. Thank you so much 🙏

[arvandvarahram]

I have been loving this master piece since I heard it first time 45 years ago. It is the most underrated symphonies of all times. Imho, It simply belongs to the top 10 symphonies.

[zanncho-]

hi, i just tell something about this masterpiece.
This music inspired Ilya Repin to draw ' I killed my son ' drawing. It's sudden mood changing rhytyms had a lot effect on him and he wanted to how us how cruel a human being can be. This is a critisim everything of all. You can search Ivan the Terrible and His Son.

[oOMelinaOo]

Muchas gracias Jayne, Muchas gracias Nicolai

[discotecaotonal]

Es una maravilla de sonido y sentimiento profundo. Lamento no haberla encontrado antes. Me declaro fanatico de rimski korsakov

[Juanma-phfu]

Matavilloss música recuerda mucho a Scherezade

[handsomeblackman]

You forgot the Vince Gauraldi trio
"Christmas time is here" (without vocals)
A beautiful song.
No Richard Wagner? Why?