Giya Kancheli: Symphonies Nos. 4 & 5

On this CD:

1. Symphony No. 4 ("In Commemoration of Michaelangelo")
Composed by Giya Kancheli
Performed by Georgian Festival Orchestra
Conducted by Jansug Kakhidze

2. Symphony No. 5
Composed by Giya Kancheli
Performed by Georgian Festival Orchestra
Conducted by Jansug Kakhidze

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Giya Kancheli's symphonies tend to be meditative (and eruptive) affairs quite unlike any other composer of his generation. He tends to alternate between quiet, thoughtful, even reverential passages, with sudden declarative bursts that are intentionally designed to wake up the listener. This may even be a kind of political statement: waking up the audience to the chaos around them. These two single-movement symphonies are his best works so far. Symphony 4 is in memory of Michelangelo, written in 1975. It's doggedly monophonic and quite intense. With Symphony 5 (1977) don't begin the piece with the sound turned way up. You'll be really sorry. --Paul Cook

Tracks:

Symphony No.4 'In memoria di Michelangelo: Largo
Symphony No.5 'Dedicated To The Memory Of The Composer's Parents': Largo

Amazon.com

Giya Kancheli's symphonies tend to be meditative (and eruptive) affairs quite unlike any other composer of his generation. He tends to alternate between quiet, thoughtful, even reverential passages, with sudden declarative bursts that are intentionally designed to wake up the listener. This may even be a kind of political statement: waking up the audience to the chaos around them. These two single-movement symphonies are his best works so far. Symphony 4 is in memory of Michelangelo, written in 1975. It's doggedly monophonic and quite intense. With Symphony 5 (1977) don't begin the piece with the sound turned way up. You'll be really sorry. --Paul Cook