It is little known that Sergei Rachmaninov (1873-1943) had built a very versatile career in Russia before his departure to the United States, not only as a pianist, but also as a conductor and composer. In the latter capacity, Rachmaninov was also intensively involved in opera, but of the eight projects he started, he completed only three, which are now performed by the Gothenburg Opera Choir and
… Symphony Orchestra, with soloists including Anne Sofie von Otter, Sergei Leiferkus and Sergei Larin, conducted by conductor Neeme Järvi in a 3-CD box set have been released. The first opera, "Aleko", was written in just three weeks in 1892, as a final assignment for the composition exam. It earned Rachmaninov the Grand Gold Medal from Moscow Conservatory, as well as the admiration of the Tchaikovsky he adores. The act is set in a gypsy camp and because of this veristic trait the piece has long been seen as a kind of counterpart to the famous one-act plays by Mascagni and Leoncavallo. (In Russia it was customary for many years to combine "Cavalleria Rusticana" with "Aleko", instead of "Pagliacci".) The other two works were largely created in the years 1903-1905. "Francesca da Rimini op.25" is a passionate whole, dealing with the well-known love story from Dante's 'Divina Commedia', which is enclosed here by a prologue and epilogue, in which the spirit of Virgil and Dante 'in person' introduce the story and decisions. About something other than (unfortunate) love is "The greedy knight.more
