From Russia With Love

A centenary tribute to Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975), and recital performances by guest Daniel Zaretsky, who introduces little-known music from an unlikely source.

Listen to the program

Program Broadcast dates:

Week of September 18, 2006

David Zaretsky interview
Listen to all

Daniel Zaretsky talks about his early interest in pipe organs and the evolving situation regarding organs in Saint Petersburg

Audiences for organ recitals in Russia are remarkably large because relatively few pipe organs exist in Russia today, and because the organ is not a fixture either in Russia’s traditional religious live or its former Soviet culture.

Zaretsky talks about the present situation with pipe organs Russian in performance spaces.

What does it mean to be Organist of the Saint Petersburg Philharmonic Hall…what are your duties?

What is the most popular piece of Russian organ music?

With new pipe organs coming to Russia today, are young composers showing a renewed interest in writing for these instruments?

Are there any indigenous Russian organ builders?

If you were offered one wish to improve the status of the pipe organ in Russia, for what would you wish?

Links and Resources:

Printable program listings

Music played in the program

MICHAIL GLINKA: Fugue in E-flat. GREGORY CATOIRE: Praeludium in g. SERGEJ TANEYEV: Choral varie. CHRISTOPHOR KUSCHNAREV: Passacaglia –Daniel Zaretsky (1980 Sipe/Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church, Minneapolis, MN) Pipedreams Archive (recorded 3/12/04)

SHOSTAKOVICH: The Cathedral Service, from The Gadfly, Op. 97 –Iain Quinn (1854 Willis; 1988 Harrison/Winchester Cathedral, England, UK) Chandos CD-10043

SHOSTAKOVICH (trans. Anderson): Prelude & Fugue No. 20 in c, Op. 87 –Christopher Anderson (1979 C.B. Fisk/House of Hope Presbyterian Church, Saint Paul, MN) Pipedreams Archive (recorded 10/9/05)

GEORGY MUSHEL: Toccata. GENNADI BELOV: Choral and Postludium. SERGEI PROKOFIEV: Delusion (Prelude, Op. 12, no. 6); Fairy-Tale. ERNEST KÖHLER: Variations on the Old Russian National Anthem –Daniel Zaretsky (1980 Sipe/Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church, Minneapolis, MN) Pipedreams Archive (recorded 3/12/04)