In 2022, the Russian musical community is celebrating the anniversary of an exceptional composer, Alexander Scriabin. The Primorsky Stage of the Mariinsky Theatre has dedicated a series of concerts under the common title “Scriabin – 150” to this event. All the orchestral works by the composer have been performed in these concerts.
Alexander Scriabin is an outstanding composer and pianist, philosopher and courageous innovator. He was the first to include light in his music scores and introduced the concept of “colour music”. Scriabin has created a wealth of compositions for piano and orchestra. The Principal Conductor of the Primorsky Stage, Pavel Smelkov, characterized his works in the following way:
“Being the most vivid representative of his era, Scriabin got his start relying on the achievements of European musical romanticism. By the end of his life, unfortunately cut short so absurdly, he was able to embody previously unknown images of a cosmic scale in his music, having achieved extremely laconic forms and an absolutely original style of melody and harmony. I am sure that Scriabin’s truly brilliant music will find a lively response in the Primorsky audience and will evoke emotions never experienced before, combining surprise, immersion and delight!”
On December 18, 2022, the Primorsky Stage of the Mariinsky Theatre will hold the final concert of the Scriabin – 150 symphonic cycle. The concert will include the composer’s later works: Symphony No. 3 and Le Poème de l’extase (The Poem of Ecstasy). The Mariinsky Orchestra of the Primorsky Stage will be conducted by Pavel Smelkov, Principal Conductor of the Primorsky Stage.
The Symphony No. 3 was premiered in Paris on May 29, 1905. Entitled Le divin poème (The Divine Poem), it marks the zenith of the composer’s work. It features various shades of Scriabin’s worldview, his path from “despair” to “optimism” and from frustration to radiant ecstasy. This is the first work by Scriabin that requires a really huge orchestra; later, Le Poème de l’extase and Prométhée will require an equally large cast of musicians.
Le Poème de l’extase, like no other masterpiece by Alexander Scriabin, has displayed the philosophical concept of the composer’s effort with extraordinary relief and strength. The musical development of the poem goes as if in circles; waves of uplift interchange with moments of meditation and contemplation. The dazzling epilogue of Le Poème de l’extase amazes the listener with its incredible scope and titanic power. The orchestra rings, sparkles and shimmers with all the colours of the sound spectrum.
