Classical Music at the Sochi 2014 Opening Ceremony

8th February 2014, 00:29

The Winter Olympics opened with a celebration of classical music and ballet, with a performance from star opera singer Anna Netrebko. 

Tchaikovsky made an appearance at the very start in a Russian ABC video, detailing key figures and events in Russian history for each of the 33 letters in the Cyrillic alphabet, alongside Nabukov, Chekov, Russian Space travel and the Periodic Table. Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake also featured later on in the ceremony.

Borodin's Polovtsian dances from his opera Prince Igor opened the games as Liza Temnikova flew through a winter dreamscape, representing the diversity of Russia, accompanied by chanting and choral singing. Music by Russian masters Khachaturian and Stravinsky also featured during the two-hour, £31billion spectacular, with the famous Firebird Suite being played as the Olympic cauldron was lit.

The Russian national anthem was performed by Moscow Sretensky Monastery Choir, with the Olympic Anthem performed by opera star Anna Netrebko with a choral accompaniment. The musicians were conducted by esteemed conductor Valery Gergiev.

(C) ClassicFM 2014

Nocturne by Alexander Scriabin

Alexander N. Skriabin - His Music and His Life

The Russian Alexander Nikolajewitsch Skriabin was born in Moscow on January 10, 1872 and got his education at the Cadets Corps in Moscow. At the Moscow Conversatory, Skriabin studied piano play and composition together with Sergey Tanejeff (1856-1915) and Anton St. Arenski (1861-1906).

Skriabin toured whole Europe as dazzling and fascinating virtuoso with nervous brilliancy. In his compositions Skriabin tried to link and united himself with Frederic Chopin and Richard Wagner, while he criticized Peter Tschaikowsk's music as "disagreeable"!

Skriabin's composition dreams contented of "selected art", an art with its own regularity; an "art-for-art-standpoint",which has been very unbelievable and unique. A new complete art of work was his first symphony composed within five years from 1895 - 1900.

In 1908 follwed "Le Poeme de l'Extase"; in 1911 "Promoetheus". More and more ecstasy and satanic traits became parts in Skriabin's compositions. Sometimes his exaltations appeared shocking and dis-pleasing. Some dances and sonatas can be found on some very rare records.

Alexander Skriabin passed away in Moscow on April 14, 1915.