Petrov A. Last Symphonic Compositions. Score (Collected Works. Vol. 20)

Andrey Petrov (1930–2006) was born in Leningrad. In 1954 he graduated from the Leningrad Conservatoire, where he studied composition at professor O. A. Yevlakhov’s class. Among the titles he was awarded were the laureate of State USSR Prizes (1967, 1976), Russia (1996), Russia President’s Prize (1990), People’s artist of the USSR (1990). The cinematographic prizes were the “Nika” (1992) and “Golden Ram” (1995). Having become the chairman of the Leningrad Composers’ Union in 1964 he headed it till the last days of his life, while in 1992 he started the activity of the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Society’s president. Andrey Petrov was the Honoured Citizen of St. Petersburg. The planet discovered in 1994 was given his name. 

The world of Andrey Petrov’s music is lucid and constant. It’s accepted as diatonic and consonant one. Meanwhile the range of his phonations is wide, so as the amplitude of his partialities — genres and styles. He rules them according to the right of a musician, living on the crossroads of the Ages and continents: from Bach to jazz, from the Russian chants to sonority. 

His main objective is the Universal harmony, this classic model of the romantic obstinacy. 

Petrov’s adherence to romantic tradition during the last years is accepted as some creative testament. However, it’s something else with Petrov. Although the musician’s age was rather mature, his death was unexpected. He passed away in the prime of his life. Hence this imagined glance of farewell is rather delicate, deprived of mentorship. After all, both the «Creation» and Music to the film «Beware of the Car» may be called Andrey Petrov’s poetical testament. Nevertheless, these are exactly two published opuses and the «Cloudberry» to Nikolai Rubtsov’s verses to crown this large-scale heritage of the distinguished Russian composer.

Symphony-phantasia «Farewell to…» was composed by Andrey Petrov during the winter of 2004–2005. The «Fantasias» was its initial name; however, in 2005 the author conceived the other title, happened to become the final one. Farewell, but whom to? What did he part with? I remember those sunny snowy days, when Andrey Petrov was working at this composition in the Repino Creativity House. We lived in neighbouring cottages and met several times. The purport of three dots in the title interested me. Smile, either shy, or ironical was his reply. He considered the English name «Farewell to…» looking more winning. Byron’s verses: «Fare thee well, and if forever, still forever fare thee well» were once taken by Pushkin as the epigraph to «Onegin’s» eighth chapter.

The premiere took place on October 28, 2005 at the final concert of the festival «World Creation Is Going On», coinciding with the 75th Petrov’s jubilee on the stage of the Grand Hall of the Petersburgian Philharmonic Society. The symphony was performed by the Petersburgian Philharmonic Academic Symphony Orchestra conducted by Alexander Dmitriyev and Maria Lyud’ko (soprano).

The composer noticed he did not ever think of requiem. But the fate disposed the other way: the Master’s most doleful composition was doomed to become the last premi?re during his life. He wished «Farewell to…» his life. Andrey Petrov died on February 15, 2006. 

It was in 2005. Andrey Petrov prepared for the concert in the framework of the festival «Honoured Citizens of St. Petersburg» dedicated to the distinguished scientist-physicist Zhores Alfyorov. Both of them were actively engaged in public life and really sympathized to each other. While discussing the future programme the Nobelist confessed his passion to the early Mayakovsky. Thus there appeared an idea of the vocal-poetic suite «If the Stars Are Switched On…» based on Petrov’s opera-ballet «Mayakovsky to Begin» (1980). Unfortunately, the author has not finished the composition. It was completed by Grigory Korchmar. The first performance took place on March 13, 2006 in the Grand Hall of the Petersburgian Philharmonic Society. It was the festival in honour of Zhores Alfyorov, as it had been planned once. The suite was presented by the Petersburg Philharmonic Academic Symphony Orchestra conducted by Vladislav Chernushenko (reciter Yevgeny Dyatlov, singer Pyotr Migunov).

Contents:

FAREWELL TO... Symphony-phantasia for full symphony orchestra (2005). Score.
IF THE STARS ARE SWITCHED ON... Vocal-poetic suite for basso, reciter and symphony orchestra to early Mayakovsky's verses (2006). Score