Rachmaninov: The Bells Op. 35.
Elgar: Falstaff Op. 68

To inaugurate their collaboration with harmonia mundi, Vasily Petrenko and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra have recorded a programme as subtle as it is unexpected, with two seldom-heard masterpieces of 1913. From the bitingly ironic Shakespearian portrait of an ageing knight (Falstaff), to an existential meditation inspired by Poe (The Bells), both these ‘literary’ scores dramatically prolong the enchantments of a dying romanticism.

SERGEI RACHMANINOV
The Bells Op. 35
Choral symphony on poems by Edgar Allan Poe, freely translated by Konstantin Balmont
Symphonie chorale sur des poèmes d’Edgar Allan Poe, librement traduits par Constantin Balmont
Chorsinfonie nach Gedichten von Edgar Allan Poe, frei übersetzt von Konstantin Balmont
· I. The Silver Sleigh Bells. Allegro ma non tanto (6’27)
· II. The Mellow Wedding Bells. Lento (10’19)
· III. The Loud Alarm Bells. Presto (8’30)
· IV. The Mournful Iron Bells. Lento lugubre (10’28)

EDWARD ELGAR
Falstaff Op. 68
Symphonic study in C minor after William Shakespeare
Étude symphonique en do mineur d’après William Shakespeare
Sinfonische Studie in c-Moll nach William Shakespeare
Falstaff and Prince Henry. Allegro (3’05)
· IIa. Eastcheap. Allegro molto (3’02)
· Gadshill – The Boar’s Head – Allegro molto (9’20)
· Revelry and Sleep. Molto tranquillo (1’09)
· Dream Interlude. Poco allegretto (2’39)
· Falstaff’s March. Allegro (2’58)
· The Return Through Gloucestershire. Poco sostenuto (1’37)
· Interlude. Gloucestershire, Shallow’s Orchard. Allegretto (1’43)
· The New King – The hurried ride to London. Allegro molto (1’04)
· King Henry V’s Progress. Più moderato (3’30)
· The Repudiation of Falstaff, and his death. Poco più lento (6’38)