Based on a recomendation on another list I bought a CD with music by
Mikhail Nosyrev, I felt urged to hear Nosyrevs music much because the
writer described it like in the tradition of Dmitri Shostakovich.

Nosyrev was born in St. Petersburg in 1924, He thrived, studying violin
until Stalins purges slaped him in the face in 1943, apparently he was
betrayed by his teacher, hence MN was centenced to ten years of Gulag
imprisonment.  Nosyrev kept up his studies during these years and there
became intrested in composing.  After having served, he returned to a
professional life as conductor in several regional cities ending up at
the Voronezh opera, localy He was held in high esteem.  Until his arrest,
Nosyrev was a member of the orchestra playing on this CD, His works include
4 symphonies (all to be released by Olympia, concerti for violin, cello ans
piano, 3 ballets, 3 string quartets and several other chamber works.
Mikhail Nosyrev died in 1981 only 57 years old.

These are my first impressions after hearing the Olympia CD of his
symphonies no's 3 and 4 [OCD 653] played by the Academic Symphony
Orchestra of the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Named after D. D.
Shostakovich (its quite long official name, as not to confuse it with the
regular Philharmonic orchestra of the same institution and city), conductor
- Vladimir Verbitsky, SQ is nice modern digital, much better than from the
average Olympia Soviet Composer release:

After my initial listening I noticed that these two symphonies are penned
differently.

Starting with no 3, the impression is that it is firmly with in the scope
of a good post WW2 soviet symphony, closely connected to to what We expect
from fx. DDS. The symphony is well crafted but I cant say that it really
has that little extra, that "zing" that lift it beyond craft and in to the
sublime. Its like I recognise the very elements used to build it far to
well, hence it do not surprice in either musical or formal terms, its just
the kind of likable music You would enjoy if You appreciate the bulk of
music composed by Shostakovich and other composers of DDS coincidence.

The 4'th to me is a different venture, I do not hear much DDS influence
here, the music thrives more on the kind of sparseness i associate with
the music of the later Galina Ustvolskaya (don't know if there was a
connection betwen them?).  Its building stones are fewer, emanating from
rythm, building on contrasts from the piercing four triangles it starts
with to creshendi of timpani.  But where Ustvolskayas form is almost
compressed, Nosyrev lets his elements flow with in a more lengthed form
(35 mins vs.  GU's that never run more then 10'), Where Ustvolskaya is
violently searching, Nosyrev only unleash that fitting interference - To me
the fourth is the more interesting of these symphonies, mostly becuse it
strikes me as unpredictable, really forcing me to listen in to the musical
universe it creates - still being new to the music I cant say anything
about its longevity, but its taste begs me to lament that the composer died
within a year of its completion aged 57; one wonders if He wrote more music
in this sparce style.

The music of Mikhail Nosyrev is a rewarding escapade. I will follow every
new release of his music on CD with anticipation.

peter lundin, gothenburg.se