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Gavril Nikolayevich Popov (12 September 1904 Novocherkassk – 17 February 1972 Repino) was a Soviet era Russian composer. Popov studied at the Leningrad Conservatory from 1922 till 1930 under the direction of Nikolayev, Shcherbakov, and Steinberg. He was considered to have the raw talent of Shostakovich, and his early works, in particular the Septet (or Chamber Symphony) for flute, trumpet, clarinet, bassoon, violin, cello and bass and his Symphony No. 1, are sensational forward-looking works. Not surprisingly, he soon ran afoul of the authorities and, like Shostakovich, began writing in a more conservative idiom. Despite his alcoholism, Popov produced many works for orchestra including six completed symphonies. Many of his compositions, written under the strictures of the Soviet System are paeans to Soviet life and Communist heroes as prescribed by state authority. Examples include his Symphony No. 4 subtitled "Honor of the Motherland," and a poem-cantata titled "Honor to our Party." Popov also wrote several scores for films.
[edit] Recordings
- Symphony No. 1, op. 7 (with Theme and Variations, op. 3 by Dmitri Shostakovich) - London Symphony Orchestra/Leon Botstein (Telarc SACD 60642)
- Symphony No. 1, op. 7; Symphony No. 2, op. 39 "Motherland" - Moscow State Symphony Orchestra, USSR Radio and TV Symphony Orchestra/Gennady Provotarov (Olympia OCD 588)
- Symphonic Suite No. 1 (from music to the film "Komsomol is the Chief of Electrification"); Symphony No. 5, op. 77 "Pastoral" - Moscow Radio and TV Symphony Orchestra/Edvard Chivzhel; USSR State Symphony Orchstra/Gurgen Karapetian (Olympia OCD 598)
- Symphony No. 6, op. 99 "Festive"; Chamber Symphony for Seven Instruments, op. 2 - USSR Radio Symphony Orchestra/Edvard Chivzhel; Moscow Chamber Ensemble/Alexander Korneyev (Olympia OCD 588)
[edit] External link
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