Boris Pigovat
(b.1953) www.pigovat.com was born in
Odessa in the USSR where he studied at the Gnessin Music Institute (Academia of
Music) in Moscow. In1988 he won the special distinction diploma at
the International Composers’ Competition in
Budapest for his composition Musica dolorosa No. 2 for Trombone Quartet.
He immigrated to Israel in 1990 where, in 1995, he was awarded
the Prize of ACUM (Israeli ASCAP) for his composition Holocaust Requiem. In 2000 he was awarded the prize of Prime
Minister of State of Israel and, in 2002, received his Ph.D. degree from
Bar-Ilan University, Israel.
Many of his works have been performed throughout the
world. His composition Massada was performed at ISCM World music days 2000 festival in
Luxembourg and at WASBE 2003 Conference in Jonkoping, Sweden. His symphonic picture Wind of Yemen was performed at the Asian Music Festival 2003 in
Tokyo and at WASBE 2009 Conference in Cincinnati (USA). Three of his pieces, Prayer, Song of the Sea and Voices of
Jerusalem, were performed in New York’s Carnegie Hall. His work Music
of Sorrow and Hope (2011) was commissioned and premiered by the Israel Philharmonic
Orchestra conducted by Zubin Mehta at the IPO's 75th Anniversary Festival.
The world premiere of the Holocaust Requiem for Viola & Symphony Orchestra took place at the Memorial evening dedicated
to the Babiy Yar tragedy in Kiev, Ukraine in October 2001. In 2008 this work
was performed in Wellington, New Zealand at the Concert of Remembrance 70th
Anniversary of Kristallnacht
His work Poem of Dawn
for Viola & Symphony Orchestra was premiered by Anna Serova and Zagreb-HRT
Symphony Orchestra conducted by Nicola Guerini at Il Settembre dell'Accademia
2013, Teatro Filarmonico di Verona.
It is the Holocaust Requiem and Poem of Dawn that have been recorded by
Nicola Guerini www.nicolaguerini.com
and
the Croation Radio and Television Symphony Orchestra http://glazba.hrt.hr/194659/croatian-radiotelevision-symphony-orchestra
with
violist Anna Serova www.annaserova.com
for Naxos. The recording of Poem of Dawn
is a world premiere recording.
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Boris Pigovat decided against his original idea of having a
soloist, chorus, speaker, and orchestra in his Holocaust Requiem (1994-95) preferring to allow a simplicity and
directness with a solo viola providing a ‘human voice.’
Requiem aeternam unfolds
beautifully with clarinet and low strings before rising through the strings.
This is an impressive opening. The viola enters taking the theme, soloist Anna
Serova bringing a lovely tone and fine timbres. The orchestra re-join adding a
darkness and uncertainty. A harp gently supports the viola theme before fuller
strings enter, the viola bringing some most eloquent moments, the human voice
of this tragic music. The music moves through moments of hushed calm before the
tempo picks up, pointed up by piano and percussion. The viola becomes agitated as
the orchestra leads to a full, rich dramatic passage with anguished phrases from
the viola. The orchestra reaches a peak with impassioned phrases before timpani
strokes herald the solo viola in a quieter passage. The orchestra re-joins to bring
the tragic feel of the opening.
Incisive chords from the higher strings open the Dies irae in a rising motif soon joined
by the whole orchestra as brass churn out the Dies Irae with drum strokes and timpani. All quietens to a wistful passage
as the viola joins with a quiet, rather tentative motif before becoming
increasingly anguished as the orchestra rises ever upward, the Dies Irae
plainchant is still hinted at. The music adopts a rhythmic stance with
percussion before dropping to a slow hesitant passage. There are some fine moments
from the viola in this strident anguished music.
Soon the orchestra hammers out the theme before leading on
with a tormented, anguished viola part. The orchestra heads insistently forward
occasionally falling back only to rise ever more violently forward. This is music
of some violence and impact. The piano joins with percussion to lead the music
ahead with an almost manic stance. There are discordant phrases as the music
reaches a pitch. Timpani sound out over the orchestra as the pitch is held by
high strings and brass. Low strings then chunter forward until falling into
silence, leaving just a piccolo with a lovely little motif to quietly end with
hushed rustling strings.
A gong sounds to herald a discordant Lacrimosa with a repeated motif from the viola, like a cry of
anguish. There is some simply outstanding playing from Anna Serova in this
extended, cadenza like passage. Timpani sound but the solo viola continues,
though now mournful and quieter. As the viola slowly leads on timpani quietly
and gently accompany. There is a crash of gongs that brings a momentary rise in
passion but the viola continues quietly as the gong and cymbal crashes die away.
The strings now enter with a most affecting melody, slow, quiet and reserved
and gently holding a melancholy reserve.
A lone trombone brings the Lux aeterna. The orchestra soon join keeping the melancholy atmosphere.
There is a gentle rise in passion but the restrained feel is still maintained.
The viola eventually joins and tries to add a degree of passion, picked up by
the orchestra. However the music soon drops to a hush. There are further
attempts to rise in passion but the melancholy calm is held. Later there is a
particularly beautiful passage as well as a lovely flute solo. The viola leads
to a hushed section with celeste before entering upon a quiet and gentle solo
passage, joined by the orchestra as the coda arrives.
This is a magnificent work of depth and high emotion that is
immensely rewarding.
Poem of Dawn (2010) was
written for and dedicated to the violist
Anna Serova. The celeste opens with a little motif before strings and viola
enter, the viola bringing a fine melody. Together with the orchestra a fine
flowing, undulating melody is developed, Serova bringing a lovely rich tone.
There are hushed harmonics from the viola before the music picks up in dynamics
with moments of fine instrumental detail, especially for woodwind and brass,
woven into the orchestration. There are some particularly beautiful moments
when the sound billows up in the orchestra in this unashamedly romantic score. Eventually the music reaches a fine romantic
climax in the orchestra as dawn arrives. The viola returns as the music falls
back in a beautifully orchestrated, hushed passage. As the music slowly moves
forward, there is some particularly fine writing for the viola before a
beautifully hushed coda with celeste, viola and orchestra.
Pigovat is a remarkably fine orchestrator. Poem of Dawn makes a fine contrast to
the melancholy, passion and tragedy of the Requiem.
Nevertheless it is the very fine Holocaust
Requiem that I will return to most often. Anna Serova proves to be a first
class soloist with the Croatian Radio and Television Symphony Orchestra under
Nicola Guerini turning in first class performances.
The recording is excellent and there are authoritative and
informative booklet notes from the composer.
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