Maslenitsa Overture

The  Overture Maslenitsa, Op. 36, was composed by Airat Ichmouratov during the years of 2012 and 2013. It was commissioned and premiered in Chicoutimi, Canada on 24 February 2013 by L'Orchestre Symphonique du Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean under the baton of French-Canadian conductor Jacques Clément.

Structure


The Overture comprises several sections which could be divided into two larger parts. A typical performance lasts somewhat around 11 minutes.

1. Lento religioso – Poco più mosso – Allegro brillante – Maestoso –

2. Lento – Allegro brillante – Presto festivo – Moderato maestoso – Poco meno mosso – Presto festivo

Instrumentation
This symphony is scored for the following orchestra (percussion, performed by 3 players):
 * 2 flutes (second doubling piccolo)
 * 2 oboes
 * 2 clarinets in B♭
 * 2 bassoons
 * 4 horns in F
 * 2 trumpets in B♭
 * 3 trombones: tenor, bass
 * Tuba
 * Timpani
 * Triangle
 * Cymbals
 * Bass drum
 * Tam tam
 * Glockenspiel
 * Tubular bells
 * Strings

Recording

 * Chandos Records: CHAN 20172 – Ichmouratov; Overtures/Symphony; Orchestre de la Francophonie; Jean-Philippe Tremblay, conductor

Critical reception
The recording of the Maslenitsa Overture gained average-to-positive reviews. David Nice of BBC Music Magazine wrote: "The ‘Maslenitsa’ Overture, celebrating the Russian shrovetide festival, is all generic stuff". Guy Rickards of Gramophone wrote: "A vibrantly orchestrated homage to Glinka and Mussorgsky". Colin Clarke of Classical Explorer wrote: "Maslenitsa Overture, a colourful musical picture of the week before Lent".