The Glory of Russian Masterworks – Lecture 6: More Masterpieces from the Russian Tradition

Tchaikovsky, Mussorgsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, Rachmaninoff, Prokofiev: Russia has provided us with some of the most exciting and original music in the repertoire today. Vibrant colors, explosive energy, and passionate emotional drive characterize the works of these composers. Yet this tradition seemed to spring from nowhere barely 150 years ago, expanding meteorically in breadth and national confidence over an amazingly short period. As she explores the riches of Russian concert works, popular speaker and concert pianist Rachel Franklin combines lecture and piano demonstrations to also trace the turbulent historical movements that acted both as backdrop and engine for this fascinating musical evolution.

British-born Franklin has been a featured speaker for organizations including the Library of Congress and heard on NPR, exploring intersections among classical and jazz music, film scores, and the fine arts.

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The final session of the series is devoted to listening to a variety of great works not yet explored. Selections include the opera Boris Godunov by Mussorgsky, ballets by Tchaikovsky, orchestral works by Rachmaninoff, chamber music by Shostakovich, and other composers.