The ninth concert in the series of recitals featuring international organists during the Malta International Organ Festival was given by Russian organist Vladimir Shlyapnikov. The concert contained works ranging from the 12th century through to the modern day.
As with several concerts in the series it featured the newly-restored organ of St Paul’s Pro-Cathedral in Valletta. Opening the recital was the 12th-century Haec Dies (This is the day the Lord has made) by Leonius, a work composed as a Gradual for Easter Sunday.
Following this, Shlyapnikov turned to the 16th century with a Toccata for Organ by Frescobaldi. Frescobaldi’s works are complex and even the composer himself states: “Non senza fatiga si giunge al fine” (Not without toil will you get to the end) in the introduction to one of his toccatas.
Focusing on the early 18th century, the Choral Prelude Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ by Bach, was performed. The melody used, which appears in a manuscript c. 1370, is probably the earliest record of a melody used in chorale prelude by Bach.
Following these works, Shlyapnikov was joined by the soprano, Elena Yaskunova. Two works by Schubert were performed: Litanei auf das Fest Aller Seelen and the well-known Ave Maria. These two pieces were beautifully performed – Yaskunova having a wonderfully controlled voice.
An adaption for organ and voice of the Adagio in G minor attributed to Albinoni followed next. Although better known as Albinoni’s Adagio, it was actually published in 1958 by the Italian musicologist Remzo Giazotto (1910-1988).
A great taste of true Russia
The recital continued with three preludes from Five Preludes and Fughetta by Domenico Zipoli, a Jesuit missionary working in Paraguay.
Once more joined by Yasku-nova, who performed some 19th-century Russian songs, as introduced by Vladimir Shlyapnikov and ably translated by the festivals artistic director Joseph Lia, these gave the audience a taste and feeling of true Russia.
Two songs by Varlamov, Do not Sing my Fair Lady and Mountain Peaks followed. Alexander Varlamov was one of the founding fathers of the Russian art song,
Concluding the vocal works was An Eastern Song: the Nightingale enslaved by the Rose from Rimsky Korsakov’s Four Romances. With its long, languorous modal melody above a slowly strummed accompaniment, Yaskunova’s superb rendering of the vocal line invoked all the sensual longing of the imagined East.
To complete the recital, Shlyapnikov played Prelude for Organ by Rubinstein, a tribute to the founder of the St Petersburg Conservatory which the performers, as well as Lia, are closely associated with.
The sizeable audience had the opportunity to hear this magnificent restored organ played by a master of the genre.