The Enchanted Lake is a dreamy and fleeting 1908 tone poem by the Russian composer, Anatoly Lyadov (1855-1914).
Subtitled “fairy story scene,” the piece unfolds as a shimmering, step by step shifting mirage of impressionistic shade. Divided strings undulate with the majesty of an unlimited, tranquil sea, whereas the flute, celesta, and harp recommend the glint of twinkling stars. At moments, we hear the affect of the magical, coloristic orchestration of Rimsky-Korsakov. The piece could have been impressed by a portray by Arseny Meshchersky. It inhabits a serene and mystical realm.
The composer described The Enchanted Lake poetically, writing,
How picturesque it’s. How clear, the multitude of stars hovering over the mysteries of the deep. However above all, no entreaties and no complaints; solely nature — chilly, malevolent and implausible as a fairy story. One has to really feel the change of the colours, the chiaroscuro, the incessantly changeable stillness and seeming immobility.
It was Anatoly Liadov who Sergei Diaghilev first approached in 1909 with the fee for the ballet, The Firebird. Liadov declined the supply, insisting that it might take him no less than a yr to finish the rating. Unable to attend, Diaghilev approached the younger Igor Stravinsky.
Right here is Vassily Sinaisky’s 2001 recording with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra:
Recordings
- Lyadov: The Enchanted Lake, Op. 62, Vassily Sinaisky, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra Amazon
Featured Picture: “The Mountain Lake” by Arseny Meshchersky
