This morning I am listening to artist in focus on listen again.
There is a piano quintet by Taneev. (Unvortunatelly only one movement is played).
I know the name of Taneyev from history courses, but I ddid not know his music. This quintet was interesting for me to listen. It is written in good old Russian traditions of Borodin, Tchaikovsky etc.
I am glad program Artist in Focus broadcasted this quintet., although I would prefer to hear the whole piece.

The program Artist in Focus was difficult for me to understand at first. I thought it was a bit out of focus.
I still don't completely understand it, but I enjoy listening to it. This time it violinist Repin played Tikhon Khrennikov's First Violin Concerto. If people want to know what so called Russian functionary wrote they can hear it still on listen again.

I agree, Reiner. He can say anything he likes now and after all one has to live with oneself.
I am talking about Khrennikov of course.
I remember a movie Gusarkaya Ballada. There was music there (it was a musical). I can hardly remember the plot, but at a time I thought that the music was good (for this genre).
There was a nice song (lirical) that I can still remember and a few other numbers. It was very popular at a time.
He did have some gift, that one can not compare to Shostakovich or Prokofiev.
Much of his music is typical Soviet. Kabalevsky wrote a lot of music like that (happy sort of, Soviet style), even Khachatureyan has some splashes of that "optimistic" approach.
I don't know what else Khrennikov wrote, but he was not like as a person.

This is a good picture of him.
This is a picture of him from BBC site.

His strenght is in fact that he lived throught WWII and he probably wrote songs. I don't remember them now, but if I hear them I might.

Bryn,
I met that Khrennikov wants to be seeing as patriotic composer. They talk about him beeing one of the composers of the WWII time who helped to defeat Hitler. Also one can say that some one would have to be a chairman of the composer union and he was given directives from the communist party and he did what he had to do in more benevolent fashion.
I heard this line of argument. In fact he outlived his time and his era. I don't buy it and would find it hard to live if I had to use this kind of arguments.
I don't think Shostakovich or Prokofiev liked him very much and I don't think they would buy his arguments.

reiner,
Iremember Shto tak serdtse rastrevozheno? very well. It is a good song and many people loved it.
Even my other one likes it and started to sing it right away.
Khrenninov era was a difficult era to survive in The rules of the game was very harsh and the punishment was death. No one had an imminity even members of Politburo and their family. In fact members of Stalin family had little immunity if any.
Khrennikov operated in this era. Perhaps he did not like music that was not melodious, I don't know. Perhaps he persecuted people because of his conviction in how music should develop. I don't know.

Here he is in old age. This is a punishment to him to see Russia now.

That somehow brings me to Shostakovich. Shostakovich did join party because in order for him to be able to travel abroad he had to do it. It was not an easy decision for him (according to many sources). He really struggle inside himself. Many people had to make the same choices if they wanted to survive some how and not to be on the bottom (if you know what I mean).
In my view it doesn't make Shostakovich a bad person. Conditions of life and survivial of the time were abnormal, one could not hide.
I can not say I approved of his decision or I disapprove. I think I would do similar things (may be).
I am not in his league, never was, never will be. I lived in much easier and softer times.

Sorry to make the post so long. I think it is a song (Why is the heart so disturbed) to blame.

BobbyZ,
Thank you for CD and for reminding me about the program tonight.
CD is now on my wish list. I am going to add to my post.
I thought they played Taneev so well.

BBC's programs are so good often. Also about Khrennikov I found the picture and some information on BBC site in Russian. They are doing a good job all around the world.

I have no plans for this evening but to listen to the program about Tsvetaeva at 22.55.
Thank you again, BobbyZ.

I found this tenor also sings Taneev songs. (Taneyev some times is spelled this way)