Borodin Symphony No. 2
Navona, 2023
8/10
Listen to Borodin Symphony No. 2
The Malta Philharmonic Orchestra illuminates the work of Alexander Borodin, Joseph Vella, and Paolino Vassallo here, where the 3 detailed pieces represent pride and victory in times of hardship and are fleshed out with the orchestra’s stunning detail.
Borodin’s “Symphony No. 2 In B Minor” starts the listen with the rich strings and winds interacting with both grace and adventurous across 4 movements of bright moments, intimate waves and booming brass that depicts the imagery and celebration of war heroes.
The middle belongs to Vassallo’s 10+ minutes of “Malta”, where a flowing cinematic appeal unfolds across the calm versus busy moments of sublime interaction between the tense strings and dreamy winds that touch on the patriotic ideals of Romantic period artists.
Vella’s “Rebbieha, Op. 45a” exits the listen, and it’s an animated and firm display of thundering, giant swells of song craft that reference Malta’s national anthem in lively and thought provoking ways.
A triumphant listen that has the full philharmonic orchestra emitting daring and superbly textured musicianship, every second here is gripping, exciting and stirring.
Travels well with: Michael Nix- Aperçu: New Classic Banjo Project; Laurence Sherr- Fugitive Footsteps