"Night on Mount Triglav" (1899-1901) by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (3_3)
2,537 views · Published 30 March 2012 · 10:31 · Indexed 14 October 2026
Channel: DGatsby · 2012 · Music
"By night Mlada leads Yaromir up Mount Triglav, where the dead gather, before the Witches' Sabbath in which Yaromir is shown a vision of Cleopatra." - Synopsis of Mlada Act III "Night On Mount Triglav" is a beautiful symphonic poem, showcasing Rimsky-Korsakov's incredible ability at orchestration. It is a purely orchestral arrangement of Act III of Rimsky's opera "Mlada." In the second half of his career Rimsky-Korsakov wrote several operas and symphonic poems based on fairy tales and Russian legends, the most famous being "Sadko" and "The Tale of the Invisible City of Kitzeh." His portrayal of the supernatural and exotic is clearly evident in "Night on Mount Triglav." The picture is of the "Lago del Desierto" in Argentina. "Night on Mount Triglav" can roughly be broken up into five movements. Note that the names assigned are my own labels, not the composer's, although they are based on Act III of the opera. Anyone who knows more about Mlada is encouraged to comment! I. Journey to Mt. Triglav/descent into fantastical realm (0.00-14.14) II. Witches' Sabbath/gathering the dead (14.14-19.30) III. Vision of Cleopatra (19.30-22.02) IV. Journey down Mt. Triglav/return home (22.02-26.52) V. Finale (26.52-30.48) Enjoy! This is one of my favourite pieces of music. Its ability to express the whole emotional spectrum in such a beautiful way is unsurpassed, in my opinion. My favourite part is the IV section, "Journey down Mt. Triglav." It conjures up images of crossing the desert in a caravan, or in a more general sense,any sort of homeward journey. *NOTE* From the linear notes of the cd I just purchased, the names of each movement are such: 1. Night on Mount Triglav and appearance of shadows 2. The shadow of Jaromir Mlade 3. Sabbath of the infernal spirits and hellish Round 4. Appearance of Queen Cleopatra 5. Morning Or, for a less programmatic approach: 1. Introduction et Scène I Rondo fantastique 2. Scene II 3. Scene III Rondo infernale 4. Scene IV 5. Scene V
