Taneyev: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 3

Symphony No. 1 in E minor: His First Symphony, which can be compared to Tchaikovsky’s Second, impresses with its seriousness, skilful orchestration, and a complete absence of virtuosity for its own sake. It is all the more impressive when we consider that Taneyev was only 17 years old when he wrote it. // Symphony No. 3 in D minor: Written ten tears later, the Third Symphony is a large four-movement cycle. Its crowning glory, a scintillating Finale, shows Taneyev’s contrapuntal prowess at its best.