Country : Canada (Quebec) Label : Chandos / Naxos Genres and styles : Contemporary Year : 2020

Airat Ichmouratov: Symphony

· by Réjean Beaucage

Composer Airat Ichmouratov, also clarinetist with the Montreal ensemble Kleztory, wrote his Opus 50, Ouverture « pour la jeunesse », in 2016. It was to mark the 15th anniversary of the Orchestre de la francophonie, of which he was an early member, along with his wife, violist Elvira Misbakhova. It’s this piece, greeted by a standing ovation when the orchestra performed it at the time at Domaine Forget, that opens the album. Although the composer is alive and well, his music is not “contemporary” in the usual sense of the word. The melody has its place and the compositions are very accessible. Ichmuratov, who spent his first quarter-century in Russia, has retained a marked influence from the great composers of his homeland, Shostakovich, Prokofiev, and Rachmaninov. His music also has undeniable cinematic qualities and, in the Ouverture, it’s Chaplin that comes to mind! Let’s say that this one also had a certain sense of melody. The work most directly inspired by his native Russia is undoubtedly the Ouverture « Maslenitsa », Op. 36, created in February 2013 in Chicoutimi in a northern environment that fit it like a glove.

The big piece here, though, is Ichmouratov’s first symphony, « Sur les ruines d’un vieux fort », opus 55, dedicated to Marc David and the Orchestre symphonique de Longueuil, who premiered it in 2017. The work depicts the history of the city of the South Shore, from the time of Charles Le Moyne de Longueuil to the present day. The work might particularly appeal to fans of large-scale science fiction films, with accents reminiscent of John Williams’ Star Wars in the final movement. This is also an indication of the quality of the orchestra, which plays this music with aplomb and finds obvious pleasure in doing so. It’s necessary to insist on this point, the OF being an orchestra which gives itself a pedagogical mandate and a good part of whose membership changes each year. Its conductor and founder, Jean-Philippe Tremblay, has once again done a remarkable job.

The Orchestre de la francophonie has already released several recordings with Analekta, including nothing less than the complete symphonies of Beethoven, but it was Airat Ichmouratov, who had already released a first CD there last year, who took the OF with him to Chandos. Both remain to be watched.

Latest 360 Content

Viagra Boys – viagr aboys

Viagra Boys – viagr aboys

Le Vivier: many skills, few surprises

Le Vivier: many skills, few surprises

SAT’s Substrat Sound Series: IRLʼs soundscapes

SAT’s Substrat Sound Series: IRLʼs soundscapes

The two voices of Bells Larsen, for the first and last time

The two voices of Bells Larsen, for the first and last time

Karma Glider – Love Bleeds

Karma Glider – Love Bleeds

Salle Bourgie 2025-26: we talk to the artistic director and general manager about the next season

Salle Bourgie 2025-26: we talk to the artistic director and general manager about the next season

Bells Larsen – Blurring Time

Bells Larsen – Blurring Time

Anika – Abyss

Anika – Abyss

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds hold ceremonial court at Place Bell

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds hold ceremonial court at Place Bell

Black Country, New Road – Forever Howlong

Black Country, New Road – Forever Howlong

OSM | A Morning of Lightness

OSM | A Morning of Lightness

Dead Meadow – Voyager to Voyager

Dead Meadow – Voyager to Voyager

Natalia Lafourcade – Cancionera

Natalia Lafourcade – Cancionera

Ribbon Skirt – Bite Down

Ribbon Skirt – Bite Down

The Waterboys – Life, Death And Dennis Hopper

The Waterboys – Life, Death And Dennis Hopper

Melvins 1983 – Thunderball

Melvins 1983 – Thunderball

Vox Sambou – Hayti Lives

Vox Sambou – Hayti Lives

Corie Rose Soumah & Hypercube at Le Vivier: So Much Material… Skill

Corie Rose Soumah & Hypercube at Le Vivier: So Much Material… Skill

African American Sound Recordings at SAT : Noise Floor

African American Sound Recordings at SAT : Noise Floor

Sylis d’or 2025 Final: Salsa Ahead of Afro-Colombian Roots and Réunionese Maloya

Sylis d’or 2025 Final: Salsa Ahead of Afro-Colombian Roots and Réunionese Maloya

Antoine Corriveau Returns From a Night Flight

Antoine Corriveau Returns From a Night Flight

SAT | Sci-Fi Turntablism: Soundtracking Other Worlds

SAT | Sci-Fi Turntablism: Soundtracking Other Worlds

Subscribe to our newsletter