This piece, composed in 1947 was initially dedicated to Stalin but was banned and accused of being formalistic. Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMpK6AhC_cg&feature=channel_video_title Part 3:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jomA7Eo2Vj0&feature=channel_video_title Performed in Tchaikovsky Concert Hall by State Symphony Capella of Russia Conductor: Gennady Rozhdestvensky Soprano: Tatiana Sharova Tenor: Alexander Svarko The translation of Gennady Rozhdestvensky's preliminary speech: "Kremlin by Night" is a composition that possesses unique qualities, even its name is untypical - Сantata - Nocturne. This is a lyrical piece, which is a rare case for 1947 as it was a rare attempt to portray an artistic view on the image of Joseph Stalin. No one ever dared to do such things at the time. Other composers were creating very pompous pieces aimed at pleasing the government . The key point of lyricism in this piece is the text, created by the poet Sergei Vasiliev. The piece was first performed in 1947 by the students of The Moscov Conservatory, my father was the conductor. This piece is not very showy . I think it follows the traditions of Liadov, whose influece is not widely felt in the music of the 20th century. The first performance was met with the standing ovation but that fact didn't prevent it from receiving harsh critisim in newspapers because of its inappropriate texts. The text was so untypical and nonstandard , devoid of any demonstrative pompous feeling that the music sunk into oblivion and today it will have been the first performance of the piece since 1947, after more than 50 years."