Ljadow - Der Verzauberte See | Marie Jacquot | WDR Sinfonierorchester

Anatoly Lyadov's “The Enchanted Lake,” performed by the WDR Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Marie Jacquot, new principal conductor from 26/27. Recorded live on June 14, 2025, at the Cologne Philharmonic Hall. Anatoly Lyadov - The Enchanted Lake, Op. 62 WDR Symphony Orchestra Marie Jacquot, conductor ► For more information about the symphony orchestra, concerts, and current livestreams, visit https://sinfonieorchester.wdr.de ► The WDR Symphony Orchestra on Facebook   / wdrsinfonieorchester   ► Further concerts and introductions to works from the world of classical music, symphonic crossover, choral singing, and concerts for children can also be found in the ARD media library: https://www.ardmediathek.de/klassik Introduction to the work: Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov was a central figure in the training of Russian composers. His most famous pupil was undoubtedly Igor Stravinsky. Anatoly Lyadov also studied with him at the St. Petersburg Conservatory in the 1870s. As the teacher later admitted, he appreciated Lyadov's immense talent, but found him lacking in discipline. At one point, he was even expelled from class for his sluggishness. And yet Rimsky-Korsakov remained loyal to him throughout his life. He ensured that Lyadov was given a position as a lecturer in harmony at the conservatory. Lyadov also owed his later appointment as professor of composition to Rimsky-Korsakov. However, due to his lack of discipline, he was ultimately unable to establish himself as a composer. He only managed to complete a few small-scale works. However, these are astonishing in their high quality. Examples include the two miniatures “Baba Yaga” and “Kikimora,” based on Russian fairy tales. The fairy-tale image “The Enchanted Lake” plunges into a legendary world – with gently shimmering, impressionistic soundscapes. As Lyadov noted, the idea in this case did not come from a fairy tale, but was inspired by “a simple Russian forest lake” at his summer house near Novgorod. The composer went on to write: "How beautiful the lake is, how pure, with stars and secrets in its depths! But the most important thing is the absence of people with their joys and sorrows, a dead nature – cold, evil, but fantastic – as in a fairy tale." The Enchanted Lake premiered in February 1909. The tonal sophistication of Lyadov's orchestral miniatures also caught the attention of ballet impresario Sergei Diaghilev. He therefore suggested that he compose the music for the ballet “The Firebird.” Once again, it was Lyadov's hesitation that ultimately prompted Diaghilev to pass the commission on to the young Igor Stravinsky. Text: Otto Hagedorn