Scriabin and Schloezer, Half II
This Week in Classical Music: January 13, 2025. v. Final week, we ended our story in 1902, with Tatiana Schloezer coming to Moscow to fulfill Scriabin, who was married, by then reasonably unhappily, to Vera Isakovich, and with whom he already had 4 kids. Scriabin was taken by Tatiana, who appeared to know his music in an exalted, non secular manner, versus Vera, who, in Scriabin’s opinion, didn’t respect his expertise sufficient. Tatiana began taking piano classes at Scriabin’s home, a lot to Vera’s displeasure. The Schloezer siblings, Boris and Tatiana, spent a lot time with the Scriabins, Alexander enjoying his music whereas Tatiana praised it extravagantly and rapturously, typically standing on her knees.
Scriabin, who had simply completed his Second Symphony, was engaged on the Third, “The Divine Poem,” a very powerful (and finally profitable) piece to this point. In 1904, with the household state of affairs in bother, Scriabin suffered one other blow: his good buddy, benefactor and writer, Mitrofan Belyaev, died, which drastically modified Scriabin’s monetary state of affairs. With few prospects in Russia, the bold Scriabin, who at all times wished to “conquer Europe,” left for Geneva, alone, with out the household. A month later, he requested Vera to hitch him. With little or no cash, dwelling within the costly Geneva was inconceivable, so that they moved to the less expensive Vésenaz, a village shut by. Within the meantime, Scriabin continued writing to Schloezer, finally asking her to return to Switzerland, which she did at once, settling in Geneva.
The connection between Tatiana and Scriabin was an open secret in Russia, and really quickly the rumors reached poor Vera. Scriabin was prepared for a divorce, however to Vera the concept was abhorrent. With every thing within the open, nevertheless uncomfortable and embarrassing the state of affairs was, Tatiana used it to renew her musical classes with Scriabin, coming to the home and staying there for hours, to Vera’s chagrin. That didn’t final lengthy: Tatiana, who additionally had little cash, needed to transfer to Brussels and keep together with her family members. With the entire household state of affairs in tatters, Scriabin went to Paris to supervise the premiere of his Third Symphony, which was to be led by Arthur Nikisch, then the principal conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic. Often he’d go to Tatiana in Brussels.
The long-awaited premiere came about on Might 29th of 1905; it was profitable, however not with out scandals, musical and social. Tatiana, on Scriabin’s invitation, got here from Brussels, whereas Vera, unbeknown to the composer, traveled from Switzerland and introduced herself after the live performance, infuriating Tatiana and compromising Scriabin, who was referred to as, by an area wit, a bigamist. The critics have been divided: some thought the symphony was the brand new phrase in up to date music, others, like Rimsky-Korsakov, hated it. Financially, nevertheless, the symphony introduced little or no cash.
Tatiana moved to Paris with Scriabin whereas he launched into a brand new venture, a symphony that might turn out to be the “Poem of Extasy.” Absorbed in composing, he wasn’t incomes any cash. Tatiana was pregnant with their first little one. His benefactors couldn’t assist a lot, so the couple determined to maneuver to Italy the place life was cheaper. In June of 1905, they settled in Bogliasco, subsequent to Genoa. One month later, Alexander and Vera’s elder daughter Rimma died in Vésenaz on the age of seven, and Vera, with three kids, returned to Moscow.
We’ll end the Scriabin-Schloezer story subsequent week. The Third Symphony (“The Divine Poem”) runs for about 45 minutes. It’s in three actions. You’ll be able to hearken to the primary motion, Luttes (“Struggles”), right here, the second, Voluptés (“Delights”), right here, and the third, Jeu divin (“Divine Play”), right here. Or you may hearken to the entire thing right here. Michail Pletnev conducts the Russian Nationwide Orchestra.