An intriguing introduction
Ustvolskaya is known, if she's known at all, as Shostakovich's muse. Her music is rarely heard, although there is a sense it's growing in reach and beginning to find an audience. On the basis of this, her voice is unique and has more than one tone. The "symphony" isn't one in terms of structure or orchestration but does manage somehow to be one in feel. Its sort of an ultra-utilitarian Mahler 3. The Grand Duet has a Bartokain angular energy and this and the trio have surprising moments of gentleness and beauty. The recording is very stark - you can hear the performers breathing - and this emphasises both the silence and the aggression in the music. I think I'll investigate the Ustvolskaya catalogue here a bit further.
